Recommended discs

The following- a mixed bag of
new and recent recordings - are
highly recommended:

Roberto Magris Europlane - Check-In
Soul Note/Balck Saint
(watch this space for my reiview)

John Williams - A Time To Build
Almond Productions/Caribbean Gospel

Seretse Small - Silo Sessions
Griot Music

www.blacksaint.com;
ww.caribbeangospel.com;
www.griotmusic.com

Williams Wows at Weekenz

Virtuosos Jon Williams (keyboard and elec. violin)
joined by a stelar cast of musicians and singers,
wowed a lamentably small Easter Sunday audience
at the Weekenz Bar & Bistro. Backed up by Alex
Martin-Blanken on keyboards, Dale Brown on (elec.)bass
and Deleon "jubba" White on drums and several
guest vocalists (Rovleta Fraser, Fleurine,
Andrew Casanova, Andrew lawrence), Williams
delivered an engaging mix of secular and spiritual
tunes, from Wayne Shorter's "Footprints" to
his own "My Lord is Sweet".

the show was the second in a series organized
by musician and publisher Seretse Small.

Jon Williams at Weekenz

Just in time for Easter, multi-instrumentalist and producer
Jon Williams brings his inspired and inspirational
stylings to the Weekenz Bistro and Bar in Kingston
Sunday, March 27, beginnign at 7:00p.m. J$800.00
pre-sold; $1000 at the gate email
weekenz@cwjamaica.com for other details

Jazzofonik Live

The Jazzofonik X-perience Live comes to Kingston lounge
the Deck, beginning Wednesday, May 25. watch this space
for artist roster as well as for news on Jazzofonik Mondayz
at Weekenz Bistro.

in the meantime, the Jazzofonik X-perience continues the
jazz spin at the Deck each Wednesday, at the Deck, with
the best in recorded jazz, the blues and beyond by
Mikey Blu, Chiggy and Michael 'My Way" Williams
email bluriter@yahoo.com for details

Violin Trio

A budding master on the violin with an affinity for
Latin as well as roots reggae and other Caribbean
sounds, Kingsley de Passe leads a sprightly trio,
supported by cousin Andrew on percussion and Robert
Grant on keyboards. The group has two regular gigs at
present, appearing every Saturday through the month
of March at D' Roof Restaurant & Lounge, and a
regular Monday night gig- focussing on Brazilian
selections atthe Hilton Kingston poolside.

Ocho Rios jazz line up

Just peeped the lineup for 2005 (15th Anniversary) Ocho Rios jazz festival. Amongthe new faces this year is altoist Ruddresh Mahantappa, who was subject of recent feature in jazz Times magazine (www.jazztimes.com)

returning are tenor man Eric Alexnader, whose new album Dead Centre, is figuring at or near the top of several jazz charts, veteran Houston Person and one of the finds from last year, NYC vocalist and pocket trumpet act Ginetta's Vendetta

CD Recommendations

The following have recently (over the last 8-10 weeks)
come into my possession and are highly recommended:

Lea Delaria - Double Standards (Telarc);
Dave Holland Big Band - overtime (Dare2 Records);
Caribbean Jazz Project - Here & Now Live in Concert
(Concord Jazz ) - this is a 2-disc set;

Jason Moran - Same Mother (Blue Note)

Sakesho- We Want You To Say..... (Heads Up)

Ravi Coltrane - In Flux (Savoy Jazz)

Telarc - www.telarc.com;
Dare2records - www.sunnysiderecords.com;
Concord jazz - www.concordjazz.com
Blue Note - www.bluenote.com;
heads Up - www.headsup.com

Smithsonian Jazz

The link for Jazz Appreciation Month is smithsonianjazz.org.

April is Jazz Appreciation Month [US]

The Smithsonian Institute is for
the fourth year, earmarking April as
Jazz Appreciation Month. legendary
pianist Herbie Hancock spoke at the
recent official launch. A number
of activities, including concerts,
are planned throughout the
period

Locally, June is the traditonal
Jazz Month, withthe annual Ocho
Rios International jazz fest
taking up the Father's Day week
(second week in June, 11-19)
with auxilliary activities in
Kingston and the South Coast.

Go to www.ochoriosjazz.com for more
on this fest, and see www.smithsonian.org and
click on Smithsonian Jazz for details
on Jazz Appreciation