An outstanding lineup of some of jazz’s finest female performers will grace the stage for the 20th renewal of the Ocho Rios International Jazz Festival, scheduled for June 12 to 20. Hosted by the recently launched Sonny Bradshaw Foundation, which was established to honour the memory and work of the late festival originator Cecil ‘Sonny’ Bradshaw, the festival kicks off on June 12 with a fashion/wine/jazz show at the French Ambassador’s residence in Kingston.

Among the many outstanding female performers this year are Canadian-born vocalist Kiralina; trumpeter Ginetta of the band Ginetta’s Vendetta; American singer Carmen Lundy; Mexican singer Lila; saxophonist Pamella Williams; the inimitable Myrna Hague-Bradshaw; percussionist Ouida Lewis, keyboardist Dr Kathy Brown and the ever-green Marjorie Whylie.

Vocalist Kiralina covers a wide range of singing genres and boasts an impressive performance record, including appearances on the Apple Hollow Music Festival 2008 where she was the featured guest soloist; the Montreal Jazz Festival with Voices of Soul for Patti LaBelle; the West Island Blues Festival and Taste of the Caribbean Food Festival where she has been guest vocalist since 2001.

Ginetta, composer, bandleader, vocalist and trumpeter extraordinaire, is one of the brightest stars on the scene today. She has studied and played most styles of music ranging from classical, jazz, blues and pop to cumbia, Salsa, merengue and funk. An alumni of North Texas State University, she was taught by trumpet masters Marky Markowitz, Spanky Davis, Ted Curson, Howard McGhee and Allan Colin.

The Evening Standards newspapers describe Carmen Lundy as “a genuine jazz singer”. She is celebrated throughout the world for her vocal artistry and is highly regarded for her jazz innovation. Her contribution of over 50 self-penned compositions now comprises the New Jazz Songbook.

Percussionist Ouida Lewis, who earned qualifications from the Music School of Amsterdam, Holland, the Amsterdam Dance Centre (ADC), Toko Tap studio Amsterdam and most recently from The Edna Manley School of Visual and Peforming Arts, played in her first Ocho Rios Jazz festival in 2005. In 2006, she, along with her band Cacique were the opening act for a major Ernie Ranglin show at The Caves in Negril.

Dr Kathy Brown, Jamaican pianist and jazz instrumentalist routinely captivates audiences with pleasing jazz arrangements and delightful piano riffs, and is and medical doctor to boot.

Inducted into the Jamaican Jazz Hall of Fame in 1997, Marjorie Whylie is a much-respected musicologist, who has lectured and conducted workshops in England, continental Europe and North America and judged music competitions in the Eastern Caribbean. In addition to performing with her band Whylie Wrhythms, she is the manager of Jamaica’s Big Band and also performs as a pianist and singer.

Jazz Month — as the late Sonny Bradshaw dubbed the month of June — will culminate in Ocho Rios on Father’s Day, June 20, with a spectacular show at the Turtle River Park, featuring among others Kingsley Ettienne, Pamella Williams, Idris Ackamoor, Fab Five and Joe Sizemore.