legendary tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine is critically ill in a New York hospital and is not expected to survive.

Mr. Turrentine was scheduled to headline the Jazz Legend 2000 concert at the Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts tomorrow night.

According to Treble Clef Productions president David Frost, Mr. Turrentine was staying in a New York hotel with his wife Judith during a stop-over on his way to Bermuda when he was felled by a massive stroke on Sunday evening as he prepared to perform at the Blue Note nightclub.

"She found him unconscious on the bathroom floor around 8 p.m.,'' Mr. Frost said. "He was rushed to hospital, where doctors examined him and made their diagnosis. There is no brain activity, and he is currently on life support until a close relative arrives, at which time the appropriate papers will be signed and the machine disconnected.'' Meanwhile, two of Mr. Turrentine's fellow musicians who were due to perform with him in Bermuda -- pianist David Buttway and organist Dr. Lonnie Smith -- remained behind in New York with Mrs. Turrentine yesterday, but will arrive here today.

Meanwhile, the other musicians who were due to perform with Mr. Turrentine -- Freddie Hubbard, Hubert Laws, Grady Tate and Bob Cranshaw -- met with Mr.

Frost yesterday afternoon at the Elbow Beach Hotel, and elected to go ahead with the show as planned.

"They all agreed it was what Stanley would want -- and to make sure that Bermuda gets a performance it will never forget,'' Mr. Frost said.

During the concert, each artist plans to dedicate a piece which was a personal favourite of Mr. Turrentine's, and Mr. Frost paid tribute to their fortitude.

"I want to thank them very much for going on, because it is very difficult for them,'' he said.

The concert promoter also urged the public not to miss the event.

"I think those that don't get there for the show will miss something very special,'' he said. "The artists are going to take a lot of the sorrow that they have inside them and play it out on stage in a nice, joyful way.'' Mr. Turrentine last visited Bermuda in March this year, when he and his quartet performed to rave reviews at the Ruth Seaton James Centre, again under the auspices of Treble Clef Productions. No stranger to Bermuda, the saxophonist also appeared at the Forty Thieves Club on Front Street in its heyday.

An obviously deeply saddened Mr. Frost said of the famous musician: "Stanley was a very good friend to me, as was his wife Judith. He taught me a lot in the short time they were here earlier this year, and they introduced me to a lot of other artists and promoters. We were supposed to meet again in November in Chicago at a concert.'' Stanley William Turrentine was born on April 5, 1934 in Pittsburg, Penn., and had a glittering career both as a performer and recording artist, playing solo and alongside some of the true greats of the jazz world.

Critically ill: Legendary sax player Stanley Turrentine was reported to be near death in a New York City hospital last night. Mr. Turrentine was one of the headlines for this week's Jazz Legends 2000 concert, which is still to be held in his honour.

HEALTH HTH