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Sailor jazzed by festival performance

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By JOYCE McKENZIE

jmckenzie@tampatrib.com

Published: June 14, 2009

ST. PETERSBURG - Since his early teens, Kyle Johnson has been a fan of jazz.

The U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class is also a trumpet player and an admirer of international jazz artist Arturo Sandoval.

Thanks to arrangements made by Caribbean Festival spokeswoman Keisha Picatt and Johnson's father, David Johnson, of Weeki Wachee, his son got a special treat on his first day home from a tour of duty in Iraq - meeting his idol.

"It was a blast," he said. "He was such a big inspiration. He played a whole bunch of songs I love."

Johnson, on a two-week leave from the Norfolk Naval Base in Virginia, and his family got to watch Sandoval's performance at the 17th Annual Caribbean Festival at Vinoy Park on Saturday from backstage.

And the 24-year-old got to talk horns with Sandoval and meet his family and band.

"It was amazing," he said.

A staff report

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