May 12, 2003 – Sunset Jazz in Frederiksted features its first guest artist from St. John this Friday — steelpan player Carl Freeman.
Joining Freeman for the concert in Veterans Park along the waterfront will be Marcus Rabb on trumpet and The St. Croix Rhythm Section — Elvis Pedro on guitar, Marsvyn David on bass and Ken "Afra" Dailey on drums.
According to Freeman, his musical journey has been "inspiring and surreal." His first music lessons were on the ukulele. Then he started studying piano. He became "absolutely fascinated" with steelpan music in the late '50s when he got his first exposure to steelbands that traveled to St. Thomas from neighboring islands for V.I. Carnival.
Freeman studied at the Wiesbaden Conservatory of Music in Germany and has preformed throughout Europe, Asia and the Americas. He appeared network television on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and "The Ted Mack Amateur Hour." He currently performs at hotels and on cruise ships.
The music starts at 5:30 p.m. and goes for two hours — cleverly timed to coincide with Nature's nightly sky-painting as the sun sets over the Frederiksted harbor. Admission is free, and families with young children are welcome.
There are a few benches in the park, but first-comers quickly claim them; so, concert goers are encouraged to bring folding chairs and blankets for sitting comfortably on the grass.
Sunset Jazz concerts, held the third Friday of each month, are presented by the Frederiksted Economic Development Association. At each event, FEDA operates a cash bar and Hispanos Unidos sells food.
With the concert ending at a relatively early hour, FEDA invites jazz fans to stay downtown afterward to enjoy some more night life — dining out or taking in live music at any of several venues.
Next up on the Sunset Jazz calendar: Saxophonist Jack Peterson will appear on June 20 in support of his new CD, "Jazz Play." The Caribbean Jazz Quartet is booked for July 18,
For more information, send an e-mail query to Sunset Jazz or call 719-3672.
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