The Jamaica OchoRios JAZZ Festival will be celebrating its 20th Anniversary June 12 - 20, with over 30 events around the island. With the theme JAZZ-THE REAL DEAL, this year's festival will celebrate the life of the late great Cecil "Sonny" Bradshaw who was its founder. Along with his wife Myrna Hague-Bradshaw, Sonny devoted his life to the festival's success and longevity.

With the recent passing of Mr. Bradshaw, international JAZZ artists from Europe and North America have responded to the call to commemorate Sonny's life work and are clamoring to participate in this year's festival. "We in South Africa have been robbed of a master even before we could meet him" says Lesengo Mpama. The line up will also include the very best of Caribbean stars, Big Band Swing, Straight Ahead Bop, and some stomping Blues. The programme will feature Daily Concerts in Ocho Rios that will be open to the public, South Coast Jazz, Port Antonio Jazz, Jazz Summer School and nightly events in Kingston.

The Annual Jamaica International OchoRios jazz Festival has developed and established itself as a recognized authority for promoting and showcasing distinguished International as well as Jamaican and Caribbean Jazz musicians/artists. Its format is one of a kind and is dedicated to the promotion and preservation of'‘Classical Black Music and America's First Art Form.'