JAZZ & BLUES 2021

Tribute to
BUTCH
STEWART
JAMAICA JAZZ & BLUES
AN ENDURING
Legacy
12
1996 saw the birth of the Air Jamaica
Jazz and Blues Festival. Twenty-six
years later, now known as the Jamaica
Jazz and Blues Festival it is recognised as
one of the most eagerly anticipated events
of the Caribbean’s entertainment calendar. This is the
legacy of the Honourable Gordon “Butch” Stewart under
whose leadership as the chairman of the national airline
– Air Jamaica, this iconic event was established.
His interest in ensuring the growth of
the tourism industry and developing
Jamaica as a major hub in the
Caribbean guided the major goals
that the festival set out to achieve
– establish a music festival with a
broad-based appeal for locals while
also attracting visitors to the island; boosting the economy
of Montego Bay which hosted the event; fill the seats
of the national airline and further enhance Jamaica’s
reputation as the premier entertainment destination in
the Caribbean.
Mr Butch Stewart was incomparable in his audacious,
creative, and inspirational leadership. Once he decided
that something was to be done, he did not tolerate doubt
...the first festival
was staged within
only 10-weeks of
its conception.
in his team’s ability to activate, nor did he acknowledge
the word “can’t” as part of his vocabulary, and thus once
the decision for the festival was made, he made it clear to
his team that this should be accomplished with urgency
but without compromising any standards of a quality,
world-class production. It is therefore no surprise that
the first festival was staged within only 10-weeks of its
conception.
Over the years the festival gained a
reputation of excellence not only
for the quality of artistes brought to
the Jamaican stage, but the beauty,
sophistication and comfort of the
ambience created. It was a space in
which friends and family celebrated
special moments and reconnected
and strangers formed new bonds of friendship. It became
a space in which artistes bonded with the Jamaican people
with many returning, eagerly, to the Jazz and Blues stage
time and time again. It has created a heritage fitting of the
visionary who made it possible and we honour Mr Stewart
for this legacy which we endeavour to enrich and grow.
Deepest condolences to his family and God’s strength
and comfort in this time of loss and grief.
The 2021 Jamaica Jazz
& Blues Team