Filed under: Exclusives, Music
One of the Caribbean's best kept secrets, Curacao is part of the Caribbean's Netherland Antilles Islands and is positioned between Aruba and Bonaire and is just 35 miles north of Venezuela.
North Sea Jazz Festival - the Rolls Royce of international music festivals - presented its debut festival in Curacao at the W
orld Trade Center in Piscadera Bay over Labor Day Weekend. Renowned for its festival in Rotterdam, Netherlands, North Sea Jazz Festival has a three-year deal in Curacao to execute the two-day music celebration. Fusing jazz, R&B, salsa, pop and world music, Curacao North Sea Jazz Festival was headlined by artists like John Legend, Lionel Richie, Natalie Cole, George Benson, Roy Hargrove, Simply Red, Raul Midon, Sergio Mendes and Luis Enrique, among others.
"This island has got it going on. I'm going back to the US and telling the people y'all have it going on down here," Benson told the Curacao crowd. "Your buildings are great; this place has developed so much from the time I was here about a year ago. God has been good to you all in Curacao."
Two nights of overlapping concerts were performed on three distinctive stages - the trio of venues were named after Sam Cooke, Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington and showed videos of the respective music icons on monitors between concert sets.
Apparently Tom Cruise and wife Katie Holmes, as well as Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez have all recently vacationed on the island of Curacao! While BV Buzz was there, we ran into actor Idris Elba and singer Jason Champion of Men at Large and his lovely wife, singer Paula Champion.
For more information on the North Sea Jazz Festival, go to: http://www.curacaonorthseajazz.com/en/
WHERE TO STAY: While visiting Curacao for the North Sea Jazz Festival, BV Buzz stayed at the brand new Hyatt Regency Curacao Golf Resort, Spa and Marina. This immaculately-made resort sits on 27 acres of land surrounding Table Mountain and in the midst of a spectacular golf course covering 7,000 yards. The property sits where the Caribbean Sea and Spanish Water Bay m
eet, offering a balanced option of either rough or calm waters on different sides of the private beach. The Hyatt Regency features 350 guestrooms and 15 suites, while offering an assortment of amenities at its Atabei Spa, tennis and a variety of water sports. The hotel houses three dining establishments including a poolside restaurant SWIM, a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant called MEDI, and the divine seafood restaurant, SHOR. The Hyatt Regency Curacao Golf Resort, Spa and Marina truly offers paradise on earth! For details, visit http://curacao.hyatt.com
For related stories, read: 'Island Jazz: Chaka Khan & Erykah Badu Headline Festival in Tobago'
& 'Caribbean King: Tyler Perry Brings Hollywood Hoopla To The Bahamas.'
Black Music Notes Mar. 19
3/19/09: Rihanna / Chris Brown
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3/19/09: Kanye West / The Dream
Seven years ago this month, music heavyweights R. Kelly and Jay-Z released their highly anticipated collaborative album 'The Best of Both Worlds.' Now it appears Kanye West and The Dream are vying to work on a similar project. "Everybody is trying to talk us into it," Dream told 'MTV News' of his and West's friends and business associates. "It was first thought of by me. I was in Miami at the time, and I gave Kanye a call and said, 'The best thing would be for me and you to do an album.'... Let's take the best of both worlds and put it on a CD and try to make something we can sell to the consumers. He says he's with it. We're gonna try to make it happen." For now, you can catch Kanye on Dream's potential third single 'Walking on the Moon,' which is featured on his newly released album 'Love vs. Money.'
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3/19/09: The Miracles
Legendary Motown group The Miracles is the latest musical act to receive a Hollywood star on the world-renowned Walk of Fame. The 'Ooo Baby, Baby' singers were presented with the 2,381st star on March 20 by Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, President and CEO Leron Gubler. Motown founder Berry Gordy and Stevie Wonder were also on hand as guest speakers for the ceremony.
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3/19/09: Chester Gregory
After several years of blowing audiences away on the 'Great White Way,' Broadway Star and R&B soul recording artist Chester Gregory is preparing the release of his debut album 'In Search of High Love.' The March 31 release finds the multitalented singer introducing himself as a thoughtful and sensitive songwriter blessed with a voice that captivates and demands attention. "While I've thoroughly enjoyed performing on Broadway -- eight shows a week and telling other people's amazing stories -- now it's time for me to share my own," explained Gregory. Highlights of 'In Search of High Love' include the poetic 'Clouds to the Ground,' the crossover-bound 'Say it's Over' and Jackie Wilson's soaring 1967 chart-topper 'Higher and Higher.'
Jemal Countess, WireImage
3/19/09: Sammy Davis Jr.
Altovise Davis, the widow of Rat Pack member Sammy Davis Jr. , recently died at the age of 65. Two days prior to her death, she was admitted to Los Angeles'Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after suffering a stroke. The couple, who met in 1967 on the set of the musical 'Golden Boy,' married in 1970 and remained together until Davis' untimely death of throat cancer in 1990.
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3/19/09: Earth, Wind & Fire
Iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group Earth, Wind & Fire is set to hit the road this summer for a 30-city tour beginning June 5 in Orange Beach, AL. In addition to Maurice White and company gracing the stage will be pop-rock band Chicago, which will perform a full show before joining for a final set together, according to Billboard. The tour will conclude on Aug. 1 in Lake Tahoe, NV.
Santiago Llanquin / AP
3/19/09: Kim Burrell
Gospel vocalist Kim Burrell is on deck to release her first new album in nine years titled 'No Ways Tired.' The project's title is inspired by gospel pioneer James Cleveland's classic of the same name. In addition to covering Cleveland's hit, Burrell also tapped other timeless classics including 'My Faith Looks Up to Thee,' 'What a Friend We Have in Jesus,' 'O Lamb of God,' and 'I Surrender All.' There are also a few originals. 'No Ways Tired' is set to hit stores April 7 via Shanachie Records.
Zomba
3/19/09: Mike Jones
Despite being on hiatus since the release of his debut album 'Who Is Mike Jones?' Houston's own Mike Jones is ready to make his mark on the charts once again with the release of 'The Voice.' Jones' sophomore effort is packed with some of the industry's most talented artist including, Lil' Wayne, T-Pain, Devin the Dude, Hurricane Chris and Twista. He's had recent success with his latest single 'Next To You,' which is currently number 16 on Radio and Records Rhythmic charts. "For the past four years, I have been doing a lot of restructuring, getting this record right, making sure my business is right and more," Jones said of his hiatus. "Now, I am ready to finish what I started. I'm hoping my fans will feel 'The Voice' was worth the wait." Mike Jones 'The Voice' is due in stores April 28.
Gilbert Carrasquillo, FilmMagic
3/19/09: Prince
With the recent announcement that Michael Jackson will return to the stage this summer, another influential artist is also planning to make his return. Beginning March 25, Prince will be performing on the 'Tonight Show with Jay Leno' for three consecutive nights. In addition, the 'Little Red Corvette' singer is also readying the Mar. 29 release of his two new albums 'LOtUSFLOW3R' and 'MPLSoUND.' Prince is the latest artist to promote a release through multiple late-night talk show performances. U2 also recently performed five nights in a row on the 'Late Show with David Letterman' in support of its new album 'No Line on the Horizon.'
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