Jazzman Jade Minors is taking to the stage with his trusty tenor sax and a trio of artists for a night of entertainment in support of local music — and to pass on a taste of the Island’s musical heyday.

The show this Saturday night, with guests including Premier Michael Dunkley and his wife Pamela, is to back drummer Eddie Ming and his students, and will be held at Mr Ming’s Rhythm Lab in the East End.

The Jade Minors Quartet also features bassist Quinton “Tiny” Burgess, songstress Veronica Darrell and guitarist Eugene “Stacker” Joell.

Mr Ming’s vegan jazz gatherings at his St George’s school have been a fixture since 2002, and a host of Bermuda’s musicians have graced the stage there.

The latest event will raise money for the Rhythm Lab’s diverse educational offerings, but is also aiming to bring musicians together and give exposure and experience to Mr Ming’s students.

For a veteran of Mr Minors’s stature, the experience runs deep: for a decade he played in the hugely popular dance band Joy Express, and was a regular at the legendary Angle Street venue Hubert’s Bar for many years.

“We have fun — it’s all about giving back and giving the students a chance to play with bands,” he said, recalling Hubert’s as “a place to go and be free”. He played there until its closure in 2010.

He has also kept closely involved in the stage productions put on by Dale Butler.

Bermuda once teemed with musicians playing jazz, calypso, rhythm and blues, reggae and even country music — a circuit of venues that could furnish serious artists with full-time work.

Jazz ballads are Mr Minors’s speciality: music that, like the blues, “tells a nice story” — something he too does well, such as recalling meeting the saxophonist Bennie Ross “Hank” Crawford Jr, who played here with Jimmy McGriff in 2000.

“Hank Crawford is a master of playing the blues — it was a beautiful experience when I was asked to front for him when he played up at the Ruth Seaton James. I was listening to Hank Crawford all my life,” Mr Minors said.

“I got there early to set my instrument up. I thought I was the only person on the stage.

“When I was leaving I saw a figure on the couch to the side. There was hardly any light. I said, ‘Hank, is that you?’ and he went, ‘Yeah, man, it’s me’.” Attending the reception up front was not to Mr Crawford’s inclination. Instead he enjoyed a chat, passing on his own musical wisdom, which stays with Mr Minors to this day.

“He told me, ‘One thing about this music — jazz has all sorts of avenues, and you have to choose the avenue that you want to go down. You have to choose the avenue that you want to go down, that’s comfortable for you’.

“He said you have to let people know where you stand and where you’re coming from.

“They did a lot of blues — there is a saying that if all else fails, play a blues tune and that will save you every time. But they also threw in Amazing Grace and Precious Lord. A lot of people might not understand why he would do a gospel tune or a spiritual [tune] but that was where he was coming from.”

The audience on Saturday will be treated to jazz, R&B, soul, and blues featuring Mr Ming’s student drummers.

But the special element of the show will be the chance to pass on the musical baton, much as Mr Minors did from the greats of his era.

At the last show, Mr Minors said, “we had all sorts of student drummers come up and join with the band — last time was mostly senior students but this event is going to be some of the younger students”.

“This particular show has been requested of me specially for the students to do some blues and some nice shuffle tunes, which Eddie thinks they will be able to jam with,” he added.

“I’m looking forward to that night — it should be fun, man.”