SINGAPORE'S musicians are putting on a concert this Sunday to raise funds for an American colleague who has cancer.

Four jazz bands - the 10-piece Omniform band, Ireson band featuring pianist Alina Ramirez, The Alemay Fernandez Band, and Jackson Twinz and Friends - will perform at Harry's @ Boat Quay.The money raised from ticket sales will go towards paying the medical fees of pianist Michael Stanton, 57, who is warded at the Singapore General Hospital. He has been diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer.

Stanton, 57, is well known in the local jazz circuit. In the last decade, he has performed at the-then Somerset Jazz Bar at Westin Stamford Hotel, the former Swing@Cuppage Terrace, Harry's @ Boat Quay and Jazz @ SouthBridge.

Before he came to Singapore, he performed with big names such as American soul singer Aretha Franklin, R&B singer Chaka Khan and the late American singer-songwriter Marvin Gaye.

The father of three, who grew up in Compton, California, also played the keyboards for Stevie Wonder's Songs In The Key Of Life (1977) album.

On Nov 23, he was admitted to the Singapore General Hospital after he complained of severe abdominal pain. Four days later, he was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer.

Read the full story in Friday's edition of The Straits Times Life!.