Sat | Apr 18, 2026

Bizot: the French-Jamaican connection

Published:Sunday | June 23, 2013 | 12:00 AM
Pause
Winston McAnuff 'Electric Dread' with wife, Vonetta, and son turned the day into a family affair
Natalie Spence is a lucky woman sandwiched byAntonio Garcia (left) and Javier Linares.
Kelly Tomlin points out something to host Chris Blackwell.
Rain or shine, (from left) Jason Hall, AnnaKay Tomlinson, Annaliesa Lindsay and Kimani Robinson came out to have a grand time.
Chief marketing officer of Island Outpost, Rachel Harrison, enjoying a cool jelly coconut at Bizot.-Photos by Carl Gilchrist/Photographer
1
2
3
4
5

Carl Gilchrist, Gleaner Writer

You know your musical career is on the right path when Chris Blackwell asks you to perform at Golden Eye. Blackwell, known for his association with world-renowned acts such as Bob Marley, Grace Jones, U2, Cat Stevens, Sly and Robbie, among countless others, would only invite the best to perform for his guests. Little wonder, therefore, that he chose two of Jamaica's hottest young acts No-Maddz and Chronnixx for the second Bizot party, to celebrate the life of French counter-culture connoisseur, Jean-Francois Bizot. The event was held on Saturday, June 15.

Also in the house were saxophonist Damon Riley and Winston 'Electric Dread' McAnuff, the France-based Jamaican reggae star, who was in the island for a few weeks and came to relax and enjoy the evening with his family.

And like the 'Dread', dozens of guests turned out ready to enjoy the all-inclusive affair and all it had to offer - from the delectable fare to the Häagen-Dazs ice cream, served from a booth on the deck near the sea.

Bizot was a publisher, editor and novelist and also founder of Radio Nova. He died of cancer in 2007, at the age of 63. The Bizot Bar, which was the main stage for the party, was also named after the French connoisseur.

Radio Nova broadcasted live from the event for the second time as community station, Waves 96.3 FM in St Mary, made its debut live broadcast.

It wasn't the type of weather patrons were hoping for, with rain blanketing the island. The rains held up for the afternoon-into-the-evening party, but with an affair as chic as Bizot, nothing could dampen their spirits.

No-Maddz was awesome and presented a well-rehearsed set, taking patrons through selections such as Heaven on Earth, and journeyed through to Mountain Lion.

Chronnix, too, was remarkable. He showed tremendous growth and maturity since he last performed on this side of the island five months ago at Rebel Salute.

He was good at Rebel Salute, and he was better at Bizot. A smaller, more intimate setting this time around, the new reggae star took the audience with him from his opening number, Start a Fire, through Tribal War, to the soothing Naw Give Up - yes, Chronixx sings music for the soul!

He went through Here Comes Trouble, Behind Curtain, Man a Warrior, Odd Dread, sang a few lines of Super Cat's Ghetto Red Hot and the Melodians' Rivers of Babylon, in closing.