The nation’s school libraries will benefit from spin-offs of the recently held Jazz It Grenada! (JIG) event. Jazz It Grenada! was the brainchild of local musician Nigel John. The two day main event was held from 29–30 March at Prickly Bay Marina.
On Thursday 3 April Prickly Bay Marina hosted the UNESCO International Jazz Day Educational Programme, sponsored by the Organization of American States (OAS). International performers from ‘Jazz It Grenada’ who remained on island, took part in this special programme. Over 75 secondary students with an aptitude or interest in music, attended.
Presentation Boys College (PBC) students, Anderson Antoine and Ceyron Belfon, who are members of PBC choir, stated that their attendance at the programme was in an effort to ascertain whether any jazz renditions could be introduced into the choir’s repertoire.
Visiting South African student, Michael Newman, who plays the djembe (West African drum) stated, “This whole experience is really amazing, hearing the musicians play and their passion is just incredible.”
Keith Walcott, the main speaker for the programme was ably supported by US Chargé d’Affairs, Louis Crishock. He stated emphatically to the students that “Jazz is a way of life and an attitude. It requires practice, practice, practice, discipline and the Almighty. Learning these things will help you in every area of life.”
Darren Turner presented Ms Lillian Sylvester, Director of Library Services and Ms Merryl Baptist–Lord, representative from Ministry of Education, with thousands of dollars worth of reading and educational books, purchased with funds collected from the Jazz It Grenada event. Cruisers based at the Prickly Bay Marina sorted the books to have them ready for delivery to the Ministry on 4 April for dissemination to school libraries around the island.
