Jazz in the South 2008 took the form of one major free concert at the Rudy John Beach Park in Laborie on Sunday 4 May, beginning at 3:00PM. Since its small beginnings on the Laborie Market Square in 1997, Jazz in the South has consistently featured Caribbean Jazz and World Music, with a focus on new and creative artists from the Creole, English and Spanish speaking Caribbean. This year was not different in any way, as Labowi Promotions, the main organisers of the event, brought to the stage four bands that provided a unique afternoon and evening of great music in an incredibly beautiful setting.The show included some of Saint Lucia's most consistent and creative musicians, namely Barbara Cadet, Rupert Lay and the Laborie-based band Xtra Luv, and ended in grand style with Martinique's Zouk Metal sensation Bamboolaz.

The Rupert Lay Quartet presented "Caribebop", a sophisticated blend of bebop and Caribbean rhythms including original compositions and choice standards ranging from Straight Ahead (Bebop) and Latin to jazzy easy listening classics and "Groove Jazz". The quartet featured Ricardo Francois on drums, Albert Eugene on bass, Jessy Billy on keyboards and Rupert Lay. Formerly a jazz bass player, Lay has performed with world renowned artists such as Ronnie Jordon, Cameron Pierre, Courtney Pine, Jazz Jamaica, Kassav, Andy Narrell, Bobby Watson and Luther Francois. The Quartet is currently working on its debut CD. At the end of his performance, Rupert Lay paid tribute to Labowi Promotions for its role in promoting and supporting Saint Lucian and other Caribbean musicians.

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RUPERT LAY QUARTET PHOTOS

Consistent with its commitment to encourage original creations and collaboration among musicians, Labowi Promotions is proud that its 2008 line-up also included a performance by Xtra Luv with Barbara. This Barbara is none other than Barbara Ann Cadet, a unique musician, arranger and producer whose name now occupies a very special place on Saint Lucia's musical tapestry. Her musical collaborations and experimentations are as legendary as her innovative musical projects. For example, she was instrumental in the establishment of the all-female steel orchestra "Allegro Pan Groove" as well as the all female group "Sisterhood". Both groups continue to perform and tour successfully. She has appeared on the stage of a number of festivals in Aruba, Martinique, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada and Jamaica. In Saint Lucia, she is also known for her pioneering work with students and young musicians. She has just released a CD titled "Indigenously yours".

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XTRA LUV / BARBARA PHOTOS

For Jazz in the South 2008, Barbara Cadet offered an original collaboration with one of Saint Lucia's most consistent and professional bands, Xtra Luv from Laborie, where it originated under the name Love's Everlasting in 1986. Brothers Dale and Ron Louis are the only original members left, with a total of 14 musicians having joined the group and left, most of them to take up gigs on various cruise ships. Today, more than two decades later, Xtra Luv still plays regularly, especially at hotels in the south of the island, where it offers a wide range of musical styles. With Barbara, Xtra Luv has found a partner who can bring out a more soulful, jazzy and R&B blend as well as zouk, folk and local rhythms. Xtra Luv is currently in the studio working on a compilation for Lucian Carnival 2008, which will comprise three tracks.

Home-grown musicians prominently featured at this concert in Laborie, as the opening act was performed by the recently created Laborie Steel Pan, a project of Labowi Promotions supported by the National Cultural Foundation and the Poverty Reduction Fund. Since November 2006, thanks in large part to the dedication and hard work of the two instructors Mr. Thomas Louisy and Mr.Gennoter Bartholomew Neptune, more than 40 children and young adults have been trained. Although the Laborie pan side is yet to be officially launched, it made a first, historic appearance in May 2007 at St. Jude Jazz during the 11th edition of Jazz in the South where it shared the stage with Nicole David (Saint Lucia) and Charles Labinsky (Martinique). The Laborie Steel Band Project impressed the crowd with a very professional and entertaining performance.

This exceptional concert ended on a very high and lively note with Martinique's most popular band of the moment, Bamboolaz, who define their music as "Metal Zouk". Indeed, they are able to blend the pulsating rhythms of zouk with the hard sound of electric guitars, creating something unique that has taken the Creole Caribbean by storm. They provided Jazz in the South with two hours of solid music, one of the most memorable experiences of this year's Festival. As one of the patrons remarked to labowi Promotions, "you told me these guys were good, you did not tell me they were THAT good!".

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BAMBOOLAZ PHOTOS

All this - and all for free, thanks to the Saint Lucia Tourist Board, Gold Sponsor Bank of Saint Lucia and Labowi Promotions - took place at the Rudy John Beach Park in Laborie on Sunday 4 May.

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