It seems that the days of going

to a coffeehouse and catching a cool set of jazz or blues are in the past,

somewhere with Maynard G. Krebs and his bongos. Offshoot Productions is

changing that, at least for a weekend, as they present a Jazz and Blues

Weekend as part of their Stars on the Southern Crescent coffee house series.

The event gets started on Friday,

Oct. 24 with performances by blues performer/composer Ray Chesna, cabaret

singer Janet Metzger and smooth jazz vocalist Oscar Sheppard. Chesna has

appeared at several past coffee house events, as well as in clubs in Atlanta

and New York. Metzger has performed at the Kennedy Center as part of the

Millenium Series and has also performed for 18 months at The Hot Club

in Atlanta. She also starred in ART Station's production of "Always...Patsy

Cline." Sheppard is an Emmy nominated composer who has also performed

with The Manhattans and Curtis Mayfield among others. He was a finalist

on BET's "Jazz Discovery" and was featured on the internationally

aired "Jazz Showcase."

There is no drop off the next

night when Urban Blu, Extension and Father to Son take the stage. Urban

Blu is an eight piece outfit that unites jazz with funk. Urban Blu consists

of three female vocalists with a five instrumentalists. They released

a CD, "Out of the Blu," last May and have won over audiences

everywhere.

Extension is a three man jazz

band, filling the slot left open by the Jennifer Perry Combo. Father to

Son will perform an "emerging talent" set. Father to Son consist

of Coweta County residents Bob and Andrew Clockel. Aside from a short

appearance at A Major Music in Newnan, this is their first public performance.

They play acoustic blues/folk in the vein of Jorma Kaukonen and the Jack

Casady Combo.

The Jazz and Blues Weekend

will take place at the Fayette Family YMCA, located at 215 Huiet Road,

Fayetteville.? Doors open at 7:45 p.m. each evening, and the show starts

at 8:15.? The menu features home-baked desserts, gourmet coffee, herbal

tea, cold drinks and hot apple cider.? Patrons who use their own mugs

get a discount on hot beverages and are eligible for the "Most Unusual

Mug" award.?? Admission, paid at the door, is $8 ($6 for senior citizens

and children twelve and younger.)

Stars on the Southern Crescent,

now in its tenth season, is presented by Offshoot Productions.? For group

rates and additional information, call Offshoot at 770-631-2362 or send

e-mail to [email protected].

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