Officially kicking off the third year of Monthly Sunset Jazz events, January's Sunset Jazz in Frederiksted concert is Friday, January 21st, featuring phenomenal guitarist Steve Katz.

Steve Katz, a life-long guitarist, was born in Pittsburgh and began playing the guitar at the age of nine, performing by age twelve. His early influences were Eric Clapton, B.B. King, and Jimmy Hendrix. Although he was granted early acceptance to both Boston Conservatory and Berkeley School of Music, he chose to instead pursue the path of a career musician. He then moved to New Mexico and played in rock and blues bands throughout the state. From 1984 until 1990, he formed such bands as Motion Picture, Sassy Jones, and East-West. In 1990, he formed the band Strictly Taboo, which gained immediate regional popularity with their albums Playing with Fire and Speak No Evil. The band's music was put into rotation on both local and international radio stations, and material was used for the soundtrack of the movie Neptune's Rocking Horse. Rock notables such as Bobby Keyes, from the Rolling Stones, Jeff Nelson, from Cameo, and Greg Whelchel, from the Pointer Sisters, joined the band in the studio and on stage. They performed over three hundred nights a year, in large club circuit in the western United States, and opened for such artists as Delbert McClinton, Steppenwolf, Koko Taylor, and Jon Bon Jovi's alias, the New Jersey Syndicate. Strictly Taboo, as an unsigned band, became the #1 band on Armed Services radio during Desert Storm, and went on to win over ten awards from the New Mexico Music Industry Coalition, including two "Best Album of the Year" awards.

In 1997, Katz moved to the U.S. Virgin Islands, where he was influenced by the local Afro-Cuban musical styles. There, he has released two self-produced albums of original composition. His first solo album, Cruzan Seranade, blended local Caribbean themes with electric guitar rock. His second release in the Islands, El Viajero, a fusion of Rhumba Flamenco, Cuban, Latin Jazz, Gypsy, and Rock, gained instant popularity throughout the Virgin Islands. Three tracks from this album will be featured on the soundtrack of the upcoming movie, Island Fever. Songs from both albums are regularly broadcast on The Official Radio Stations of Sunset Jazz, 99.5 and 104.9 FM. Since coming to the islands, Katz has played in several notable concerts, including the St. Croix Blues and Heritage Festival, Jazz in the Moonlight, and shows with Jonathon Edwards and the Latin Jazz All Stars, featuring legendary Cuban pianist, Hilario Duran. He also opened for Gato Barbieri, Latin Jazz Grammy winner Nestor Torres, John Cleary, and Dr. John. He is currently writing and recording a new album, with an expected release early this year.

Looking ahead to February's Sunset Jazz in Frederiksted be certain to mark your calendars now for Friday, February 18th as Sunset Jazz is honored to welcome back Boston Saxophonist Joel Press.

Sunset Jazz concerts, which start at 6:00 p.m. and last for two hours, are free and open to the public, with families encouraged to attend. They're presented by the non-profit community organization, the Frederiksted Economic Development Association (FEDA.) FEDA is joined in it's efforts to present Sunset Jazz by WTJX/ Channel 12, our local PBS station, who assists each and every month through their video taping of Sunset Jazz which airs on Channel 12 Saturday nights at 8:00 p.m. As a reminder, Sunny 99.5 f.m. is the Official Radio Station of Sunset Jazz, so be sure and tune in to stay up to date on all of the jazz happenings! Bridget Cox-Dawson, Sunset Jazz organizer, reminds concert goers that FEDA operates a cash bar to help defray the expenses associated with producing this free concert to the community, while the group Hispanos Unidos sells food to assist in their community projects. And, a suggestion for those not in the know: Tote your own folding chairs or a blanket for seating comfort, as there is limited seating available in the park. And please be cool: No Coolers!