The songs of jazz icons Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong will be floating along Main Street tonight when the Mood Indigo Jazz Quintet, featuring American musicians David and Joyce Davis, perform on the State House lawns.

Gems Theatre Productions, together with the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) are bringing traditional jazz to Guyana in the hope that the music will be as successful as it has recently been in Trinidad & Tobago.

Some of the best jazz and blues standards are expected to be played including St Louis Blues and some of Chicago’s best known tunes. The concert starts at 6 pm and tickets cost $1500.

The concert is said to be the first of its kind according to GRFU President Kit Nascimento. “This is traditional American jazz and blues, not modern day music. It’s the first time something like this has happened in Guyana.”

Tonight’s performance is another chapter in the ‘riches’ to ragtime story of Mood Indigo Jazz tours. David and his wife Joyce have been travelling for ten years around the Caribbean by yacht playing music. Prior to this they had been senior executives in their respective jobs. David used to be a prominent US television journalist, while Joyce herself was involved with major American corporations. But with a huge love and talent for music they have since been sailing the region and playing in St Martin, Grenada, Barbados, St Lucia and most successfully Trinidad.

It is hoped after tonight David and Joyce will bring their ‘live-aboard’ tours to Guyana. Joyce said it was an exciting prospect.

“What we are bringing to you is our love of the American art form that is jazz. This is a treat for us, it is so special. We are hoping our music will become as infectious in Guyana as it has been in Trinidad.”

Musicians Russell Durity (bass) and Winston Matthews (drums) will be introducing themselves to Guyana. Both have come over from Trinidad as part of the quintet. Russell is a freelance musician who has international experience, playing in Jamaica and Malaysia. Winston has played and recorded with some of the calypso greats such as Sparrow, Stalin and David Rudder.

Completing the group is Guyanese guitarist Herbie Marshall, familiar to many with his regular gigs at the Sidewalk Cafe. He draws from such musical sources as Jimmy Hendrix and Bob Marley.

For producer Gem Madhoo-Nascimento this will be her fourth concert of the year, having already raised $500,000 in proceeds for various causes. The amount raised tonight will go towards the Under-18 North American and West Indies Rugby World Cup Qualifier. The match is something which the President Kit Nascimento said would be an historic achievement in itself.

“This would be the first time any US national team has competed in Guyana. The proceeds of the concert will go towards raising money for the qualifier. Without such support we wouldn’t be able to host the match.”

There will be a music workshop staged at the Sidewalk Cafe on Monday at 5 pm.