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A Great Night In Harlem at the Apollo Theater May 4th, 2006 8:00 PM
Posted: 2006-03-10

March 10, 2006

From: Wendy Oxenhorn
Executive Director
Jazz Foundation of America
http://www.jazzfoundation.org/

Hello Good People:

It’s been a long time since I wrote to many of you, but we have been busy at the Jazz Foundation.

Great News: It’s time again… get ready for

Our 5th Annual
A GREAT NIGHT IN HARLEM
at the Apollo Theater on Thursday, May 4th, 2006

TIME: 8:00 PM
PLACE: Apollo Theater
125th Street - Harlem NYC

INFO: Jazz Foundation Events line call 212-245-3999 Ext. 29

THIS IS OUR ONE MAJOR FUNDRAISER THIS YEAR …

After keeping the roof over, replacing instruments for, and employing hundreds of New Orleans musicians, we need you now more then ever.

Please join: Bill Cosby, Danny Glover, Abbey Lincoln, James Blood Ulmer, Dr. Michael White Band, Rebirth Brass Band and Newbirth Brass band, (over 30 New Orleans musicians), plus Ron Carter, the Legendary Odetta, Jimmy McGriff, Clark Terry, Will Calhoun, and some of the very fathers and mothers of jazz and blues; like Johnnie Mae Dunson, (who wrote EVIL for Muddy Waters and played drums for Jimmy Reed, she will be coming out as well at age 85,) along with many more surprises… the best is yet to come.

Why We Need You:

In the short months since the hurricane, the Jazz Foundation of America showed up for and has assisted nearly 900 New Orleans musician emergency cases.

Keeping a roof over their heads–paying rent in new places for these great musicians, as well as keeping New Orleans musicians’ homes from foreclosure by paying mortgages all with our special Fund from Jarrett Lilien and the E*TRADE FINANCIAL Corp. (with special gratitude to Arlen Gelbard & Matt Geary)

Replacing over $200,000 of donated brand new top shelf instruments for beloved giants like getting “Fats” Domino his piano, along with other greats like Henry Butler, Frogman Henry, Eddie Bo, Lionel Ferbos and so many others, even pianos for two New Orleans public schools for amazing Jackie Harris, along with thousands of dollars worth of donated new horns and drums to folks like the Treme Brass Band, Earl Turbinton, Neville family members, James Andrews, Trombone Shorty, Rebirth, Hot 8, Shannon Powell and countless others with more on the way… we were just told we are getting 20 more donated pianos delivered to New Orleans. Thanks to Beethoven Pianos, and for everything else, special thanks to Music and Art Center and Yamaha!

But it gets even better …

EMPLOYMENT: With a gift from our very own amazing “St. Agnes” Varis, as well as Dick Parsons & Time Warner, we have managed to put in place the first serious employment program for New Orleans musicians with over half a million dollars going ONLY to employing displaced musicians of New Orleans, along with some of the elder jazz and blues greats, in 7 States who are now performing free concerts bringing ”New Orleans” to schools and senior homes where they have had to resettle in Louisiana, Texas, Tennessee, Kansas, NYC, Chicago and Georgia so far. This is why we must raise money to keep the Jazz Foundation of America alive and well.

Now with our New Orleans “family” of musicians we have come to know and love so dearly, and our regular great elderly jazz and blues artists who have given us their music for the last 40 to 60 years, and still need us to be there to keep them from hunger, eviction and homelessness; these were the folks we normally take care of who made the way for all of today’s music, we must continue to be there for them as well.

With both New Orleans emergencies, and our regular elderly musicians in crisis, we have been averaging 50 individual cases per week…

But we need you all now more then ever. The very people themselves who were the soil and the soul of this once great city must not be forgotten.

Affordable housing must be made possible or no one will be able to return and New Orleans. It will be like a movie set that looks so real and is constructed just for festivals and then becomes a ghost town again after the movie has been made and everyone goes home…

But as much as it has been devastating, it has proven once again, the strength of the people, and not just the ability to endure, but the ability to bring the light wherever they go, to make “home” wherever they make music.

“A GREAT NIGHT IN HARLEM”

This is the one concert that keeps us going all year.

This may just be our greatest concert ever, and it wouldn’t be the same with YOU.

Please buy tickets or ads in the program.

From our hearts, thanks to each of you who is already part of this beautiful work and who makes it all possible.

Yours in service,

Wendy

TICKET INFO:

Participation Levels for Individual Tickets:
$1000 Platinum Circle preferred orchestra
$500 Gold Circle orchestra seating
$250 Silver Circle first balcony
$100 Bronze circle Mezzanine ticket

Buy ads in the program and support the Jazz Foundation

$5000 - You will receive a 1/4 page ad, 4 tickets to A Great Night in Harlem benefit concert in the orchestra and 4 VIP passes to our exclusive after party.

$2500 - You will receive a 1/4 page ad and two tickets to A Great Night in Harlem benefit concert in our preferred balcony seating.

$1000 - You will receive a 1/8 page ad and 2 tickets to A Great Night in Harlem benefit concert in our balcony seating.

$500 - You will receive 1/8 page ad and 1 ticket to A Great Night in Harlem benefit concert.

For info on our private Gala pre-concert dinner, tables start at $10,000 Please call for information: 212-245-3999 Ext. 29

The Jazz Foundation is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization. Your contribution is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

322 W. 48th St., 6th Floor, New York, NY 10036 For more information: 212-245-3999 ext. 29

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