Blackwell parties with the stars

It's been years since pop icon Chris Blackwell parlayed his love of the Jamaican culture and its people into a mega brand with currency that was instrumental in taking the music, now dubbed reggae, to the world, starting with Bob Marley and the Wailers.

Blackwell would later go on to make Grace Jones an international diva and an A-crowd entertainer, racking up hit after hit. As the reported daughter of a minister of religion from Spanish Town, she stormed the international charts and stage with her unique gender-bending signature style and club music that made her the toast of the counterculture and the reigning queen of androgyny.

Today, the brilliance of Blackwell, whose marketing savvy successfully took the contrasting styles of Marley and Jones and made of them internationally recognised genres, has redirected his considerable genius to the creation and promotion of a chain of boutique resorts, catering to the exclusive high end of the international tourism market.

host par excellence

Along the way to establishing his Island Record Brand and his Island Outposts Boutique Resorts, the somewhat shy and enigmatic Blackwell also established an international reputation as a host par excellence. He has a passion for throwing some of the best parties in the annals of fabdom across the globe, but especially here in Jamaica.

Blackwell's parties are the talk of international society, as his signature brand is not only uber-fabulous parties, lots more. But more important, the celebrity guests are guaranteed no unpleasant photographs being taken and leaked by members of the paparazzi or some unscrupulous hustler, who is prepared to trespass on the reputation, profession and/or privacy of a star to make his or her name.

So for many a year now, the place to party, especially on the 31st of December, is with Chris Blackwell in Oracabessa, St Mary. And dears, little wonder as GoldenEye is one fabulously beautiful property - not in the traditional touristic mode, but in a fabulously stylised manner, which sees the resort encompassing the tropical splendour of the island, with hints of jungle and forests, while embracing the pristine beauty of white sand beach, and boasting its very own crystal clear river, adorned by a footbridge and exotic flora and wildlife that makes for easily one of the most interesting resorts, to be found anywhere!

Add to this the bizot bar and beachfront bistro, and you know we are talking a charming chunk of paradise here and nothing but!

Well, my dears, it was at this fab slice of paradise that a number the celebrities and a select number of Jamaicans saw out the old year and welcomed the new!

Festival of the fabulous

Darlings, this was more akin to a festival of the fabulous, as we are talking cocktails followed by a scrumptious dinner at 9 that included a simply marvellous floor show, showcasing a chorus of bare-chested drummers, stilt dancers, a number of dance ensembles specialising in the latest popular moves from the dancehall. They not only danced up a glow, but were also quite busy teaching the latest moves and techniques to families, while in rained Veuve Cliquot Ponsardin.

And then there was the countdown to 2012!

Dears, guests gathered on the beachside of the bizot bar, as the resident DJ churned out party music, leading up to the countdown, and the jollification that accompanied the transition from 2011 to 2012, with streamers festooning the party deck as guests deployed their party favours in celebration.

And when we say party favours, we are talking 'ole time' party favours here, as guests were treated to fee-fees, bottle-stopper shakers; mini-bongo drums, and maracas, all made locally, using local craftsmen and women and material.

Oh, what a night!

No politics on the agenda - national or international! No drama my dears, just fab people out to party the old year away and welcome the new and that they did in fine Blackwellian style!

Fab smasheroni

Dears, we are talking fab can't done here, and then some, as the party spirit was in overdrive as the bartenders kept apace with the wishes of the partying guests and so libation flowed with the ease of a truly fab smasheroni. No unpleasant queues, it was definitely not that kind of a party. The emphasis was on quality, not quantity!

Darling dears, this was a style-perfect event and flawlessly so, with the new year beginning with guests releasing sky lanterns into the night sky and, as they floated away, there was no escaping the symbolism of bidding adieu to the old and welcoming the new. The lanterns settled in the sky, drifting purposefully heavenwards, like floating comets in the heavens!

The guest list included Chris Blackwell and his companion, Joanna Saulter, and son Chance Saulter; fabulous singer/actress/model, Grace Jones; star of the XFiles, David Duchovny; British supermodel Kate Moss, her friend Jamie Hince, and their friends James Small and Fran Cutler, Bobby Gillespie and Katy England, Jake Chapman and Rosemary Ferguson and Alister Mackie, who all jetted in from the United Kingdom; famed international fashion photographer Steven Meisel; the esteemed Ian Hamilton and wife, celebrated artist Basia Hamilton, who jetted in from the United Kingdom, along with sons, Felix, who jetted in from Hong Kong, and Max, who jetted in with his parents; Wayne Jobson and Diane Jobson.

Also out were Bertram Saulter and son, Storm; twins and fabellas Suzanne and Michelle Rousseau; Jonathan and Tyherrona Gosse; Marvin and Sarah Hall; Dean and Sienna Porter; David Mills and his companion, Moheta Bhasin, who jetted in from the United Kingdom; choreographer to Black Eyed Peas, Morcheeba; Fab 5 Freddy from MTV fame; Fatima Robinson with sister Nefertiti Robinson and DJ Lisa; Don, Denise, Anthony and Sophie Green; Oberon Sinclair; Suzette Newman; Olivier Sarkozy, brother of French President Nicolas Sarkozy; and Stella Schnabel; Billy West and the charming Cathy Snipper; Win and Regine Butler; DJ Mario C and Naomi Garrick; Lisandra Rickert; the lovely Claire Osman; Alex Ebeling and friends; Altura Ewers and friends; Dave and Alison Johnson and family; Terry Richardson; Mike McMahon; Igor Dorofeer and friends; and Slade Stephenson; plus a number of others.

Kudos to Jenny Wood and her staff who did a fabulous job!