May 26, 2001 – If you'd like celebrate the fact that this Memorial Day weekend doesn't end on Sunday, preview a new menu and enjoy live jazz at the same, the Hard Rock Cafe is the place to be come Sunday night.
The Sax Cymbals, in "five-piece trio" format, will be playing from 7 to 10 p.m. in the rock memorabilia restaurant in International Plaza on the St. Thomas waterfront. While jazz is the ensemble's forte, leader Rusty Vellek will take e-mail requests in advance for most any kind of standard music. ("Sorry, we don't do rap or heavy metal," he notes.)
Patrons can order dinner or light selections from the Hard Rock menu that officially makes its debut in the coming week. New items include salads and pasta dishes.
For Sunday's gig, the bare-bones Sax Cymbals trio of Vellek on sax, Rhett Simmonds on bass and Sally Smith on keyboard will expand to include Amin Gumbs on drums and Robert Luke on congas. They promise "good music at a reasonable volume level" for listening and dancing.
As for requests, e-mail them to Sax Cymbals. "Advance requests get top billing," Vellek says, adding, "What other band lets you help decide" what it's going to play?
