Jimmy Sommers interview

I'll be interviewing saxophonist Jimmy Sommers sometime today,
ahead of his scheduled weekend tour (June 16-19). will post
text of the interview by latest Friday, so watch for it.

Ranglin Goes "Surfin'"

Jazz guitar maestro Ernie Ranglin's latest,
on the Telarc label, is entitled Surfin'.
Musically, it follows on his previous releases,
Modern Answers to Old Problems and his guest
spot on labelmate Monty Alexander's Rocksteady
album. Surfin' recorded at Tuff Gong studios,
features the likes of Dean Frazer, Mikey Fletcher,
Derrick Stewart and Paul Kastick and includes
Ranglin's take on the Delroy Wilson rockstady classic,
Dancing Mood

The Future of Jamaican Jazz

This coming Friday, May 27, seniors from
the Jazz dept. of the Music School
at the Edna Manley College of the
Performing Arts, under the gudiance
of Ibo Cooper and Maurice Gordon will
stage a concert at the College Music
Hall beginnign at 7:00 p.m. Several
top musical guests will also be featured

Ocho Rios Jazz officially On

The 15th annual Ocho Rios jamaica jazz Festival was officially launched on Thursday night at the jamaica pegasus Hotel in Kingston.

Activities wil kick off on June 1 at Kingston's Emancipation park (right across the street0 with a free concert featuring sax man Houston Person and guitarist Maurice Gordon &friends.

Jazz Fest will also include South Coast party at Treasur Beach, a jazz an poetry session at Weekenz in Kingston, jazz lunch atthe Starapples Restaurant and jazz n blues nites at red Bones and the University of Technology (UTECH).

Ocho Rios and environs is, of course the main focal point and will host a range of free and paid events at various spots, including the faith's pen Rest Stop (along main highway between Kingston and North Coast), Runaway bay (Super Clubs' Breezes Hotel) and the climax at the Almond Tree Restaurnat and gardens

check ochoriosjazz.com for current artist lineups and other details

More from St. Lucia

14th St. Lucia jaz is now history. UB40 closed Sunday
night with satisfying if unspectacular set taking in
their 25 years asa reggae band (unchanged core lineup)
before them, Chris Botti, w/ Billy Kilson on drums Mark Schulman
on guitar, Federico Pena on piano and Jon Osmond on bass
delivered tight set focussing on his latest release, "When I Fall in Love"

Earl Klugh wasalso stirring, as was Dave Koz and his band the previous
afternoon. Audience-wise, Saturday's show belonged to
American Idol Fantasia Barreno. Showed great confidence
and crowd -esp. ladies - lapped up every bit of her
"Independent Woman" schtick.

The Isleys, featuring Ron Isley looked and sounded good
(Ron recently recovered from a stroke) but set was a bit
shorter and not quite as intense as previously (they headlined
a mother's Day bill in Kingston about 2 years ago).

Also notable: local boy roots sax stylist Rob "Zi" Taylor and
vocalist Tracy Hamlin who opened on Saturday and Sunday
respectively.

Ravi, Riley and NE

From St. Lucia - saw Ravi Coltrane Quartet - Coltrane -saxes;
Luis Perdomo - p; Drew Gress-b ; E.J. Strickland -d at The
Gaiety Theatre last nite- awesome!!
Also real good ben Riley's Monk legacy septet -
four horns, bass, elec. guitar and Riley behind the kit -
very good esp. Peter Washington on bass, Wayne Escoffrey
on sax (tenor) and freddy Bryant on guitar

later, caught R&B proto-boy band new Edition
(sans Bobby, of course) out at the Pigeon Island facility
- great energy as they weaved back and forth through
their catalog (can't believe its over 20 years since "Candy Girl").

Tonite - more R&b with the Isleys and Am. Idol phenom Fantasia

Jimmy Sommers jams in Jamaica

In the midst of the buzz on the upcoming Ocho Rios
jazz fest comes word of yet another renowned overseas
jazz artist to visit our shores for the Father's Day weekend.

Rising saxophone star Jimmy Sommers has joined with
CARGO Magazine and the prestigious Appleton Estate V/X
Jamaica Rum www.appletonrumus.com brand to perform a
series of concerts coined "An Evening Escape with Jimmy Sommers."

Appleton is a fine aged Jamaican rum produced by J. Wray & Nephew,
proprietor of the Appleton Estate, where rum has been distilled
and hand blended since 1749. "An Evening Escape With Jimmy Sommers"
is a 28-city, 2-year National tour promoted and managed by the Glasure Group www.glasuregroup.com, a marketing and public relations firm based in St. Petersburg, FL.

St. Lucia Bound

Jazzofonik will be off to St. Lucia as of Fri. May 6
to catch the sounds and sights of the annual
St. Lucia jazz festival.

We return on May 10 with a full report
technology permitting I'll also post
from the festival itself.