The islands of the Caribbean Sea, sometimes referred to as the West Indies, are an extensive archipelago in the far west of the Atlantic Ocean, mostly strung between South and North America. The largest of these, known as the Greater Antilles, include the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. In addition there are dozens of small tropical islands arched between the north coast of South America and the larger islands, known as the Lesser Antilles, all offering year-round good weather, golden coral sand beaches, lush landscapes and calm turquoise waters.
As a result, the Caribbean has long been known as a resort vacation destination for honeymooners and retirees, but in recent years, a significant amount of visitors have been attracted by the many jazz festivals held in the region. These appeal to jazz aficionados of all levels, whether you’ve only just discovered the magic of Miles Davis’ seminal ‘Kind of Blue’ or whether you keep your iPod stocked with the latest releases from Blue Note.
The most popular of these is the St. Lucia Jazz Festival, held annually on the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia. Initially held in order to extend the tourist season into May, which had previously been a relatively quiet period, it soon attracted a sizeable audience thanks in no small part to coverage on the BET J television network. Today it is a well-established fixture on the jazz festival calendar, attracting international and local acts playing jazz, R&B and calypso. Past performers at the event include Herbie Hancock, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, George Benson, The Isley Brothers, Santana, UB40, Lauryn Hill, Luther Vandross, Smokey Robinson and Courtney Pine. Since its inception, the festival has grown from being merely a marketing tool into becoming a defining part of the island’s cultural calendar and was recently ranked the No. 1 Festival in the world by E! Entertainment.
Other major jazz festivals in the Caribbean include the St. Kitts Music Festival, held at the end of June, the Anguilla Jazz Fest at the beginning of November and the Cayman Islands Jazz festival, held in the first week of December.
Of course, those wishing to experience ‘soft adventures’, such as snorkelling, hiking, and trail riding will find their desires more than catered for in the Caribbean, with St. Lucia even offering the world’s only drive-in Volcano.
So if you’re looking to take combine the breathtaking scenery, relaxed atmosphere and a love of jazz, R&B and calypso music, why not book a holiday in the Caribbean today?