Johnno’s Beach Bar & Restaurant at Road Bay, Sandy Ground, pumps out smooth jazz rhythms every Sunday with many fans in attendance for the fast-becoming popular music in Anguilla. Last Sunday, October 28, there appeared to have been a special feeling in the air as guests, Anguillians and visitors alike, contemplated on the coming Tranquility Jazz Festival to be held during the period November 8- 11. For many of them, it was a foretaste of the upcoming event.

Johnno (center) with some of the local musicians

Johnno Edwards, proprietor of the highly-patronised beach facility, is credited with being the father of jazz in Anguilla. He has not only introduced it here, and had the music played at his business establishment over the years, but has been a long-time jazz DJ at Radio Anguilla, the island’s national broadcasting service.

“I am very much looking forward to the Jazz Festival,” Edwards told The Anguillian. “It is looking very great. The line-up is nice and just today at Johnno’s we are giving away three tickets to some lucky customers to give the festival a ‘lil’ push. I think that because there is more local participation in this year’s event, that we are going to see more Anguillians out to the festival than in previous years and I am excited about that.”

Dining at Johnnos with Jazz on Sundays

He was speaking as members of the regular Anguillian jazz band (with others substituting) entertained guests during the lunch hour, among them being Sprocka on the guitar and Condis Richardson on the saxophone.

Among the Anguillians at the jazz music and luncheon were Acting Chief Minister and Minister of Finance and Tourism, Victor Banks, and Mrs Banks, Priscilla Gumbs and Ann Gumbs.

Mr. Banks, a regular patron, expressed his love for jazz. “It is a very relaxing and creative kind of music that puts you in another sphere. It is great,” he claimed.

Dining at Johnnos with Jazz on Sundays

The Anguilla Tranquility Jazz Festival, which has as its theme, Straight No Chaser, indicating that no other form of music will be blended in, features five main artistes. They are Monty Alexander, Cassandra Wilson, Mike Phillips, Liv Warfiled, and Diane Schuur. Others are Onaje Allan Gumbs and Reuben Rogers (both having Anguillian connections) and Shermel Richardson, a recent graduate of the Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School who is now a teacher in the Music Department there.
The programme for the Jazz Festival will commence on Friday, November 2 with Jazz in the Yard at the Social Security Complex. This will be held from 4.30-7.00 p.m.

The opening night, which includes a dinner, will be Thursday, November 8, beginning at 9 o’clock at CuisinArt Resort & Spa (the sponsoring hotel). One of the main performers will be Diane Schuur, a twice Grammy award winner whose appearances as a jazz vocalist include the White House. Having been blind from birth, she was a shy child but from the age of nine was able to use her voice “as a bridge to the world.” Her career has been a schedule of festivals and recording sessions around the world.”

On Friday, November 9, at 11 a.m., the festival will continue on the Parkway at the National Bank of Anguilla (the sponsoring bank). In the evening, at 8 o’clock, the jazz will proceed at Temenos Golf Club as well as on Saturday, November 10. The festival ends on Sunday, November 11, at Johnno’s, beginning at 3.00 p.m.

The festival is being produced by the Anguilla Tourist Board and BET Event Productions and has a number of local sponsors. It is usually held early in November in order to attract a number of visitors to the island during the early days of the season.

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