... JEFFREY OSBORNE, who turned 61 in March, performed in Jamaica for the fifth annual Take Me Away concert staged by Richie Stephens and Friends for charity, last week Sunday.

He wowed the crowd with his usual excellent performance, but on the night before the show, he told Outlook that he was concerned about the standard of music today.

Osborne, who also celebrated his 25th wedding anniversary recently, said there was not much that was challenging about the current music, but new recordings by older musicians like himself don't get much airplay.

Still, he is kept very busy with performances all over the world. He apeared in the St Lucia Jazz festival after leaving Jamaica last week and will be in Atlanta for a private event this week.

His next album (a live recording), set for a July release, will be a collaborative effort with George Duke.

What was the last book you read?

Tiger Woods How I Play Golf, because I love the game.

Whose music are you listening to now?

I am listening to a number of CDs including Maxine Nightingale

Where was the last interesting place you visited?

Djakarta, Indonesia, and I was surprised by great response to my music.