By KARAN MINNIS, Guardian Lifestyles Reporter

Local jazz as we all know it is about to take on a new life as the country's very own Paul and Tanya Hanna are set to travel the United States to entertain and promote The Bahamas.

On Wednesday, Oct. 15 through Sunday, Oct. 19 the Hanna's will be performing at the International Black Film Festival in Nashville, Tennessee and on Friday, Oct. 24 and Friday, Oct. 25, they will be sharing the stage with Gary Hasse on the Bass, at the Knicker Box in New York City.

According to Mrs. Hanna, co-founder of You In Music, these performances are not just about entertainment, but more about promotion. "The whole purpose of the trip is to promote the upcoming You In Music Concert Lecture Business Series that we have taking place March 5-7, 2009, at the Wyndham Resort, Cable Beach here in Nassau.

"This series is being held to discuss topics that include megi digi media — meaning the media is now being transferred into digital and explaining what that means for musicians and how we will function with this new technology and how it helps us. We just want as many people as possible to come to this event and so while performing we will be promoting that function."

The Hanna's aren't strangers to the concert stage and love performing for their friends. When Paul performs, he puts all his strength and soul into whatever he plays or sings. Drawing from his extensive repertoire of Jazz standards, calypso, show tunes, Latin and mood music, Paul has become "a musician for all seasons". He intuitively picks up on the theme or tempo of an event and chooses selections which convey the appropriate feeling. Paul's improvisational jazz style works well with the diverse repertoire of his wife Tanya with whom he performs.

As a young entertainer, at age 10, Tanya was one of the first persons to perform on board the M/S FLAVIA as a guest artist accompanied by her father, the late Sidney Woods. Early in her career, she performed at concert halls in Miami, Chicago, New York, Cleveland and throughout The Bahamas.

As a music teacher her career began in earnest, at the age of 16, when she assisted her father in his music studio, and played the organ for Sunday Mass at Holy Family Church. This early training is said to have helped Tanya to develop a love of music resulting in her being considered one of the top vocalist in The Bahamas today. For more information on these events please e-mail tanyahanna@yahoo.com.

International Black Film Festival

Date: Wednesday, Oct. 15 - Sunday, Oct. 19

Where: Nashville, Tennessee.

Time: TBA

Paul & Tanya in New York

Date: Friday, Oct. 24 - Sunday, Oct. 25

Location: The Knicker Bocker, 11 University Place NY, NY. 10003

Time: 9:30 p.m. - 1:00 a.m