All that jazz . . . and golf

Four time American Grammy-nominated, singer, songwriter, musician and lyricist, Jeffrey Osborne, is set to headline the sixth annual Barbados Jazz Excursion and Golf Tournament scheduled for October 10 – 14, 2019 at the Hilton Barbados Resort, Needhams Point, St Michael.

Patrons can look forward to the usual stellar line-up of the biggest and best in the Jazz world, so says Executive Producer and Host of the festival, renowned saxophonist Elan Trotman who will also be performing. In addition to the legendary crooner Jeffrey Osborne, Trotman says the star-studded list includes our very own Grammy nominee Nicholas Brancker, along with international acts Avery Sunshine, Marcus Johnson, Jazmin Ghent, Mike Phillips, Vaughnette Bigford and others.

Trotman noted that the package is not just about the soulful jazz experience, as a number of sports celebrities are also expected to arrive on these shores to tee off on some of the best golf courses in the Caribbean. Cricket Legend Barbadian Desmond Haynes, John Starks of the NBA, World Long Drive Champ Maurice Allen and former Major League Baseball player Joe Carter are all confirmed participants in the tournament.

Practice rounds will be at the Royal Westmoreland and the Barbados Golf Club on Friday, October 11 and Saturday, October 12, respectively, while the Golf Tournament will be held on Sunday, October 13 at the Sandy Lane Country Club.

One of the key objectives of this initiative is to bolster Barbados’ tourism product during the offseason, offering visitors an amazing jazz and golf getaway, and for locals, an exhilarating experience as well. This year’s estimated number of visitor arrivals is 250, travelling from the major markets of Germany, Canada, the UK and Trinidad. Their home away from home for the four days of festivities will be the Hilton Barbados Resort.

Another highlight and major benefit of this Jazz Excursion and Golf Tournament is the charitable support it has provided for Trotman’s Never Lose Your Drive Foundation, a non-profit organisation which directly funds a programme near and dear to his heart – The Headstart Music Barbados Programme. Headstart offers free tutelage weekly to students ages 8-11 on the saxophone, trumpet, flute, clarinet and percussion.

It is his way of giving back to his native island and helping to chart the course of young aspiring musicians in Barbados. In the three years of the programme, the foundation has received just over $40, 000 from the Jazz Excursion and Golf Tournament and all proceeds have gone towards administration, instrument maintenance and purchase, as well as for the purchase of supplies.

The festival is a combination of a comedy show, after parties, island tours and of course, jazz and golf. (PR)