ORGANIZER OF THE JAMAICA JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL MUM OVER THE BACKLASH FROM MARIAH CAREY!

EXECUTIVE producer of the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival Walter Elmore is saying precious little about the performance by Mariah Carey, the headline act at this year’s festival.

“We are in touch with her people, because we were not pleased with what we got on Friday night,” is all Elmore would say on the matter.

Walter Elmore

Commenting on the rest of the festival held at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium, Elmore is pleased with how things went and the performances.

“Except for that one act, all the other performers gave great sets. Friday night saw some good stuff from Richie Stephens. He was really great and the audience loved him. Arturo Tappin blew the house down. Unfortunately for Morgan Heritage, the rain interrupted their set, but they always deliver and did so before the rain.”

Elmore reiterated his pre-festival pronouncement that the final night would have been the best.

Mariah Carey @ Jamaica Jazz & Blues 2015

“I purposely planned Saturday night mixing high-energy performances with other strong but more sedate acts. It was done on purpose to have a high spark, then allow you to catch your breath and then come at you again.”

Elmore and his team achieved this with the major acts — Magic!, Soja, Charlie Wilson, Peter Cetera and The Pointer Sisters.

“Charlie Wilson was just amazing. I had seen parts of him before and he was good, but this was amazing. Peter Cetera’s voice was strong and solid, and The Pointer Sisters had persons dancing up a storm. I am really pleased with the festival overall,” he said.

Richie Stevens in action @ Jamaica Jazz & Blues 2015

He also responded to the patrons who expressed the feeling that he should discontinue the Thursday night and downsize to two days rather than the customary three.

“It is something I have been thinking about and we wanted to change the format this year, but persons had already committed to a three-day festival. But this is something I will have to look into for next year once I’ve had some rest.”

– By Richard Johnson