highest quality over the weekend.

Visiting musicians Bill Pierce and Ray Santisi mingled with Bermudian trio Charles Bascome, Winston DeGraffe and Frank Esposito to mould an incredible musical combo.

Naming themselves "Sons of the Soil'' they electrified the audiences over at City Hall over the two nights.

Pierce and DeGraffe were the driving forces on sax and trumpet respectively.

Pierce has blown with such jazz greats as Art Blakey, Tony Williams and Hank Jones, as well as making appearances with Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye.

DeGraffe is one of the hottest figures on the Bermudian scene and is still young. He has already appeared with the Four Tops.

It was like an old western showdown to see who had the fastest fingers in City Hall, as they swapped places on centre stage.

Then they would take a back seat as pianist Santisi, looking like a movie professor with his half lens spectacles, conjured up serious emotion on the keyboard.

His solo spot on "Little Rock'' generated great feeling as did every other piece he introduced. As the audience applauded his artistry he threw up his hands as if to say, "It was nothing.'' Do not forget the rhythm section who kept matters tight and on track throughout both shows but were also given a chance to shine in their solitary moments.

Much of the show was taken up with standard, almost experimental explorations into the far reaches of jazz tradition. Numbers like "Moon Rays'', "Odio'', "Nadus'' and "Old Members'' tended to cover the whole range of emotions from the relaxed to the up tempo.

The were two high points however. The first came with a terrific rendition of Charlie Parker's "Little Suede Shoes''. Again Santisi provided the constant fluid core while Pierce and DeGraffe let fly.

Then there was "The End of Dogma'', a duet between the two Americans, Santisi on his grand piano and Pierce changing to a clarinet. Once again Santisi dictated the pace of the song while Pierce chased strands all over the hall.

Bascome seemed surprised when the audience collectively sighed as he announced the end of the show. He said: "OK, we will have to find something for you.'' Then the encore started.

The Sons of The Soil did more than just entertain this weekend. They also held a clinic to pass on a little of their magic to local musicians. It was free of charge to budding young jazz stars.

They also launched the Packwood Home building fund which aims to provide accommodation for 28 people in Somerset. The estimated budget is $2 million.

If the fund raisers continue to provide entertainment like the Sons of the Soil, raising that cash will be easy and immensely pleasurable. -- Alan Wright .

GOOD SHOW! Emily Saunders, right, wife of the late Richard Saunders, admires some of her husband's work with National Gallery director Laura Gorham.