A Legacy of Governor Albert Bryan Jr. · St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Sweet Jazz
USVI
Where Quelbe Meets Jazz — The Soul of the Islands, Live
The Festival Begins In
About the Festival
A Permanent Cultural Legacy
Born from the Islands
As Governor Albert Bryan Jr. concludes his historic administration, this initiative deploys unused administration funding to create something that will outlast any term in office — a world-class music festival rooted in the soul of the Virgin Islands.
Sweet Jazz USVI is the only festival in the world where Quelbe — the official music of the U.S. Virgin Islands, born from African rhythms and Danish colonial history — shares a world-class stage with GRAMMY Nominated and Award Winning jazz artists.
Year One is a gift to the people of the islands. In the years that follow, Sweet Jazz USVI will become a premier global cultural tourism destination — filling hotels, driving economic growth, and telling the world the story of the Virgin Islands through music.
The Day
One Day. Four Acts. Pure Magic.
12:00 – 2:00 PM
The Roots
Quelbe Showcase
The festival opens with the authentic heartbeat of the Virgin Islands. Legendary scratch bands take the stage playing the squash gourd, triangle, banjo, flute, and steel pan — the instruments that have told the story of these islands for centuries.
USVI Heritage2:00 – 4:00 PM
The Bridge
Youth & Emerging Artists
The next generation steps into the spotlight. Featuring youth jazz ensembles and recipients of the Governor Albert Bryan Jr. Young Artist Grant — the living proof that this legacy will continue long after the last note fades.
Youth Showcase4:00 – 6:00 PM
The Groove
Contemporary Jazz
As the afternoon trade winds cool the air, regional and national jazz artists bring the heat. Smooth, soulful, and electrifying — this is jazz at its finest, with the Caribbean Sea as the backdrop.
Contemporary Jazz6:00 – 8:00 PM
The Legacy
Headliner Sunset Finale
As the sun sets over the Caribbean, GRAMMY Nominated and Award Winning artists take the stage for a powerhouse headlining performance — culminating in a historic collaborative jam session where jazz meets Quelbe in a genre-defying finale.
Headliner
2003
The Heartbeat of the Islands
Quelbe: The Official Music
of the Virgin Islands
Quelbe — also known as "scratch music" — is the oldest indigenous music of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Born from the fusion of African rhythms and European melodies during the Danish colonial era, it was officially designated the territory's music in 2003.
Played on the squash gourd scraper, triangle, flute, banjo, and steel pan, Quelbe tells the stories of island life — love, hardship, celebration, and resilience. Legends like Stanley & The Ten Sleepless Knights and Jamesie & The All-Stars have kept this tradition alive for generations.
The Performers
World-Class Artists.
Island Soul.
Full artist lineup to be announced. Register your interest to be the first to know.
GRAMMY Award Winners
Headliner Sunset Finale
The Legacy set will feature GRAMMY Award Winning artists performing a historic fusion of jazz and Quelbe as the Caribbean sun sets.
GRAMMY Nominated Artists
Contemporary Jazz Stage
World-class GRAMMY Nominated performers bring the finest in contemporary jazz to the beachfront stage during The Groove.
USVI Quelbe Legends
The Roots Showcase
The authentic scratch bands of the Virgin Islands — the keepers of the Quelbe tradition — open the festival with the music of the ancestors.
Rising Stars
Youth & Emerging Artists
Recipients of the Governor Albert Bryan Jr. Young Artist Grant take the stage, representing the future of music in the Virgin Islands.
The Champion
Tracy Hamlin
Vocalist & Philanthropist
Sweet Jazz USVI is championed by Tracy Hamlin, an internationally acclaimed vocalist who has performed in 58 countries and built a career dedicated to both musical excellence and cultural education.
As a former National GRAMMY Trustee, founder of the Sweet Jazz Festival scholarship program, and a television personality based in St. Croix, Tracy brings both world-class credentials and deep personal ties to the Virgin Islands.
Her vision: to create a festival that honors the people of the USVI first — and then invites the world to discover what these islands have always known.
"Music is the universal language — and in the Virgin Islands, it speaks in Quelbe."
The Initiative
The Governor Albert Bryan Jr.
Music & Heritage Initiative
Three pillars. One legacy. A $600,000 investment in the musical soul of the Virgin Islands, funded by unused administration capital and designed to outlast any administration.
Quelbe in the Classroom
Curriculum development and artist-in-residency programs bringing Quelbe to 15+ schools and 3,000+ students across the territory.
Gov. Bryan Young Artist Grant
20 annual scholarships of $5,000 each for young USVI musicians, with mentorship, masterclasses, and performance opportunities.
Sweet Jazz USVI Festival
The flagship one-day festival — a permanent, annual celebration that will grow from a local community event to a global cultural tourism destination.
Our anchor holds. And if we hold our course, if we keep our faith strong and our standards high, then our best days are not behind us. They are in front of us.
Governor Albert Bryan Jr. — Final State of the Territory Address, 2026
The Setting
Three Islands.
One Unforgettable Experience.
The U.S. Virgin Islands — America's Caribbean paradise. No passport required for U.S. citizens. Direct flights from major cities. The most beautiful waters in the Atlantic.
St. Croix
Festival Home
The heart of Sweet Jazz USVI. The main stage, the beachfront sunset finale, and the cultural village all call St. Croix home.
St. Thomas
Gateway Island
The most connected island in the USVI, with direct flights from major U.S. cities and a world-famous cruise port.
St. John
Natural Paradise
Two-thirds national park. The most pristine island in the Caribbean, just a ferry ride from St. Thomas.
St. Croix, USVI
Festival Home · March 21, 2027
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