Jazz in Arizona, Inc's Jazz Refugee Project announces benefit concert to provide grants to displaced New Orleans musicians presently in Arizona. Funds will be used to allow them to share their stories and music with children throughout the state of AZ.
Tuesday October 11, 2005, Concert 7-9:30pm.
Doors open to auction/lobby at 6:15pm. Auction closes at 8:30.
Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave, Chandler 85225.
Tickets: Under 21, free. Adults General Admission, $20. VIP Section, $100, $500, $1,000, $5,000, $10,000. Tickets available as of October 7th at Chandler Center for Arts Box Office (480) 782-2680
The 2 1/2 hour concert will feature some of the finest world class musicians around. The guest of honor will be evacuee band Treme Brass Band, featuring New Orleans legend Benny Jones, Sr. Mr. Jones not only started the Treme Band (named after the Treme District near Louis Armstrong Park in the north end of the French Quarter), he also started the world famous Dirty Dozen Brass Band. He performed in numerous 2nd line gigs, and performed at Donna's and Preservation Hall. 7 members of The Treme Brass are now living rent free for three months thanks to "the Project'.
Irvin Mayfield, the concert's headliner, has been nominated for a grammy, is on staff of Dillard University Jazz Studies, board member of New Orleans Chamber of Commerce and the New Orleans Museum Board. He presently tours with three groups, the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Los Hombres Calientes, and his own quintet. He has conducted numerous jazz workshops in Chandler, and he headlined the Chandler Jazz Festival twice.
Funds raised will allow the displace N.O. victims the opportunity to share their story and music with school age children across the valley, at least until N.O. is rebuilt.