PRESERVING THE CULTURE
JAZZ ON THE DUKE
Jamaica’s rich heritage and culture emerges from many strains and the Duke Street Refurbishing Project is committed to encouraging and enhancing positive cultural experiences – supporting the creative industries and promoting Kingston as a global cultural centre. One major initiative has been a street event called Jazz on the Duke, which began, live on Duke Street in 2019, and continued on an online platform during the covid pandemic.
Sponsored by the Tourism Enhancement Fund, Victoria Mutual and the Kingston Restoration Company, Jazz on the Duke is part of the push to return the city to its former glory by creating entertainment events along one of its primary arteries, Duke Street. Director of the Jamaica Music Museum, Herbie Miller, who produces the event, said the focus on jazz is rooted in the early popularity of the genre at various Downtown locations, including the Myrtle Bank Hotel and along Victoria Pier. This was at a time when there was no reggae, so jazz and mento were the popular music forms of the day. Miller said that the local ska form was a direct extension of jazz, which therefore is part of the foundation of our local music and that the name Jazz on the Duke both identified the location and paid tribute to iconic jazz composer and arranger Duke Ellington.
OTHER IMPORTANT CULTURAL RESOURCES
DUKE STREET HISTORICAL RESOURCE CENTRE
Learn more about people and places of historic Duke Street.
EXPLORE THE HISTORY OF DUKE STREET
Duke Street in Kingston, Jamaica is a bustling commercial street that is known for its vibrant street life, home to a diverse range of businesses, including shops, restaurants, and offices, and an iconic address for the legal and financial community. Duke Street has some fine examples of historic buildings that have survived destructive earthquakes and fires during the 19th and early 20th centuries – the reason so many of the city’s structures date only to the 20th century. The street name and layout including the cross streets, are part of the city’s original square mile that dates back to the end of the 17th century. At one time, the northern end of the street was a residential area, and several early hotels and guest houses were located there. A major thoroughfare from then to now, Duke Street continues to play an important role in the city’s social, economic and cultural life.
Electoral Office of Jamaica
The Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) was established after Jamaica gained independence in 1962.
St Andrew's Scot Kirk
This Scottish Presbyterian Church is one of the oldest in the city, with a history dating back to the late 19th century.
WALKING STREET MUSEUM
One of the major initiatives of the Duke Street Refurbishing Project has been to create the Walking Street Museum, Phase 1 of which is now complete.
Phase I
Phase I of the Walking Street Museum (WSM) is complete. This initiative aimed to highlight the historic nature of the street and to create an opportunity for artists to give their interpretation of various themes that were selected. The Walking Street Museum is the first of its kind in Jamaica and is proving to be a major point of interest for cultural tourism. It is funded by the Tourism Enhancement Fund and supported by a broad-based Committee comprising the DSRP Team and a number of independent members.
Phase 1 comprises the following works:
GUIDED TOURS
For a guided tour of the Walking Street Museum, contact Kingston Creative.