Caribbean Jazz Festivals return

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will be measured

TheCaribbean is home to a number of jazz festivals that showcase local and international talent, and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the region. The COVID-19 pandemic ultimately shuttered all the festivals in the Caribbean in to 2022, until the easing of restriction began in the latter half of the year.

In 2023, all the surviving festivals — Curaçao North Sea Jazz Festival held in August, that brings together some of the biggest names in jazz, funk, and soul music from around the world for a weekend of performances in the Dutch Caribbean indicated that it may never return! — after the re-launch of a few in late 2022.

Each festival has its own unique character and atmosphere, but all offer a chance to experience the vibrant music and culture of the Caribbean. Some of the most popular Caribbean jazz festivals include:

• St. Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival: Held in May each year, this festival features both local and international jazz musicians performing in a variety of venues across the island.

• Tobago Jazz Experience: Taking place in April, this festival features a mix of jazz, gospel, soca, and calypso music.

• Barbados Jazz Excursion: Held in October, this festival features a mix of local and international jazz musicians performing at various venues across the island of Barbados.

• Jazz Artists on the Greens: Held in late March or early April, this mini-festival showcases Caribbean jazz including kaisojazz and steelpan jazz.

• In the islands outside of the English-speaking Caribbean, there is Havana Jazz Plaza in Cuba in January, PAPJazz Haïti inJanuary in Haiti, MoJazz Festival in French Guiana in November, BigIn Jazz in Martinique in September, and more.

The economic impact of festivals in the tourism islands hosting festivals is significant. Curaçao has publicly showed that their festival over its existence impacted the country’s GDP, especially outside the high tourism season via available economic impact studies. The new way of engaging fans is via the hybrid experiencs —live and livestreamed with subsequent pay-perview options — is part of the pla of these festivals, and eager audiences in the Caribbean and worldwide await a restart, a recalibration and a return to jazz!