BY MONIQUE HEPBURN, News Editor
Left: Rocky V. Ocean Spray Small Stage performers at Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival 2006.
Right: Nicole Miller and the Fusion Band. Ocean Spray Small Stage performers at Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival 2006. - CLAUDINE HOUSEN PHOTOS
western bureau
THE OCEAN SPRAY sponsored Small Stage, which was featured at the three-day Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues in Montego Bay over the weekend received rave reviews from patrons and has made a great impact on the careers on the five bands it showcased.
A total of 26 bands competed earlier and were judged on, among other things, cohesiveness, presentation and originality. The elimination secured the best of the best and indeed the most qualified for the critically acclaimed festival.
WARM RECEPTION
"Our original music and covers got a warm reception," Rayan Russell, manager and guitarist of the nine-member Kingston-based band, Rocky V told THE STAR.
"Live performances have not been very welcome in the Corporate Area so we are Constantly going about trying to find new places to play.
This opportunity to play at the festival is a move in the right direction for live bands because thousands of people are coming here from all over the globe to watch this show and this is a great opportunity so we are thankful to Air Jamaica and Ocean Spray."
Kareen and Lamey, members of Pace, an 11-year-old Ocho Rios-based band, said that they intend to utilise the boost they have received by building on the momentum gained at the festival.
LIVELIEST SESSIONS
"The crowd response was good we had them participating and they were enjoying themselves. It really feels good to be here and we will be riding on this. We have a single coming out later this year," they said.
On Friday night, possibly one of the liveliest sessions for the Small Stage, patrons jammed for hours after the main show ended to the lively, versatile strains and vocals of the band 50-50, which featured Dr. Aggrey Irons, noted psychiatrist and Wayne Armond, of Challis.
Underscoring the success of the venture, Zachary Harding, director of marketing at WYSINCO Trading, distributors of Ocean Spray and WATA, commented that his company would be willing to repeat its involvement.
"We are very pleased that the bands are happy," said Mr. Harding. "We are very pleased that we are doing something good for live music and we have had a very good relationship with the producers of the event. This is the biggest festival so far. There is upwards of 20,000 patrons and it is the perfect target market for our brand, Ocean Spray."
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