GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND AND ALL THAT JAZZ

Second Annual Grand Bahama Island Jazz, Rhythm and Blues Festival Features
Three-time Grammy Winner Lou Rawls

Grand Bahama Island, August 8, 2005 – At the Second Annual Grand Bahama Island Jazz, Rhythm and Blues Festival, scheduled for October 27-30, 2005, jazz enthusiasts and sun-seekers can join in a celebration of island life, soaking up the soulful sounds of legendary jazz performers as they pay tribute to the traditions of jazz on Grand Bahama Island.
Produced by Bill Lockett’s Travel & Entertainment, Inc., this year’s festival will showcase award-winning musicians and recording artists Lou Rawls, The Stylistics, Roy Ayers and Angela Bofill. Local acts such as The Edwin “Apple” Elliott Quintet and the G-Note All-Starz will also sway audiences with their heartfelt Bahamian blues and native jazz numbers.
The festival kicks off on Thursday, October 27 at Our Lucaya Beach & Golf Resort with live performances by The Edwin “Apple” Elliott Quintet and The Shelley Carey Quintet. Throughout the weekend, Grammy winner Lou Rawls will move audiences with his distinctive, four-octave range voice while Roy Ayers – known for his collaborations with artists such as Rick James and The Roots – will entertain crowds with his vibraphone artistry. When combined with the sweet, soulful sounds of The Stylistics and the powerful pop and jazz vocals of Angela Bofill, the playbill pales only in comparison to the tropical backdrop.
Affordable three-, four- and five-night packages for the festival weekend can be booked by contacting:
 Travel & Entertainment, Inc. – Rates start at $262 per person and include concert tickets, accommodations, taxes, gratuities and airport transfers. Call 1-888-641-7711 for more information.
 Go Grand Bahama Vacations – Rates start at $283 per person, based on double occupancy, and include roundtrip flights, hotel accommodations, hotel taxes and gratuities and three nights of concerts. Visit www.gograndbahama.com or call 1-800-545-1300 for more information.
 Discovery Cruise Line – Rates start at $99 per person for same day roundtrip cruises and at $149.99 per person for three day, two-night cruise and stay vacation packages. Rates include roundtrip cruise, meals on board and entertainment. For more information call 1-888-213-8218 or visit www.discoverycruiseline.com.
The Bahamas has a history of hosting intimate jazz festivals, with the first major Caribbean jazz festival held in Nassau in 1986. Together, The Bahamas Ministry Of Tourism and the Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board will be hosting this year’s festivities in conjunction with host hotel The Westin and Sheraton at Our Lucaya Beach & Golf Resort. Additional sponsors include AirTran Airways, the Isle of Capri Casino, H. Forbes Charter and Discovery Cruise Line. For more information about the festival, visit www.grandbahama.bahamas.com.
 
Media Contact: Carmeta Miller Keri Toler
(242) 352-8044 (212) 445-8107
cmiller@gbmot.com ktoler@webershandwick.com