Jazz on the Duke to highlight downtown as cultural mecca

On Sunday, December 19, Jazz on the Duke will host its second concert for this year as a part of its ongoing music series. The event, which gets under way at 6 p.m., will continue as a virtual concert available as a live stream on all major social media platforms. It aims to highlight the various ongoing efforts taking place to rebuild downtown Kingston as a cultural mecca.

This year’s line-up features Myrna Hague and Trio, joined by Marjorie Whylie, the Dean Fraser Quintet, Orville Hammond Quintet, Jon Williams Quartet and D’Kru Sextet. The evening’s proceedings will also feature presentations showcasing the projects being undertaken downtown and those initiated by the Duke Street Refurbishing Project. These include the Walking Street Museum, erected statues, and the various murals along Water Lane and other popular streets which have become a hotspot for tourists and locals.

“The Duke Street Refurbishing Project continues to support the creative industries and to promote Kingston as a global cultural centre,” explained Project Manager Dr Blossom O’Meally-Nelson. “The Jazz on the Duke concert series has now gained public recognition and has a growing audience. This year’s performances promise to be of the highest quality and we are proud to showcase a line-up of exceptional talent.”

The event first went virtual last December and ever since has amassed an average viewership of 5,000 households for each staging, with online audiences from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and overwhelming support from the diaspora.

“Jazz on the Duke had its first show two years ago – live and on Duke Street. Since then, we have had two shows broadcast from inside the hallowed halls of the Victoria Mutual Building Society – on the Duke! We will broadcast from there once again,” shared Dayton Wood, general manager of the Kingston Restoration Company. The Tourism Enhancement Fund and the VM Group will continue to provide support as main sponsors.

“By any measure, the chords struck by our musicians joyously resonate with jazz lovers near and far. This show will be nothing short of wonderful,” added Wood.

Jazz on the Duke is managed by the Kingston Restoration Company as the Duke Street Refurbishing Project, and has taken off as a biannual concert series event. The project recently began transitioning to The New Duke Street Financial and Legal Business District, which represents the next step forward for the project to highlight the continuous actions being undertaken to establish Duke Street as a business hub.