CASTRIES, St Lucia (AP) - Thousands of fans are flocking to tiny St Lucia to hear UB40, the Isley Brothers and American idol winner Fantasia Barrino among other stars at the 14th annual jazz festival, an event that has become almost as popular as carnival in the Caribbean.
Dancehall artiste Beenie Man was opening the St Lucia Jazz Festival on Friday night at Mindoo Philip Park, the capital of Castries, with thousands expected to attend. The 10-day festival will be held through May 9 in spots all over the Caribbean island.The bulk of fans were expected to arrive late next week for the most awaited performers. Those include guitarist Earl Klugh, trumpeter Chris Botti, American singer Chante Moore, American saxophonist Pharoah Sanders and pop band New Edition.
Barrino will join rhythm and blues stars the Isley Brothers and the Grammy-nominated saxophonist-composer Dave Koz for a performance in the capital May 7.
"Hotels are already reporting good business," said Eileen Paul, the manager of the St Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association.
The festival was created in 1991 with the purpose of luring visitors to the island of 160,000 residents during the slow season. It has since swelled into one of the most lucrative and anticipated festivities in the Caribbean.
Last year, 12,553 people attended, a third of them from the United States. They spent about Eastern Caribbean $48 million (US$17.7 m) over 10 days.
"This is my fifth straight year coming to the St Lucia Jazz Festival," said Cedric Weiz, a mechanical engineer from upstate New York, shopping in the capital. "When I heard that Earl Klugh was in the line-up, I simply couldn't resist the urge."
