From Aruba Daily on October

ORANJESTAD – The 8th Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival was held this last weekend with a great line up.

The years festival attracted some 8,000 local and international visitors who enjoyed a total of 20 high quality jazz acts, combo’s and bands. From the new location at Renaissance Festival Plaza to the varied line-up, indoor art gallery and cozy Food Court – it was all a great success.

The Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival is inspired by Paul Acket, the creator of the North Sea Jazz Festival in The Netherlands, and the well-known Aruba Jazz & Latin Music Festival, which took place from 1986 till 2001. Aruba really enjoyed the success of this festival and continues the tradition to have a similar festival take place over and over again.

Prince Royce sold out the show on Friday night!! At the age of twenty-two, Royce garnered the Composer of the Year Award at the 2012 Latin Billboard Awards, becoming the youngest person in the history of the awards to receive the honor; and at 23 he won the 2013 BMI Latin Songwriter of the Year Award.

LiV Warfield was also a weekend success and is a native to Peoria, Illinois (USA) growing up in a religious family where she was mainly influenced by gospel music. In 2006 LiV released her first solo-album with strong soul music, funk and jazz influences. She soon attracted a lot of attention with her distinct voice, which LiV herself describes as “alternative R&B Soul with a little bit of Rock ‘n’ Roll”. Over the past years LiV has performed alongside a host of legendary artists such as Al Green, B.B. King and earned a spot in Prince’s backing vocal group the New Power Generation. After the legendary performer watched her YouTube audition tape she sent him, he became one of her greatest celebrity supporters, proven with an offer to sing on his 2010 album Lotusflow3r. LiV Warfield & the New Power Generation will definitely add color and rock-flavor to the Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival 2014.

Returning Caribbean Sea Jazz artist Candy Dulfer is a popular Dutch smooth jazz alto saxophonist. She started to play saxophone at the age of six. Her debut album Saxuality (1990) received a Grammy Award nomination. She has performed and recorded songs with renowned musicians, such as her father, famous saxophonist Hans Dulfer, Prince, Dave Stewart, Pink Floyd, Van Morrison and Maceo Parker.

The Shuffle Demons were a great influence to the event, creating a high-energy sound. This Canadian band blends virtuosic jazz and funk playing with eye-catching costumes and over the top stage antics to produce an incredible show. A hit at festivals all over the world, the Shuffle Demons are a crowd pleasing, full-on musical group that backs up wild stage antics with phenomenal playing by some of Canada’s most talented musicians.

Photos by Julia Renfro

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