It's festival time once more and the resounding success of the Paradise Jazz Festival is now self-evident. But it's been almost seven years since what became the biggest jazz festival in Cyprus was little more than a twinkle in the eye of the founders, whose unshakeable belief  in the event finally made it a reality.
The Festival aims to bring the best of London's musicians to Cyprus to perform in a relaxed and inspirational location.
Paradise place itself sits at the edge of the sea in the North West of the island in one of Cyprus' fastest developing tourist areas with spectacular sea views. Due to the success of the festival and the increasing popularity of the event, the Cyprus Tourism Organisation has recognised the Paradise Jazz Festival as one of  the premier music events of the cultural calender and duly appoints funds to keep the concept of jazz on the island. A gesture that is welcomed by the organisers who believe it can truly become an Eastern Mediterranean festival, maybe the biggest of it's kind.

From the very beginning the Paradise Jazz Festival was envisioned as an important event that would have great cultural significance and popular appeal.The Paradise Jazz Festival will give Festival goers a chance to savour a more intimate look at the vibrant culture that jazz has to offer. From Cyprus to Isreal to Armenia, Greece, Holland and England, this year's talent will be performing on a new stage overlooking the picturesque hills of Pomos and the wonderful sunset over the Mediterranean coast. The first night will bfeature the renowned Cypriot bass player Irinaeos Koullouras, blending together a successful combination of Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot musicians in a band called Nortrh and South in an experimental performance based on Cypriot music.
Following that, the star of the 2003 Paradise Jazz Festival, Vasillis Rakopoulos from Greece will join last year's performer Haig Yazdijan ( from Armenia ) with extraordinary influences from Oriental and Mediterranean music.

Saturday's programme will include the return of the dynamic rhythm and blues band, Juba, in conjunction with the Blink Too Quartet from Holland that played at the Jerusalem Jazz Festival this summer. The 35-year old Dutch saxophonist and clarinettist Meke Erker, with his Blink Too, mixes high energy with electronic music , jazz and free flowing improvisation...
Sunday night of the Paradise Jazz Festival features vibraphone player, Christos Rafalides, currently residing in New York, who is visiting Cyprus and the Paradise Jazz Festival with his 'super cool jazz band' (www.manhattanvibes.com).
Following that, jazz fans will enjoy world famous saxaphone player and book-write Gilad Atzmon (www.gilad.co.uk) with music based on his experiences in life. Atzmon has dedicated his music to peace.
The finale of the 7th Paradise Jazz Festival will bring the rhythmic sounds of the 'Jamming Session' live on stage to end this phenomenal festival of sound and culture.