Feb. 19, 2003 – Friday's Sunset Jazz in Frederiksted concert will feature the Marcus Rabb Quintet with a special performance in celebration of Black History Month by the St. Croix Sankofa for the Cultural Arts Dance and Drum Troupe.
The program takes place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Veterans Park along the Frederiksted waterfront. Admission is free and includes complimentary viewing of the sunset. Families are encouraged to come out and the organizers suggest that attendees bring along folding chairs or blankets to sit on.
The Marcus Rabb Quintet brings together for this date "some of the most coveted jazz musicians in the Caribbean," publicity states. All of them are familiar to Sunset Jazz fans — Rabb on trumpet, Roy Davis on piano, Elvis Pedro on guitar, Marsvyn David on bass and Ken "Afra" Dailey on drums.
Marcus Rabb grew up in Baltimore, where he played trumpet professionally in jazz bands while in high school. He has a master's degree in music from Howard University, which he attended on scholarship and where he began developing his career as a performer and composer, and he studied chamber music on a fellowship at the American Conservatory of Music in Fontainebleau, France. He has performed with such jazz stars as Wynton Marsalis, Milt Jackson and Joe Henderson.
A St. Croix resident since 1997, Rabb teaches music at Country Day School and privately. He is working on his first album as a leader with an expected release date of late 2003 or early 2004. He can be heard on Friday nights with VI Art Ensemble at The Blue Moon in Frederiksted and on Saturday nights with his quartet at Indies in Christiansted.
Elvis Pedro, a native Crucian, started his guitar studies in 1975. He is largely self-taught, having taking early inspiration from Wes Montgomery, George Benson and Kevin Eubanks as well as fellow Crucians Ronald Russell and Fred Thomas. He has worked with Jimmy Owens, George Benson, The Drifters and Freddy Williams. He is a member of the V.I. National Guard 73rd Army Band and has preformed throughout the world with the group. At home, he often sits in at The Blue Moon.
Marsvyn David, a music writer/arranger/producer as well as a performer, has had four of his tunes recorded by the Howard University Jazz Band. He has written, produced and recorded numerous jingles aired throughout the Caribbean. He served as band director for Brenda Cole, 1988 country singer of the year, and is currently music director for the Atlanta Latin band Orquesta Taboga and produced its most recent album.
Ken "Afra" Dailey's first instruments were flute and clarinet, but his first big gig was playing the drums — with The Modern Ink Spots. He was practicing the drums at his mother's house in Philadelphia when the group's producer happened to walk by, listened for a moment, then knocked on the door and asked his mother if he could join the group. He later worked at the Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia and toured with Grover Washington Jr., Betty Carter and The Dells. Locally, he is in demand as a drummer and has performed with the Roy Davis Trio.
Roy Davis, who'll be on keyboards for Friday's concert, did not provide biographical information.
Sunset Jazz concerts, sponsored by the Frederiksted Economic Development Association, are held on the third Friday of each month. The association operates a cash bar and Hispanos Unidos sells food.
With the music ending at an early hour, concertgoers are encouraged to stay in town afterward to enjoy dinner and/or additional entertainment.
Next up on the Sunset Jazz calendar are vocalist Catalina & Company on March 21, a return visit by the popular Paradise band from St. Thomas on April 18, and first-time visitor steelpan artist Carl Freeman from St. John on May 16. For more information, call 719-3672 or e-mail to Sunset Jazz.
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