A reggae giant performs a rare show on Vashon

Clinton Fearon, an acclaimed reggae musician, will play at Red Bicycle Bistro & Sushi at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13.

Pete Welch, who books music for the Bike, is excited about the show.

“If you like roots reggae, this is the show to see this winter,” Welch said. “Clinton Fearon only comes to the Island once a year, twice if we’re lucky — so this is a show not to be missed.”

Fearon hit his stride as a musician in Jamaica in the early 1970s, when he co-founded the legendary band The Gladiators.

He moved to Seattle in 1989, and in 1993 he formed his current band, The Boogie Brown Band.

Fearon, who sings and plays bass, guitar and percussion, is acknowledged as one of Jamaica’s most legendary reggae players.

Fearon’s show at the Bike has a cover charge of $10, and Welch recommended buyng tickets in advance by calling 463-5959. The show is for all ages until 11 p.m., when a 21 and older only policy kicks in.

Café Luna offers tasty jazz and dazzling guitar

The local jazz trio Mucho Gusto will return to Café Luna at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12.

The group played its first Café Luna show last October, and the response from patrons was so enthusiastic that the café has now booked the group for a regular monthly gig.

Starting this Friday, Mucho Gusto is scheduled to appear at the café every second Friday of the month.

The café also holds a wine tasting on the second Friday of each month.

Mucho Gusto’s music is all original, with intrumentation including saxophone, keyboard and drums.

Seth Alexander, a Mucho Gusto band member, described the group’s music as “progressive jazz and R&B flavor mixed with some old school hip hop.”

The café will offer music the next night, too, with solo acoustic guitarist Damon Buxton taking the stage at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13.

Buxton is a fingerstyle player and composer working in the tradition of the Windham Hill artists.

Like the work of other Windham Hill artists, including Alex de Grassi, Michael Hedges and George Winston, Buxton’s work is soothing and relaxing.

After initial success with a demo release, “Sketchbook One,” Buxton established a recording collaboration with Will Ackerman, founder of Windham Hill Records, who produced his 2007 release, “Forgiving Dreams.”

Buxton’s work has received raves from music critics.

New Age Reporter reviewer R.J. Lannan wrote, “I can understand why producer Will Ackerman has high hopes for this artist. Like a writer who speaks volumes with a few words, Buxton’s sparse style shouts to the rooftops that the musical voice you hear is one to be reckoned with.”

Damon’s latest recording, “Rotation Of Earth,” will be available in March.

To preview his music before the Luna show, visit www.DamonBuxton.com.

Admission to both Café Luna shows is free, but contributions to the musicians are encouraged.