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HomeNewsArchives'ADJOA' AND FRIENDS TO PERFORM AT JAZZ VESPERS

'ADJOA' AND FRIENDS TO PERFORM AT JAZZ VESPERS

Aug. 31, 2001 – Sunday evening will bring a Jazz Vespers presentation to the St. Croix Reformed Church in Estate La Reine. "Life Is a Song Worth Singing" is the theme of the performance — and the title of the CD that will be recorded live at the concert.
Adjoa and Friends are the artists — that's Claudette "Adjoa" Young-Hinds on vocals with jazz artist friends Marcus Rabb on trumpet, Benjamin Jacobs-El at the piano, Marsvyn David on bass and Ken Afra Dailey on drums.
Willard John will be recording the concert live to produce a CD.
Adjoa began singing in harmony as a child with her mother and siblings and has performed with Hugh Masakela, Billy Paul and Akwaaba. She appeared at the 1992 St. Croix Jazz in Paradise Festival with the Yusuf Saleem/Freeman Ledbetter Group.
Rabb began playing trumpet as a youth in Baltimore and eventually got his master's degree in music from Howard University, which he attended on full music scholarship. He has performed with Wynton Marsalis, Milt Jackson and Joe Henderson — and has studied chamber music in France. A St. Croix resident since 1997, he teaches music on the elementary school level.
Jacobs-El, who grew up in Brooklyn, played trombone for much of his career, starting with the Newport Youth Band and The New York Jazz Septet. After three years at the Juilliard School of Music, he went on the road with Slide Hampton. He played with the Coker Camble Band, which backed Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, The Temptations and other Motown artists. He first visited St. Croix in 1963 while touring with Lionel Hampton, then in 1974 moved to the island — where he made the transition from trombone to piano.
David, who is also a writer, arranger and producer, has had four compositions recorded by the Howard University Jazz Band and has produced numerous jingles locally. He is music director for Orquesta Taboga, a Latin band.
Dailey initially studied flute and clarinet; he got his first drum gig — with The Modern Ink Spots — after a member of the group heard him practicing at his mother's home, knocked on her door and asked her if he could join them. He has worked at Philadelphia's Sigma Sound Studios, where "the Philly sound" originated, and has toured with Grover Washington, Betty Carter and The Dells. He currently is a member of The Roy Davis Trio.
Jazz Vespers concerts are presented the first Sunday of each month. They are family-oriented events, and young and aspiring musicians are especially welcome to enjoy the music and to interact after the performance with the featured artists.
Upcoming Jazz Vespers concerts will feature guitarist/pannist Dan Dixon and his quartet on Oct. 7, Black Diamond on Nov. 4, and The Elvis Pedro Quartet on Dec. 2.
The St. Croix Reformed Church is located on the hill above the Kingshill Post Office ni Estate La Reine. The performance is set for 5:30 p.m. Admission is free, and seating is unreserved. "Because of the increasing attendance, it is suggested that people arrive a little early to get the best seats," a release states.
For more information, call Willard Fields at 719-3672 or Pastor Rod Koopmans at 778-0520, or e-mail to jazz1@nameplanet.com.

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