Life after Calabash International Literary Festival

And so it is over! Folks are heading back to their homes. Carolyn was the first member of our group to say "adios!"

Of course the memories are fresh and punctuates the conversations. Can you imagine chatting one on one with Mutabaruka?

Can you imagine how exuberant, yet tired, both Colin Channer and Kwame Dawes must be feeling as the 10th Literary Festival drew to a close?

Who would have thought of a Calabash Literary Festival Orchestra would be formed  - paying homage to two of the icons in the Jamaican musical arena: Sonny Bradshaw and Bob Marley?

All the songs performed used the lyrics of the songs from Bob's final studio album, Uprising, but arranged to evoke the jazz rythms of the Sonny Bradshaw's Seven big band. The special treat was the horn section - all graduates of the Jamaica Institute of Music, all beneficiaries of Melba Liston program endowed by Bob Marley. Did you know that Melba Liston taught at the Jamaica Instiitute of Music from 1973-1979?

The super special treat was hearing Myrna Hague Bradshow, Sonny's widow, and renowed jazz vocalist render Redemption song (watch for the video).

So what do we do the day after the festival ends?

Shop . . . .

Eat . . .

Water aerobics . . .

Enjoy the sunset . . .