Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter
Local entertainer Pliers (left) and Appleton's Tanya Miller welcome U.S. saxophonist Jimmy Sommers at a reception at the Terra Nova Hotel, Waterloo Road, on Tuesday night. - PHOTOS BY WINSTON SILL /FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
THE APPLETON V/X show promises to be a musical delight, and the only foreign act is in the island, raring to go.
Saxophonist Jimmy Sommers is ready to meet his fans and make new ones. On Tuesday, the Appleton/Wray and Nephew crew hosted a little welcome soiree for Sommers, at the Terra Nova Hotel. So this was the chance for local media and other personalities to meet Jimmy, maybe get a few autographs and find out a little about this guy from Chicago.
"A lot of funk and a lot of soul is what I'll be bringing to the show on Sunday," he said cracking a huge smile. But eager individuals can see him in action before then at Grand Lido Braco on Saturday night, before heading back for the big Jack's Hill show.
"I've got my band from (Washington) D.C. and we've been touring for about two years, so we've got it (the routine) down," says Sommers. He will be performing hits from his three albums, James Cafe, 360 Urban Groove and Lovelife. But he promised at least one touch of local flavour.
"I'll be playing Murder She Wrote with Chakdemus and Pliers," he chuckled. Gem Myers, Suzanne Couch, 50/50 Band and Dwight Pinkney will also perform.
Sommers has toured over 25 cities in his latest musical journey; sponsored by Appleton V/X.
"This is my second time here, but I've never seen Kingston. When you go to places like Negril, you're in a resort, but you never get to really see the island," said Sommers.
Among the guests were Tanya Miller; Catherine Wood Kevin Bourke; Andrew Price; Jack Glasure and Alesia Stevenson, who are members of Sommers' management team; Alison Young; Carlette deLeon and Jerome Hamilton of Headline Entertain-ment; Fame FM's Claudette Powell; Zip 103's Judith Bodley; Harry Graham of Radio Mona; Tom Desulme; Suzanne and Peter Couch; The Observer's Mark Pritchett and Larry Watson.
