WORLD-class musician Clarence (Tootsie) Bean returns to the local stage for the first time in five years tomorrow night.

The event is truly a family affair. Most notably, it presents an opportunity for Mr. Bean to perform ? for the first time ? on the same stage as his son, Shelton.

And it also allows him to help raise funds for the Flyers Track Club, a cause dear to his daughter, Donna Watson.

"This concert is really her brainstorm," the 76 year old said of Mrs. Watson earlier this week.

"It's something she has had in her mind for a long time ? getting her father and her brother onstage together and raising money for her track and field kids."

A percussionist, Mr. Bean began performing professionally at the age of 13 and hasn't stopped since. Based in New York, he travels around the world entertaining.

It's a talent he passed on to his son. The younger Bean studied drums under his father and then at the Berklee College of Music. Following a host of musical successes in the United States, he now plays for the Vernon Temple AME Church, teaches at the Bermuda Music Institute and performs in hotels across the island with the New Bermuda All Stars Steel Band.

"Shelton is bringing a couple of guys he used to work with in North Carolina and I'm bringing some guys from New York," said Mr. Bean.

A "couple of guys" translates to a number of respected artists. A Night of Jazz with father and son Tootsie and Shelton Bean, will include performances by Melva Houston, a former singer with such renowned artists as Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding and Isaac Hayes; Jerry Weldon, once a member of the legendary Lionel Hampton Orchestra and a featured soloist with Harry Connick, Jr.'s Big Band; Bob Sanger, a classically-trained artist who has performed with Vanessa Ruben, The Platters, the Drifters and Marlena Shaw; Jason Foureman, an upright bass player who is a member of the University of Louisville Graduate Jazz Combo; New York-based Akiko Tsuruga, who began organ lessons at the age of three, and has performed professionally ever since graduating from the Osaka College of Music; Joe Robinson, a performer of 40 years, who began playing trumpet at the age of 13.

Bermudian artists will also perform. The Beans have invited well-known musicians The Apex Four and Milt Robinson.

The performance will mark the first in Bermuda for Mr. Bean, since he was lured onto the local stage by Charlie Bascome some five years ago. It was, coincidentally, around that time that he was honoured by the Bermuda Arts Council ? in 2001 the percussionist received a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his talent.

"Anything, as far as performing is concerned, I always enjoy it," he said of his return to the local stage. "I know (my daughter is) excited. She's been planning this for years. She always said she wanted to see her daddy and her brother on the same stage one day."

Mr. Bean credits his sister Erminie and her husband, Max Simmons, with his early introduction to the stage.

"He was a well-known entertainer and would tap dance and play the bones," he explained. "He noticed me beating on everything and got me lessons with Ernest Leader, who pushed me out at the age of 13, to play with his band in the Band Room on North Shore.

"I didn't want to go. People could hardly see me. The drums were so big and I was so small they could only see the top of my head."

The introduction was enough, however. Mr. Bean continued playing professionally while attending school.

"I've been kind of blessed, doing something I've loved all my life. When I got married, I worked during the day and played at night. My wife was understanding and, after the kids had finished school, she said if I wanted, I could go and check out the music over the other side."

He accepted the offer, certain that he had benefited sufficiently through his training under "one of Bermuda's greatest musicians, Lance Hayward" and by playing with any number of respected musicians who had visited the island.

Mr. Bean's most recent performance was in Japan. He returned to New York earlier this week following performances in a music festival in Tokyo.

"I go every year with a group, usually in April," he said. "There's me on drums, Danny Mixon on piano and Paul Brown on bass. We were there at that time this year and then we got a call that they wanted us to come back."

Aside from their appearance in the festival, the musicians also played in night clubs around the city.

"They love American music," he explained. "I did a recording there about three years ago with a singer, Kim. They love her. When we first went she did a lot of Billie Holiday tunes and now they worship her. It has been quite an experience for me. I've travelled all over the world performing. It's just in my blood I guess. I was just blessed with this talent."

A Night of Jazz with Father and Son, Tootsie and Shelton Bean, will be held tomorrow, at the Berkeley Institute Auditorium at 7.30 p.m. Tickets, available from Sound Stage and True Reflections, are $50 for general admission and $75 for patrons. Part proceeds will go towards the Flyers Track Club and the Tootsie Bean music scholarship.