Oct. 29, 2002 – Vocalist Dahlia Pena gets top billing for Sunday's Jazz Vespers November concert at the St. Croix Reformed Church. She'll be accompanied by Marcus Rabb on trumpet, Elvis Pedro on guitar, Marsvyn David on bass and Ken Afra Dailey on drums.
Pena's selections and stylings have a lovely theme: "Love Lost, Love Found … An Evening of Love Songs." The program will include romantic standards by Cole Porter, Henry Mancini and George Gershwin, among others.
A featured performer at the Divi Carina Bay Casino and at Harbour Night events, Pena is a native Crucian who has been strongly influenced by Nancy Wilson and Mahalia Jackson. She can be heard singing background vocals on several recordings produced by the studio of Ronnie Benjamin Jr.
Jazz Vespers presents family-oriented jazz programs in a smoke-free and alcohol-free environment on the first Sunday of each month. The timing — 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. — is to take advantage of the sunset views from inside the church sanctuary. Admission is free, too, although a free-will offering is taken. There are no reservations, and regular concertgoers know to get there early for the best seats.
Following the program, everyone is invited to mingle with the evening's artists and enjoy complimentary refreshments.
The St. Croix Reformed Church is located on the hill above the Kingshill post office. For more information, call Willard Fields at 719-3672 or Pastor Rod Koopmans at 778-0520; or send an e-mail to Jazz Vespers.
This second season of Jazz Vespers concerts is made possible in party by Owen Johnson Electric, Carringtons Inn, Beeston Hill Clinical Lab and The Blue Moon.
Coming concerts will feature guitarist Ronald Russell on Dec. 1, bassist/arranger/composer Marsvyn David on Jan. 5, and vocalist Claudette "Adjoa" Young-Hinds and Friends on Feb. 2.
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