Winter Blues Without the Blahs

[Peasie]

I really enjoyed Rootz Underground

[kia027]

Loving this report

carry on with the pictures please

[Gen]

yuh always a look company fi guh dunga passpoat office not gwine to happen

galang by yuhself

OCEAN?? Is wah do yuh?

Every Jamaican I know seh "SEA" nevah "ocean"

tun een yuh passpoat

[Gen]

ahh the ackee look good


jump up jump up everybady jump up

[Peasie]

The second night (Friday) of JazzFest saw a really huge crowd. The Greenfield Stadium in Trelawny was the perfect location and I got out of my little VIP Lounge bubble and toured the stadium grounds. I love my sweet Jamaica and my lovely people. Of that, there is no doubt and this trip sealed it for me. Of course I am quite aware of the crime, corruption, politics, and what have you that plagues my birth country, but for a few hours in only three nights, we could chuck all that and just show love and courtesy for one another.


The police were all over. Nuff said.


The stadium grounds were decked with tents offering food,art, fashions, and even more food. I bought a cup of coffee from Jablum and just roamed around the grounds. And then I saw something that made me stop in my tracks I was astounded at the sight! Memories of walking from school to our old home on Brentford Road came flashing back. Right dere in di miggle of Trelawny Stadium was Nutsie





(not my photo as I don't always like to walk with camera and snap everything all the time)


Well, not the exact same Mr. Nutsie, but lawdAMercy how mi used to love stop an buy hot peanut from Nutsie and eat dem on mi way home through Cross Roads Glorious days, I tell you, glorious days!

[Peasie]

The line up of entertainment last night included Arturo Tappin, Etana, Michael Bolton and Mary J. Blige. Arturo Tappin was quite entertaining and the crowd loved his music. Though I am not a fan of his style of music, I appreciate his love for Jamaica and respect for the crowd. Ditto for Michael Bolton - I have never been a fan of Bolton or of any musician who mimics (not cover, but mimic) and make huge profit from the great sound of soul - but I will say this, Bolton showed professionalism, respect for Jamaicans, and gave his fans what they came for. He revealed that he is a frequent visits to Jamaica for many years.

Mary J. Blige was off the hook. I love me some Mary! Another entertainer who delivered for her Jamaican fans. Miss Blige exhibited professionalism and such grace and preached her usual girl-don't-let-him-take-you-down sermons. The crowd loved it. Before her set started, I made my way to the front of the stage so I can carve out my little spot. Everyone around me was having good fun and the fans started moving in closer. Well, this woman was pressing a little too close to me. Mi tun roun an gi har one rahtid look, yuhsi! Hear me, "Lady, doan touch mi." Di ooman naily jump outta har skin especially when mi trow in a choice adjective

Because I didn't like the vibes, I stepped back and gave her my spot. I'm a lover not a fighter and I was more that willing to have Mary J Blige be the only drama last night.

Etana was my favorite set last night. She is beautiful and her sound and delivery were amazing! For my money, she was the very best of last night's line up. Love, love, LOVE Etana and I must see her in concert again

Reach mi bed by 3:30 this morning, one hour earlier than the previous night. Up by 9:00 and then will take a nap in the afternoon before heading back to Greenfield tonight for John Legend. Until then, Miss Lorna calalloo breakfast, Juici patties, beach, sea bath, exercise await di I.

[Peasie]

The beach a few steps from our cottage. I took this photo on Thursday. Yesterday the skies were overcast and the sea choppy but they didn't stop me from my morning sea bath and swim. Yep, I'm a good swimmer and it is one of my favorite form of exercise ... I just wish this were my backyard every day ...

[CurtisD]

Thank you

Hello dear Peasie,
The narration and story is first class material.
Each one of the pictures is worthy to put on any desktop screen.
Excellent on all counts.
Thanks for allowing me to join you during all the meals.

The Silver Sands resort offers the best alternative to the huge Mega All inclusive hotels.

Large comfortable rooms and shows us that you don’t have to wait in line to eat our world famous culinary delights.

Lucky you to have been there in the right place at the right time and enjoy the “Jazz & Blues Festival”.

Great to learn that Ken Booth received a well deserved lifetime achievement award.
He deserves it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6_SVtzyt9U

Thank you.

[applepie]

Loving your report and pictures!

[Xavier]

Loving your report and pictures!

I agree...a great trip report.

[Peasie]

Curtis, thanks for your kind words. Thanks ApplePie and Xavier.

