The 2nd Annual Tobago Jazz Experience will take place from April 22-25, 2010. Events during the four-day festival include Jazz on de Waterfront, World Music Night, Jazz on de Beach, Pan Jazz in de Park, and Beach Jazz Fiesta. The festival features headline performances award-winning “Queen of Funk Soul” Chaka Khan and “First Lady of Neo Soul” Erykah Badu. The event will also give visitors and residents alike the chance to listen to some of the island’s talented jazz musicians as they perform on a range of instruments that include the steelpan, drums, saxophone, and the guitar.

“Jazz on de Waterfront” will begin April 22 at 4:30pm at the Milford Road Esplanade. On April 23 at 7:30pm, Pigeon Point Heritage Park will host “World Music Night” with performances from Shurwayne Winchester and the big band You, Lord Nelson, 3 Canal, Mavis John, Dil-E-Nadan, Ziggy Rankin, Fire Empress and top performer Erykah Badu.

Events held on April 24 include “Street Beat”—a cultural procession and street theater that beginning at 5am in Plymouth; “Jazz on de Beach”—a music event that features Caribbean jazz rhythms held at Mt. Irvine Bay; and “Jazz in de East”—a caravan that rolls into the scenic town of Speyside, offering a mix of musical entertainment on the beach facility grounds. The final event for the day will be “Pan Jazz in de Park,” held at the Pigeon Point Heritage Park. Beginning at 5pm, jazz and pan lovers will experience steelpan performances from WITCO Desperados and Phase II Pan Groove, steel orchestras from Trinidad, as well as top bands from Tobago.

The festival culminates with “Beach Jazz Fiesta” on April 25, featuring Chaka Khan. Other performers will include Élan Parle, the Alternative Quartet, the Sean Thomas Quartet, Clive Zanda, and Kay Alleyne.

For more information on ticket sales and event details visit www.visittobago.gov.tt or call (868) 639-2125.