Photo: Kerwin Du Bois paying tribute to Roy Cape.

The Tobago Jazz Experience has begun its trek around the island and already thousands are following this musical and cultural journey that started in the village of Speyside on Saturday, April 21 and will end at the Pigeon Point Heritage Park on Sunday, April 29.

The nine-day event, coordinated by the Division of Tourism and Transportation of the Tobago House of Assembly, kicked off at the Speyside Recreational Grounds with Jazz in the East. The quaint, seaside community hosted an enthusiastic crowd as visitors from other parts of Tobago, Trinidad, and the world, converged on the greens to experience the first event on the calendar.

Patrons were treated to a versatile cast that included local act, Fire Fusion, who performed a mix of jazz, soul and soca. Nadia Batson and her all female band dazzled with their dynamic performance while Kerwin DuBois’ powerful set left the audience begging for more.

The Experience rolled into the Signal Hill Recreational Grounds on Sunday, April 22, featuring phenomenal fresh talent at Hillside Jazz. Spellbinding voices captivated the audience, starting with 8-year-old Mitchila Williams, who delivered a touching tribute to the late Whitney Houston. The impressive lineup featured several new local artistes scouted at the first ever Tobago Jazz Experience auditions, including the soulful Arlette James and charismatic Hayden ‘Big Browne’ Brown, who left no one doubting why they were among those selected to make their debut on the Tobago Jazz Experience stage.

Son of the soil, Shurwayne Winchester, wrapped up the night in fine style, drawing the crowd stage-front with his smooth voice and a special energy reserved for his hometown.

On Monday, April 23 and Tuesday, April 24, the Tobago Jazz Experience 2012 made stops at the Speyside High School and Signal Hill Comprehensive School respectively. Designed to motivate and inspire young musicians, the Jazz workshops featured musicians Theron Shaw and Sebastian Loeber, who were only too eager to share their knowledge of jazz with the students.

The next stop on the itinerary is the Milford Road Esplanade with a relaxing evening of primarily unplugged acts at Jazz on the Waterfront on Wednesday, April 25 at 6 p.m.

The pace picks up with Northside Jazz at Castara Beach on Thursday, April 26 from 1 p.m.; Plymouth’s Street Beat and Jazz on the Beach at Mt. Irvine Beach on Saturday, April 28 and of course the weekend of the events at the Pigeon Point Heritage Park - World Music Night on Friday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m., Pazzazz on Saturday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m. and Beach Jazz Fiesta on Sunday, April 29 at 4 p.m.