The Jazz Festival finished early this morning (Sunday). John Legend was great. His only accompaniment was a piano which he played. He was moved by the crowd's appreciation of his music and he revealed this was the first time he had visited Jamaica. Most poignant for me was when he invited Gramps Morgan on stage to sing Buju's version of the 23rd Psalm. Gramps sang his part and John Legend sang Buju's part. It was a beautiful rendition and the crowd went wild. Later there was a surprise duet with Legend and Tarrus Riley singing Tarrus' Stay With You. I screamed like a teenager and fought my way to the stage!

I didn't take good photos of the performances. My camera is just not equipped to do that. One of my friends shot some beautiful photos and he promised to send them to me. I will share those with you once I get them.

Other performances on the last night were Dionne Warwick and her son David Elliot, Monica, KC and the Sunshine Band, and Romain Virgo. With the exception of John Legend, the rest of the line up seemed boring to me. I'm not a fan of Monica's sound but the audience clearly loved her. Warwick's voice is aging (she's 72) but she delivered a very classy act to an audience in awe of her greatness and contribution to music.

Romain Virgo's style is described as "lovers rock reggae" which many people like. Sorry, I'm not one of them. I felt that his performance was too loud and he needed more variation in his sound. But the crowd liked him too and he is a rising star. He did not introduce the members of the band nor did he showed any appreciation of them (he was probably the only performer over the three nights who did not do so) Here's his style

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0Z2WQV_fDU

Darn. I need to alert Kia to add the video option thing on the menu bar in this forum...

[Peasie]

After getting back to the cottage at 3:30 AM from the last night of the festival, I hit the sack and slept until 10:30 AM. I awoke to the most wonderful smells of coffee and, well, you'll see the menu below .

Five of us rented a quaint and darling cottage ... one of Silver Sands' oldest villas. It is a three-bedroom, three-bathroom house, steps from the gorgeous beach. The five of us - all Jamaicans living in the U.S. - hail from Washington, Miami, Houston, and Denver. The friend from Miami is a regular to the Jazz & Blues Fest coming almost every year since it started.

Of the five of us, one is a vegan and one a vegetarian. Miss Lorna is very experienced in cooking and she made some amazing vegetarian dishes. The vegetarians raved about her adaptation of Jamaican standards. For example, Miss Lorna made vegetarian stew peas, almond fritters, and tofu "oxtail." She is a SERIOUSLY excellent cook.

Here is Miss Lorna



Today we had a big Sunday brunch and we invited 16 guests to the villa. With help from Erica, Miss Lorna made:
curry chicken
oxtail
tofu "oxtail"
saltfish
green banana
rice and peas
white rice
callaloo
macaroni and cheese
caramel sweet potato
steamed vegetables
and a wonderful salad made from produce from a nearby organic farm.

[Peasie]

So let me tell you about the Potosi organic farm in Trelawny which supplies vegetables for our six days at the villa. Here is a photo from their Facebook page.

66995_459504907442395_358319759_n.jpg

There is a wonderful article The Observer on Potosi Farms. Photo from that article:

1.jpg

[Peasie]

Our delicious spread today Erica is pointing the fabulous salad made from vegetables from Potosi Organic Farm.

[Peasie]

To get away from the crowd of Jamaicans ... you know how our people are on a veranda with full bellies and rum flowing on a Sunday afternoon , one of my friends and I sought out the beach. By now it was mid-afternoon and the water was very choppy with some awesome waves!

As soon as we got in the water, there was Fagan the Lifeguard ready to chat us up. Actually he was chatting up my friend - a gorgeous Jamaican lady from Denver. The day before, I had challenged Boasy Fagan to a swim race betting him that I could beat him. He was up for the challenge today so the three of us swam way out - almost to the coral reef - warming up by swimming with huge waves. I love the water and I could see where I had a good chance of winning this race.

Fagan and I settled on a target, Denver friend set us off, and off we went! He was ahead of me for a little and then I noticed he had hesitated. So I sped up. I was passing him when he reached out and grabbed me by the waist stopping me. No, he wasn't flirting. He said the race was over, he had won, and he wanted to stop me from swimming further

Kissteet. I beat im baxide yuhsi! I asked him what was his age and, when he told me, I let him know I was nearly twice his age! Hear Fagan, "Dat doan matter. Is me win dis race!" Kissteet again. Even Colorado friend beat him in the second race. Lawd, what fun!

We all had a good laugh and it was all in good fun. Fagan was a good sport. I then went for a solo swim back and forth then rode the waves back to shore leaving Fagan and Colorado friend in the water. I finished up my time on the beach reading my Kindle.

Si di jokester here