For three nights in January, the 2013 edition of the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival offered performances and moments leaving little doubt as to why it is one of the island’s premiere events.

On Thursday, crowds lined up in anticipation of a jam-packed opening night lineup at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium as Jazz and Blues kicked off its 17th staging of the event. A decent turnout accompanied a bill headlined by legendary Reggae band, Third World, who were celebrating their 40th anniversary as a group.

Third World closed out an all-Jamaican opening night roster with a rousing set including hits such as Now That We Found Love, Forbidden Love, amongst a host of others. They were also honored for their vast contributions to the Jamaican music industry along with fellow Reggae legend, Ken Boothe, who celebrated his 50th year as a recording artiste. Boothe, along with Rootz Underground, Nadine Sutherland and Cocoa Tea all gave typically resounding efforts as they warmed up music fans for the heat that would be on display over the weekend.

Night two featured a buzzing crowd and with that, some stinging sets as some international flavour added taste to the Jazz and Blues show. The queen of R&B/Soul, Mary J. Blige made a sparkling debut on Jamaican soil as she interacted with her audience through classics like No More Drama, Be Without You and a host of others.