An extensive line-up of local artists will be showcasing their musical talents at the Cayman Jazz Fest 3-5 December. Here, West Bay MLA Cline Glidden (sixth from left) shows his support for Jazz Fest’s local musicians. (missing from photo is Hi Tide).

Local artists Big Eye Squirrel, Andrea Rivera & Los Tropicanos, Absolute Joy, Hi-Tide and Jonathan Ebanks will have their chance to shine among Grammy-award winners and celebrity performers at the sixth annual Cayman jazz fest, December 3-5.

“The Department of Tourism is excited about this year’s lineup and for the local bands that will put on a show for the masses of people who will undoubtedly attend the three-day concert,” said Rosa McLean, Manager, National Promotions and Events at the Department of Tourism.

“This is a huge opportunity for our local performers to share the stage with the likes of Alicia Keys, Keith Sweat and Peabo Bryson, among others.”

In spite of the high caliber performers, Acting Director of Tourism, Shomari Scott, said that, even with the addition of nine-time Grammy-award winner Alicia Keys, the cost of admission had only marginally changed, allowing the festival to remain affordable even in these hard economic times.

The festival will take place at the historic site of Pedro St. James on Thursday, December 3 and at Camana Bay on Friday and Saturday, December 4 and 5.

Tickets are available locally at the Department of Tourism, Funky Tangs, Books & Books, Atlantic Department Store, Hobbies & Books and Books by the Bay.


Artist Bios

Absolute Joy

Absolute Joy is a four-piece instrumental quartet featuring Devon Edie on saxophone, ‘Jah’ Mitch Ebanks on guitar, Richard Ebanks on bass and Robert Ebanks on drums. The band offers a tasty repertoire of classic reggae, swing, jazz, hip-swaying calypso music and funky original tracks performed in a fresh and soothing instrumental style. Old-timers relish their vibe because they are transported back to a time when good calypso and mento made you get up and dance. Young bucks love it because they can hear popular songs done with a new spin. Absolute Joy’s renditions of popular tunes are played with much life and vigour by four of the Islands’ best musicians.

The majority of the members of this group have 30-plus years of music experience in the Cayman Islands and throughout the Caribbean. This top class band is Cayman’s best kept secret and is hailed as Cayman’s best instrumental group.


Andrea Rivera with Los Tropicanos

Los Tropicanos, created by Cayman Brac native Burmon Scott, captivates audiences with its high-energy performances. Although Burmon used to break into church to practice rock n’ roll on the piano, today people eagerly open their doors throughout the Islands to hear Los Tropicanos’ signature upbeat sound. The band is most commonly found performing at various locations around Grand Cayman with Andrea Rivera on lead vocals.

Andrea Rivera has been singing from as early as she can remember. Over the years as her music talents developed, so did her love and passion for music. “Music is my outlet to bring my culture, my emotion and my voice to the world,” says Andrea, who grew up in the Cayman Islands and boasts a Pop/Caribbean sound. Her first single “Drop it” received heavy rotation on both CHR and Caribbean-formatted radio stations across the Cayman Islands. Andrea is no stranger to performing, and with her stunning vocals and charismatic stage presence, she delights audiences with both originals and cover songs sometimes more than three times a week with popular local bands such as “Heat” and “Los Tropicanos”.

Andrea’s passion to perform has taken her to many places in the Caribbean and North America to perform. She has shared the stage with talented artists such as Nina Sky, Destra, Marshal Mantano, Rihanna, Morgan Heritage, Noreaga, and many more. Andrea performed in New York City at the Caribbean festival launching Tempo TV; as well as opened for Robin Thicke and Anita Baker singing the Cayman national song at Jazz Fest 2008. Andrea will be releasing an EP in late 2009, which will be available online and throughout the Caribbean.


