Bermuda and all that jazz

Not all travellers may be jazz fans, but most jazz fans are travellers. How do we know this? A true jazz fan has to attend jazz festivals, and to do that the jazz fan simply has to travel. If you’re a jazz fan planning a trip south this year, take note: Bermuda is pulling out all the stops to transform its pink shores into a world jazz capital in October.

Legendary trumpeter Chuck Mangione will help kick off six days of horn-fueled festivities on October 12, with a concert to set the stage for the Fourth Annual Bermuda Jazz Festival, October 15-16. Patti Austin, George Benson and Al Jarreau are the name attractions for the seaside concert. They’re joined by special events all over Bermuda, as island hotels, restaurants and clubs feature live performances from both local and international performers. alike.

Two hotels, The Reefs and Stonington Beach Hotel, will feature calypso steel bands, jazz and rhythm and blues acts. Local pubs Flanagan’s and the Pickled Onion offer up a selection of blues, reggae, soca and R&B. The always-hatted Mangione will appear at the Ruth Seaton James Auditorium, to play his Latin-flavored, smooth jazz tunes, many from his new album releas after a ten-year hiatus. (When Chuck says ‘we’ll take a break’, he means it!).

Prior to the Saturday concert, visitors can spend the afternoon at a Bermudian party at the 2nd Annual Flatt’s Village Festival, with live entertainment, ethnic food, historic exhibits and free admission to the Bermuda Aquarium.