Rochester, NY – Students in the Eastman School of Music’s jazz programs responded to the Hurricane Katrina tragedy with a special perspective-after all, New Orleans is known as the Birthplace of Jazz.
The Eastman students decided to turn their annual free Eastman Jazz Showcase into a benefit, with a suggested donation of $5. They chose the Jazz Foundation of America as the recipient for all donations collected at the September 23rd event.
“I’m proud that a former student of mine, Herb Storfer, helped to found this wonderful organization,” says Professor Harold Danko, Chair of the Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media Department. “It provides much-needed support on a regular basis to the undervalued performers of this valued American art form.”
The Jazz Foundation of America has been named the official Coordinator for the New Orleans Musicians Clinic, and is also working with several other New Orleans organizations to deliver everything from instruments to shelter and food to paying gigs to New Orleans musicians. Eastman students hope to raise several thousand dollars to aid its efforts, and to bring awareness to the organization itself.
EASTMAN JAZZ SHOWCASE, featuring ten Eastman groups: Eastman Jazz Ensemble (Bill Dobbins, Dir.), New Jazz (Dave Rivello, Dir.), Jazz Lab Band (Russell Scarbrough, Dir.), and seven Jazz Performance Workshops (directed by Jeff Campbell, Clay Jenkins, Dariusz Terefenko, and Shirantha Beddage and Harold Danko.)
Friday, September 23, 2005 at 8 p.m. at Kilbourn Hall
Suggested donation: $5
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Editors and reporters: for more info, visit www.jazzfoundation.org. Interviews and photos can be arranged on request. Eastman has also taken in three students from New Orleans-find out more at www.rochester.edu/Eastman.