Heads of State has big plans for Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival tonight

Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter

Now Heads of State, three former New Edition members, plan to give their audience a fresh and energetic performance when they perform at the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival tonight.

The three - Bobby Brown, Johnny Gill and Ralph Tresvant - will be performing at the three-day festival at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium alongside Cee Lo Green, Temptations, Earl Klugh, Destra Garcia and Damian Marley.

Speaking with The Gleaner recently, Bobby Brown promised an exciting set with Gill and Tresvant, with whom he formed Heads of State in 2008.

"We just have a really energetic show of hit songs. We just plan to give them the best show possible," he said.

With all three members of the group having successful solo careers, Brown said they will perform songs from each of their catalogues. He added that the performance will also be laced with songs from their New Edition days that go back as far as the 1980s with songs like Cool It Now, If It Isn't Love and Mr Telephone Man.

"It's gonna be very entertaining with some classic New Edition stuff," Brown told The Gleaner.

NOT FIRST JAMAICA PERFORMANCE

This will not be his first time performing in Jamaica, as Brown said he performed in the island "a while back". He also has other Jamaican connections, having been featured on Damian Marley's Beautiful that appeared on the Jamaican's Welcome To Jamrock album. The album scored two Grammy wins in 2006 in the 'Best Reggae Album' and 'Best Urban/Alternative Performance' categories.

Although he has only done one performance in Jamaica, Brown said he has been to the island a few times.

"I love Jamaica. The food is one thing I am looking forward to. I've been to Jamaica a few times. It's a great vacation spot," he said, adding that he will be coming to the island a few days before his performance to experience the country in its entirety.

Brown also said he was looking forward to reuniting with Johnny Gill and Ralph Tresvant tonight, as he enjoys performing with them.

"It is so much fun just to be onstage with two other great male artistes," he said.

He also hinted that by the end of the year there might be a single with all three members of Heads of State. In addition, he said the other two members might be on his upcoming album called The Masterpiece, scheduled for a May release.