Nov. 27, 2002 – To end your Thanksgiving weekend on a jazzy note, the place to be as the sun begins to set on Sunday is the St. Croix Reformed Church, where December's Jazz Vespers concert will feature the Demitri "Pikey" Copemann Group.
This concert is a special one, not only because it coincides with the holiday weekend and falls on the very first day of December, but also because Dec. 1 is traditionally observed as World AIDS Day, and the program will recognize that fact.
The concert "is in support of World AIDS Day and is made possible in part by the St. Croix World AIDS Day Committee," a release states. Regular Jazz Vespers sponsors are Owen Johnson Electric, Carringtons Inn, Beeston Hill Clinical Lab and The Blue Moon.
"Standards — A Tribute to Composers and Songwriters" is the evening's theme, so look for the oldies but goodies as interpreted by Copemann on saxophone, Elvis Pedro on guitar, Marsvyn David on bass and Larry Bough on drums.
Copemann got into jazz as a Central High School student. A self-taught saxophonist, he founded the Native Rhythm Band and has performed with Jamesie and the Happy 7, Free Association and Taco and the Playboys. He has recorded with Joe Paris and the Hot Shots and King Derby and can be heard on the "Zoop Zoop" anthology with Paris and on a recent CD from Rico and the All Stars. He's also an art teacher at Lew Muckle School, an accomplished painter and a published poet whose work can be found in the V.I. anthology "Yellow Seed Is Blooming."
Pedro started studying and playing guitar in 1975. His early inspiration came from Wes Montgomery, George Benson, Kevin Eubanks and fellow Crucians Ronnie Russell and Fred Thomas. He has had no formal musical training but has read, studied and practiced for thousands of hours. He has played with Benson, Jimmy Owens, The Drifters and Freddy Williams and sat in on numerous occasions at Blue Moon Jazz. He has toured throughout the world as a member of the V.I. National Guard's 73rd Army Band.
David, who also is a songwriter, arranger and producer, has had four of his tunes recorded by the Howard University Jazz Band and gets credit for numerous commercial jingles heard in the territory. He was band director for Brenda Cole, 1988 country singer of the year, and currently is music director for the Atlanta Latin band Orquesta Taboga and produced its most recent CD.
Bough studied drumming with Fred Thomas but didn't join a band until he was a student at the College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. The band, which played the military base/hotel circuit on that island, was a Virgin Islands combo — made up of students from the territory led by Mario de Chabert. Upon returning to St. Croix, Bough joined his brother Glenwood's band Tropical Combo. In the 45 years since, he has worked with a "Who's Who" of V.I. musicians. Proficient in all forms of music, he favors the dynamics of small acoustic groups.
Jazz Vespers, now in its second season, is a family-oriented program of concerts on the first Sunday of each month that features top St. Croix talent performing in a smoke-free, alcohol-free environment.
The church is located in Estate La Reine above the Kingshill Post Office. The program is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. with refreshments and a chance to chat with the musicians afterward. There's no admission charge, but an offering is taken. Seating is open, so your chances of getting the best seats to enjoy not only the music but the view of the setting sun are best if you arrive early.
Next on tap: Guitarist Ronald Russell on Jan. 5 and Claudette "Adjoa" Young-Hinds and Friends on Feb. 2.
For more information, send an e-mail to Jazz Vespers, or call Willard Fields at 719-3672 or Pastor Rod Koopmans at 778-0520.
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