In March Elvin Jones, Dianne Reeves (pictured), Ramsey Lewis and Patti Austin will perform at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall and in doing so raise funds for Jazz Foundation of America’s Jazz Musicians’ Emergency Fund and the Jazz Program at the New School University. The concerts, which will take place Tue., Mar. 4 and Wed., Mar. 5, make up the HIP Jazz Concert Series, presented by the HIP Health Plan of New York.
Vocalist Austin will step out of her usual R&B/quiet storm bag on March 4 for a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald likely to feature many, if not all, of the tunes on her 2002 album For Ella (Playboy Jazz). Drummer Jones will follow Austin’s performance that night with his Jazz Machine: Delfayo Marsalis, trombone; Edwin Livingston, bass; Anthony Wonsey, piano and Pat Labarbara, saxophone.
On March 5, singer Reeves will play with the trio of pianist Peter Martin, bassist Reuben Rogers, drummer Gregory Hutchinson. Guitarist Romero Lubambo will appear during the set as Reeves’ special guest. Proud Chicago son and pianist Ramsey Lewis will close the night, and so the concert series, with bassist Larry Gray and drummer Leon Joyce.
Concerts start at 8 p.m. For tickets, call Center Charge at (212) 721-6500 or stop by the Alice Tully Hall Box Office at 65th and Broadway. For more information, contact Festival Productions at (212) 501-1390.
The Jazz Foundation of America is dedicated to helping professional jazz musicians in need. Saving artists from homelessness, eviction and costly medial expenses, the JFA Jazz Musicians’ Emergency Fund pays emergency living expenses and provides free medical care for uninsured artists through a network of pro bono physicians and the partnership of the Dizzy Gillespie Memorial Fund at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center. The New School University Jazz Program educates on jazz, of course.
