The Tourist Board started the St. Lucia Jazz Festival as a 4-day experiment in 1991. Its success has been phenomenal.

St. Lucia Jazz has become one of the world's preeminent Jazz Festivals. R&B greats Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight, Carlos Santana, Patti Labelle and jazz artists Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Herbie Hancock, Stanley Jordan, Roy Hargrove and George Benson have all appeared.

The event, which attracts about 10,000 people annually, hosts performances throughout the island both day and night, although most of the open-air concerts are held in the evening.

In addition to jazz performed by international stars, local bands play salsa, soca and zouk, steel drum and reggae.

The 2006 Jazz Festival runs May 5th-14th .

The performers have yet to be named. Here's who appeared in 2005.

St. Lucia Jazz Festival 2005
Main Stage Performers

For more information, www.stluciajazz.org.

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