Big Eye Squirrel

Big Eye Squirrel is a musical amalgam of local friends. Eric, Kingsley, Scotty, Stan and Stuey have all made their mark on the music scene in Cayman as proven by the radio play that some of their songs have gained. Scotty (lead guitar) and Eric (percussion) were members of the local act “Egg Shell Blonde” that were all the rage; winning the Pirates Week Cayman Song competition in 2001 and producing two albums, “The name’s Blonde, Eggshell Blonde” and “Eggshell Blonde”.

Kingsley (vocals/guitar/bass) and Stan (vocals/guitar/bass) worked together in another popular local band “Cloudburst”. The group Cloudburst were also diligent in documenting their arts as well and recorded the albums “every @#$ reason to be paranoid” and “caught in the hear and now”. Stan and Stuey (violin/vocals) recorded the single “When I was Rated” together with the band “Flannel Duppy Six” in the 90s.

Some singles released by their previous groups continue to be aired on various local radio stations. Participants involved in the musical group Big Eye Squirrel have been providing entertainment in Grand Cayman for more than a decade. Various combinations of the members have opened for acts such as reggae super star Maxi Priest and top soca band Krosfyah. They have appeared on national television and at major festivals such as “Batabano” and “Pirates Week” numerous times.

Destiny would have it that this mixture of local musicians would come together and form the group Big Eye Squirrel in November 2008. Since then, Big Eye Squirrel has recorded and released a new single “Happy All the Time”, performed at the “Petapalooza” mini-festival, the “Canada Day 2009” celebration on Seven Mile Beach and at popular venues across the island.

Big Eye Squirrel has one promise; there will be more original Caymanian music to come.


Hi Tide

Hi Tide, an acoustic duo from the Cayman Islands, is well known for its live performances as well as its recordings of classic covers and catchy contemporary original pop songs. As described by the editor of a popular weekly music magazine, “Hi Tide provides a nice mix of pop with a dash of Cayman, which commercial radio enjoys and supports”.

Cousins Shane Allenger and Sean Hennings started Hi Tide in 1994 and although the band has gone through many changes and featured other musicians, the two mainstays have always been Shane and Sean.

Along with their newly-released Christmas CD, Hi Tide has seven other albums, three with original songs, two with classic covers, and two other Christmas collections. Songs from all of these albums are well represented on radio in the Cayman Islands, with three original songs – “That’s What I’d Do”, “In Your Kiss”’ and “Open Invitation” – making the international charts. Their cover of Bob Marley’s “Waiting In Vain” has also been released in Italy on a compilation CD.

One of their most popular original songs, “Love You More”, has been licensed in England to be played in thousands of stores throughout Europe, and two other originals, “Next To You” and “Don’t Ask Me Why”, are licensed to a new television show, Sleepless on Sunset.

Throughout the years, Hi Tide has shared the stage with many great performers including Bon Jovi, Jimmy Cliff, Third World, Jeff Healey, Garbage, George Duke, Al Jarreau, Natalie Cole, Emmylou Harris and Randy Travis.

As well as putting on regular shows in the Cayman Islands, they have performed all over the world including mainland USA, Hawaii, Canada, Europe, South America and, of course, the Caribbean. Their appearances have included private gigs, one-off shows, mini-tours and many music festivals.

Hi Tide never stops working and, despite their many performances, Shane and Sean are currently in the studio recording another album that will include popular classics, and one with their ever-evolving original songs.


Jonathan Ebanks

Jonathan Ebanks picked up his first guitar at age seven and began his professional music career at age sixteen with the local group, Memory of Justice. He is considered to be one of the top five guitar players in the Caribbean and has recorded as a session musician on over twenty albums. He has performed at the Reggae Sunsplash in Montego Bay and has opened for international acts such as Third World, Ziggy Marley, Lucky Dube, Steel Pulse, Maxi Priest, and many more. His career boasts touring the U.S.A. and Canada with various local acts and he recently completed a six week tour of California with local band, Smooth Bill.

In December 2008, he released a solo album, “Tales of the G-String”, and has enjoyed impressive sales locally and abroad. The proud owner of a 100 year old vintage Dyer Harp Guitar, Jonathan Ebanks’ primary sources of inspiration are Jesus and Jimi Hendrix.