Destra plans to surprise Jamaica

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad:Destra Garcia promises fans attending the 2012 Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, The Art of Music on January 26 some new flavours from her already impressive menu.

"I am no stranger to Jamaica. Everybody knows I can rock the house," said the soca music sensation from her Trinidad home last week. But she promised that festival attendees would see "a different side of Destra that Jamaica has never seen before".

Without giving anything away, the Trinidad and Tobago musician whose 2012 Carnival release Baddist is currently rocking Port-of-Spain parties, said "I live for the element of surprise," and pledged that fans would definitely be treated to hot soca but that they would also get a bit of "something else".

"I promise they will thoroughly enjoy it, and would as usual I will rock the house."

Following the summer release of the pop-flavoured Beautiful Day from the new MYDESTRA.COM album, Destra has also released the soca-pop fused Breaking Away; the groovy soca Baddist; chutney soca hit Pania with Rikki Jai; and Keep on Wukking Up, a soca-R&B fusion.

She has also submitted two selections for the steel band fraternity and will soon release two road march contenders for the 2012 season.

Destra Garcia has grown from strength to strength since her 1999 debut, and the entertainer is showing no signs of slowing down - challenging herself every year while taking her music and her fans along for the exciting journey.

energetic performances

A guaranteed hit with music-loving audiences everywhere, her energetic performances and eye-catching costumes command the cameras, while her maturity is evident in her demeanour, her command of the stage, her writing, and her sense of self.

"We are so proud of Destra and her accomplishments throughout the years," said Walter Elmore, chairman of Art of Music Productions, producers of the festival.

"She is one of the best songwriters and performers the region has produced and I am proud to call her West Indian."

In addition to Destra Garcia, a dazzling line-up of top international, regional and local superstars has been announced for the three-day festival taking place at the Trelawny Stadium from January 26 to 28.

Joining her on the line-up are Celine Dion, Cee-Lo Green, Nicole Henry, Heads of State, Jully Black, Earl Klugh, The Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards, Gentleman; and Jamaica's finest musical talent, including Shaggy, Richie Stephens, John Holt, Yellow Man, Half Pint, Tessanne Chin, Tami Chynn, Marcia Griffiths, Lloyd Parkes and We The People, George Nooks, Luciano, Mykal Rose, A.J. Brown, Freddy McGregor, Pluto Shervington, Etana, Chris Martin, Marcia Barrett (Boney M), and Byron Lee's Dragonaires.

In honour of Jamaica's 50th Anniversary of Independence, the opening night of the festival is dedicated to all the rich sounds that have shaped Jamaica's music over the past 50 years, and so it will feature ska, rocksteady, dancehall, and reggae, the island nation's influential contributions to world music.

Corporate support for the festival has been favourable with the Jamaica Tourist Board, Iberostar, and Flow returning along with RIU, Half Moon Resorts, Hilton Rose Hall, CVM TV (the official television partner), The Gleaner (the official print partner), Scotiabank, Pure Country, and Loyal Haylett Management Services, and many others.

For further information, visit the event's website at www.jamaicajazzandblues.com.