Jazz in Paradise

Vanuatu Tourism Office - Jazz in Paradise:

"From New Zealand comes the internationally acclaimed Nairobi Trio who explore a range of musical genres, while The Grand Central Band is a blues-groove jazz group, playing remodeled songs, classic blues numbers and originals. One of New Caledonia’s most innovative jazz bands, The Sarah Briggs Quartet, will also be performing at the four-day event which will see 29 different shows with the five bands rotating between individual concerts at Iririki Island Resort, Le Lagon Resort, Le Meridien Resort, Tamanu Beach Resort, Chantillys and Breakas Resort with a final open air concert featuring all the bands on the Golf Course at Le Lagon Resort."

This has to be the best event which has had the worst publicity here in Australia. It was a sheer coincidence I was in Vanuatu for the first two days of the festival. Had I known I'd've change my booking. In my wildest dreams I could not have imagined myself on a lagoon, eating prawns, enjoying a lovely glass of white and in the best company with the best music. The first event was the Nairobi Trio and we all agreed they were excellent. But I heard two other jazz bands over two days which were equally impressive. Adelaide to vanuatu is a bit of a long haul. I left the hotel at 1.30 pm yesterday and got home at 11pm. There is a one and a half hour time difference. The people from Brisbane were leaving on a 7 am flight and were home at 9am after a 2 hour flight. So we could have done better with the publicity. Our own Galapagos Duck were there and truly, it was a great place to listen to jazz. More than that it was a great exchange of culture and music because the people in Vanuatu are very appreciative of other cultures and music crosses cultural barriers.