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HomeNewsArchivesFRIDAY EVE MUSIC SOOTHES THE ST. CROIX SOUL

FRIDAY EVE MUSIC SOOTHES THE ST. CROIX SOUL

Aug. 30, 2003 — An intimate crowd, nestled in a cozy bar on the western end of the Christiansted boardwalk, was treated on Friday night to several hours of Caribbean-inspired jazz and soul. The Caribbean Jazz Quartet — Antoine Clarke on keyboards, Bobby Richards on drums, Zappa on bass and Ronald Russell on lead guitar — entertained music enthusiasts with tunes ranging from Caribbean-inspired jazz to the finger-popping timeless beat of '70s pop.
Couples strolling down the boardwalk, seduced by the sounds of music, stopped in, took a seat, bought a drink or something to eat off the menu. Local "regulars" who faithfully support local music, got their seats early. Tourists in the nearby hotel came out on their porch for a bit of jazz and moonlight. The soft lapping of the waves, the silhouettes of the boats in the harbor and the reverberation of the guitar, drums and keyboards flavored the night and added an extra romantic edge to the town of Christiansted.
The occasion was the debut of Sen. Ronald E. Russell's fall music tour, taking place at Antoine's Restaurant on the Christiansted boardwalk. The tour was organized in collaboration with the Frederiksted Economic Development Association (FEDA) and the Christiansted Restaurant and Retail Association, who contacted the businesses and selected the locations. The tour will alternate between restaurants in Christiansted and Frederiksted every two weeks through December 2003. The senator picks up the tab for the band while the proprietors promotes the event.
The impetus for this event began on the Senate floor in June 2003 where Sen. Russell announced that he would donate 10 percent of his Senate salary to stimulate the economy of St. Croix through the promotion of musical events, utilizing local talent.
Tony Doos, owner of Antoine's Restaurant, was very pleased at the response from his regular crowd and from the new faces that came to the debut. "This corner of Christiansted is hard to promote," he said, referring to the fact that his restaurant is on the very end of the boardwalk, "so I am glad for the added publicity."
The schedule for the remainder of the fall line up is: Sept. 12, Villa Morales, Frederiksted; Sept. 26, Stixx, Christiansted; Oct. 10, Blue Moon, Frederiksted; Oct. 24, Pleasant's Restaurant, Christiansted; Nov. 7, Beach Side Café, Frederiksted; Nov. 21, Fort Christian Brew Pub, Christiansted; Dec. 5, Pier 69, Frederiksted; and Dec. 19 at Tutu Bene/Café Mistro, Christiansted.

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