Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer

The evergreen Diana Ross sparked controversy at the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival because her team insisted that the organisers not allow displays of her on mega-screens on Saturday night. - Photos by Janet Silvera

WESTERN BUREAU:

Though Diana Ross went through multiple wardrobe changes, most fans at the annual Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival who forked out thousands of dollars didn't even see her face on the event's final night on Saturday.

Seeing the soul diva was out of the question for thousands of patrons who paid at least $5,300 for entry to the Aqueduct venue in Montego Bay, as all the big-screen televisions strategically placed in the venue were turned off during her act, upon Ross' insistence, The Gleaner has learnt.

"Dem shoulda throw bottle pon har, all 20,000 people inna di venue," shouted an irate patron, shortly after Ross exited the stage to boos from disgruntled fans.

Fans felt cheated

Although much of the blame was laid at the diva's feet, the majority of fans faulted the event's executive producer and promoter, Walter Elmore of TurnKey Productions.

"He (Elmore) has infringed on our rights as patrons and never even had the decency before Ross' performance to advise us," Stanley Brown complained.

When The Gleaner contacted Elmore yesterday, he said Ross' contract never stipulated that her performance couldn't be magnified to the audience. He said that in the event's 11-year history, recording has been standard procedure.

"It was at the eleventh hour that her manager said she wouldn't allow us to IMAG (In Vivo Imaging) her performance and, if any cameras were present, she would not go onstage," Elmore told The Gleaner.

He said he was forced to make a decision as "she was already paid, she was already here in Jamaica, the audience was coming expecting to see her and I couldn't tell them at the last minute that she had cancelled".

Owing to the vastness of the concert grounds, it was impossible for most patrons to see performers onstage without the mega-screens.

Convinced they were duped, Jazz and Blues fans spewed anger.

"Wi come fi get leg and thigh and dem gi wi chicken back," was the cry of one very vocal patron.

Another said: "I think it is disgraceful for people to pay such an exorbitant amount and not be able to see Diana. After all, she is not the first major act to be signed to Air Jamaica Jazz," complained Virginia Bridge, who said attending the event had bored a J$60,000 hole in her pocket for the three days.

The Gleaner has learnt that Ross was paid US$300,000 (J$21 million) to perform on the show.

A release from Headline Entertainment, TurnKey's publicists, stated that the organisers regretted the inconvenience to patrons and "sincerely hopes that the experience will not negate the wonderful overall experience".

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com