Bermuda's ailing entertainment scene, gets under way this Saturday when the Ocean View Golf and Country Club opens its doors for its first major jazz session.

Mr. Miles Manders and his group, Jazz Culture, will appear in a Tribute-Nite in Jazz, featuring the music of such jazz greats as Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Theolonious Monk, Charlie Parker and Bermuda's own star, the late Lance Hayward.

It is planned to hold a dinner and show on the second Saturday of each month, featuring different menus and a variety of musical themes.

"We think the Bermuda public is yearning for a place where they can enjoy good music. And on a moonlight night, there is nothing more beautiful than jazz on the patio -- that melody floating across the valley in competition with the tree frogs and crickets!'' So says Mr. Wendell Tucker, manager of the Ocean View Club, who sees the facility as an ideal place where "mature, specialist groups can come, something for members and the general public to use. It's close to town, no close neighbours and plenty of parking.'' Mr. Tucker, a jazz enthusiast who returned to the Island after working for 14 years with the Department of Tourism in the US, is not happy with the entertainment -- or lack of it -- that he found on his return: "We seem to have gone back to the '50s and early '60s when musicians had to rely on themselves to keep music alive. In those days, there was a vibrant group of musicians who would play at places like the Ecarte club, Clayhouse, Sunset Lodge and the workmens' clubs. Tourists loved to go there. Now, 40 years later we seem to be back, promoting music on our own, because the hotels, clubs and so on, seem to have given up.'' Mr. Tucker sees his experiment at Ocean View as an important step in reviving a professional environment for the Island's musicians. "Our visitors are desperately searching for things to do at night when they come to Bermuda. The hotels have lost that consciousness of what entertainment can do to boost tourism, so Miles Manders and other local musicians are going to step in and help fill that gap. Response to jazz in town, at places like Hubie's Bar, has been nothing short of phenomenal -- and lots of those enthusiasts are visitors. For some reason, the hotels changed their format and tried to become something that Bermuda is not. But, as Bermudians, we have a vested interest in seeing that our visitors are happy. And that means entertainment,'' said Mr. Tucker.

Miles Manders, who has been playing at The Sparrow's Nest for the past four years, also plays with the group, Jaz, at Hubie's Bar on Friday and Saturday evenings. When he formed the group, Jazz Culture, he mentioned to Mr. Tucker and club member and jazz lover, Miss Kate Murray, that he was looking for new venues for a few `gigs'. From that, the idea of jazz at Ocean View gathered momentum. Mr. Tucker says: "I was excited by the idea and was dumbfounded that other venues had turned his idea down -- no vision! We have so many talented jazz musicians out there, and even more who have gone overseas because they can't get jobs here.'' The leader of Jazz Culture agrees saying: "There are fine individual players all over the Island. One of the reasons I formed this group was to capture the essence of a certain kind of music. So much of it gets a jazz label that isn't strictly jazz. We are serious musicians. This is not a hobby. I want jazz to go on continuing our musical heritage and raising Bermuda back to the level of the '50s and '60s when it was recognised and appreciated.'' Mr. Manders and Miss Murray volunteered to help with the practical arrangements and are already planning further events, which will include a barbecue/jazz night in June.

Also planned for June 14 is a jazz cruise, organised by Hubie's Bar. Tickets (including food) are $30 and are on sale at The Fish Hut, on Court and Angle Streets.

Tribute-Nite at Ocean View Club starts on Saturday at 8 p.m. The $25 admission includes dinner and the music of Jazz Culture to follow. Tickets available from Sabrina's, True Reflections, Compact Discounts, or call 295-9355 or 236-7995 for further information.

JAZZ CULTURE -- led by Miles Manders (second from left) is one of the hottest new groups on the jazz scene. Also pictured are (left to right):-Clarence Burrows, Daniel and Andrew Morrison.