MOON Palace Jamaica Grande is playing host to three performances as part of the 26th staging of the International Jamaica Ocho Rios Jazz Festival this week.

Featured on the line-up are Belgian ska band Freddy Loco and His Gordo’s Ska band, and Mexican fusion ensemble quartet Filulas Juz.

Loco and his band performed on Tuesday and will again take the stage today, while the Filulas Juz quartet delivered their set last night.

Moon Palace Jamaica Grande expressed pleasure at its involvement with the jazz festival.

“Moon Palace Jamaica Grande is excited to take part in the 26th Annual Jamaica International Ocho Rios Jazz Festival in honour of Jazz month. The festival showcases and promotes exceptional Jamaican and Caribbean Jazz musicians, and we will be hosting performances by a few of these talented artistes as well,” read a statement from the hotel.

Formed in 2012, the Filulas Juz band recently released its debut album Astralopithecus. Its members are José Javier Rodriguez, Luigino Marin, Armando Cuevas and Adriano Morales.

Mexican outfit Freddy Loco and His Gordo’s Ska band includes Fred Rafhay, Lurkin Laurent, Petit Gontran, Benjamin Dubray, Alberto Tarin and Diego Higueras. Around since the early 2000s, their albums include TABA and Satellites.

“We are excited to be a part of this renowned Jazz Festival for the first time, and will perform some of the cuts from our latest work

Crossing, an album which travels between ska and jazz as well as some punk and rock influences,” said Rafhay.

Started in 1991 by Jamaican musician Sonny Bradshaw as a one-day event, the Jamaica Ocho Rios Jazz Festival has since grown to become the Caribbean’s complete jazz vacation, featuring the greatest names in Jamaican jazz as well as the very best on the international scene. It is dedicated to the promotion and preservation of jazz.

— Kevin Jackson