Oct. 16, 2002 – Four veteran local musicians coming together as The Caribbean Jazz Quartet will provide the music for Friday's Sunset Jazz in Frederiksted concert — Rod Cochran on piano, Calvin Whyte on steelpan, Gary Zappa on bass and Papo Valentine on drums.
To accompany the music, Hispanos Unidos will be selling food, and there will be a cash bar operated by the Frederiksted Economic Development Association, which presents the monthly jazz concerts in Veterans Park along the town waterfront.
The public is invited and admission is free.
Here's a look at who's who in the Caribbean Jazz Quartet:
– Rodrick Cochran was playing the piano and singing in church in Mobile, Alabama, at the age of 8. In high school, he joined the band — as a tuba player — and played piano with a group called Praze. He earned a music scholarship to Texas Southern University, where he played in the jazz band. What first brought him to St. Croix was a 1999 gig at the Divi Casino with the group Flashback. A year later he returned with the group 747, and this time he stayed. Locally he has performed with Eddie and Ronnie Russell, Neil Simon, Zappa and many others.
– Calvin Whyte took up steelpan in his native Antigua at an early age. At 13, he was the fill-in leader of the 14-piece steelband Brute Force. Before long, he had his own five-piece band, Piece Pipes, a popular fixture on the island's hotel circuit for years. He moved to St. Croix to become instructor/arranger of the Central High School Steel Orchestra; in 1979-85, he also was the arranger for Bill Bass's Rising Stars Steel Orchestra. He currently is chief instructor for the Human Services Department's Youth Promotion and Delinquency Prevention Unit.
– Gary Zappa grew up in the American Midwest, attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison and played with such Chicago blues artists as Jimmy Johnson and Big Time Sara. He toured for eight years with jazz pianist/composer Bin Sidran then later moved to Florida, where he formed the R&B Connection. There he met guitarist Steve Usher and formed the Tropical Jazz Quartet, which opened for such acts as Spyro Gyra, Art Porter and Craig Chaquico. After settling on St. Croix two years ago, he formed the versatile band Tuff Enuff.
– Edwin "Papo" Valentine grew up in New York City, where he began playing bongos at age 10. He worked with musicians around the city gaining experience and confidence. Later, he moved to Cleveland where he played timbales in local salsa bands. Then it was on to Florida, where he, too, met Steve Usher. After eight years as a member of the Tropical Jazz Quartet, he moved to St. Croix, where he was reunited with longtime road buddy Gary Zappa and became a member of Tuff Enuff.
Friday's concert begins at 5:30 p.m. and will last about two hours.
"Sunset Jazz in Frederiksted is a great third Friday night [of the month] out for the entire family," publicity states. "Bring the kids … bring a lawn chair, a folding chair or even a blanket to spread on the grass and enjoy great jazz and beautiful sunsets along the waterfront in downtown Frederiksted."
Concertgoers are encouraged to stay in town after the concert to have dinner and/or enjoy entertainment events and activities in Frederiksted.
Upcoming Sunset Jazz concerts will feature Diane Russell on Nov. 15, Neil Simon on Dec. 20 and VI Art Ensemble on Jan. 17. For more information, send an e-mail to Sunset Jazz or call 719-3672.
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