Nov. 27, 2007 — Start celebrating the holidays Saturday and Sunday at the 3rd Annual St. John Christmas Music Festival. All events are free.
"It's really a great, wonderful example of putting love back into Love City," said organizer Steve Simon.
The events begin at 8 p.m. Saturday with Christmas Jazz Under the Stars at Winston Wells Ballfield. The event features Julie Michels and Dr. Ron Nimmo.
Michels, who hails from Toronto, was nominated for a Grammy for one of her jazz albums. Her most recent CD is Julie Michels and Kevin Barrett — Live at Statlers. Michels has a gorgeous voice and is a fabulous entertainer, Simon said.
"She's a short, cute gal with a personality the size of Montana," he said.
Nimmo is a St. Thomas-based gynecologist who has forged a second career in the music industry.
"He's blessed with an incredible baritone voice," Simon said. Nimmo has performed at Reichhold Center for the Arts.
Michels and Nimmo are backed by St. John's Jazz Islanders with Sally Smith on piano, Joe Ramsey on sax, Dale Harrigan on trumpet, Vince Wallace Jr. on bass, Ryan Diehl on drums and Simon on clarinet.
At 6:30 p.m. Sunday, the St. John Children's Christmas Parade kicks off. It begins at Mongoose Junction and wends its way through Cruz Bay past the ferry dock to Winston Wells Ballfield. Santa Claus will be on hand to distribute Christmas gifts to the children.
The Love City Pan Dragons will entertain, and reggae music will be played over "very large" speakers, Simon said.
An evening of Christmas Gospel and Blues Under the Stars begins at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Winston Wells Ballfield. It features gospel legends Diunna Greenleaf and I.J. Gosey, with Zac Harmon and the gospel band Blue Mercy.
Greenleaf was nominated for the 2007 female blues artist of the year and won the 2005 International Blues Competition. Her style combines gospel with jazz and soul. Gosey is an institution in the Houston, Texas, music scene. Harmon honed his gospel skills at church in his native Mississippi.
Also appearing will be the young people of the Homemade Jamz Blues Band from Tupelo, Miss. The group took second at the 2007 International Blues Competition in Memphis.
"Those kids just blew everybody's socks off," Simon said. The band's members are Ryan Perry, 14, Kyle Perry, 12, and Taya Perry, 8.
Food and beverages will be on sale at the Winston Wells Ballfield. No coolers are allowed, but bring chairs or blankets to sit on.
The events are sponsored by Merchants Commercial Bank, First Bank, American Paradise Realty, Holiday Homes, Tropical Properties, Chelsea Drugs, Carlson Construction, Catered To Vacation Homes, the Westin Resort and Villas, Theodore Tunick and Co., Donald Sussman and Simon and his wife, Helen.
For more information, visit the Christmas Music Festival website.
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