Hail "IM"

Jamaican master saxophonist Cedric 'IM" Brooks recently delivered a smokin' set as special guest to jazz guitarist maurice Gordon's show at the Grog Shoppe on the Devon House grounds, a long-time haunt of Gordon and home to many a memorable jazz performance.

Gordon ahs worked withthe likes of Monty Alexander, organ maestro Kingsley Etienne and steel pan virtuoso Othello Molyneaux. he has played the Air jamaica jazz & Blues festival anda number of other top-drawer events. Gordon also recorded a segment for BET's "jazz in the Sun" feature on Caribbean jazz artists.

visit maurice gordon on the web at mauricegordon.com

Kinch Clinches BBC Double

Saxophonist Soweto Kinch, who's aprtially of Jamaican heritage, copped the two BBC radio 3 jazz Awards for which he was nominated. In the awards announcement (see bbc.co.uk/radio3) Kinch won awards for Best Instrumentalist and Best Band.

In related news, Kinch along with fellow jazz Jamaica All Star alumnus, Denys Baptiste, recently delivered searing sets at London's Ealing jazz festival, which closes tomorrow. The two, signed to Dune Records, were part of a special "Dune Night" showcase at Ealing.

Kinch can add the BBC Awards to his Music of Black Origin (MOBO) award for Best jazz Album (Conversations with the Unseen - dunerecords.com/sowetokinch.com) and his award from the Montreux jazz fest as best new Saxophonist

Jimmy Cliff wows Senegal

International jmaaican music star Jimmy Cliff just finisheda stellar appearance at the inaugural Ebony Music festival in Dakar, the Senegalese capital. ALso headlining the festival are African reggae vet Alpha Blondy, Franco_African rap star MC Solaar and local boy, Senegalese world music giant. Youssou N' Dour.

Apart from Africa nad Europe, Cliff, who rarely performs for us in Jmaaica any more, has a huge fan base anda second home (more like his 1st home these days) in Brazil.

Young jazz Star for Independence Holiday shows

fast rising Miami- based jazz singer Nicole Henry will give four shows over the Independence Holidya weekend (Thurs. Aug 5 through Sunday Aug 8), Will alternate between the Royal Plantation and jamaica INn hotels in Ocho Rios on the sunny North Coast. Series is dubbed jazz on the [Jamaican] Riviera

henry tours on the strength of her debut album the Nearness of You, a standards collection with trio backing. See nicolehenry.com for details.

Album has been a mover on CMJ and Billboard jazz charts