The Rhythm Room in Phoenix, Ariz. will host nearly one hundred musicians in a marathon jazz event Dec. 8, organized by Southwest jazz impresario Al Singer. The starting gun sounds at 1 p.m. and players will trade lines until midnight or so. If you attend, Singer requests that you please leave your cigarettes at home. This will be a smoke-free event.
The nonstop concert, named Mercy! Mercy! Mercy!, will benefit the Jazz Foundation of America (JFA), the non-profit organization responsible for the Jazz Musicians Emergency Fund, which has helped aged jazz players in need with their rent, utilities, instrument repairs and medical needs since 1989. Every last penny collected from those who attend Mercy! Mercy! Mercy! will in turn be handed to the JFA for their continued charitable works.
No big names sit on Singer’s scheduled list of performers, but we are assured that these players and bands are the finest the Grand Canyon State harbors within its borders. The ever-growing list includes Armand Boatman, Margo Reed, Fred Forney, Dwight Kilian, Ted Goddard, Warren Jones, Sherman Mitchell, Gary Church, Joe Hopkins, Dick Knutson, Danny Long, Tony Vacca, Lou Garno, Brad Bauder, Gary Carney, Devon Bridgewater, Dennis Sexton, Rob Wainwright, Mike Cerrilo, Andrew Margolis, Tyler Isaacson, Justin Brotman, Ken Taylor, Dick Curtis, Nuance Plus, Desert City Six, Touch of Blues w/Royce Murray-Hammond B3, Paul Anderson-tenor & soprano sax, Sherman Austin Martin-drums, Mike Howard-guitar, Mary Petrich’s Opposite Sax, Phoenix Jazz Workshop w/Ted Sistrunk, Bryon Ruth, Scott Zimmer, Raul Yanez, Rob Moore, Dave Cook’s New Vanguard w/Jim Henry.
The Rhythm Room is at 1019 E. Indian School Road in Phoenix. Tickets for the event will be a $25 donation. Checks can be made out to Jazz Foundation of America. Write “Mercy” on your check.
Singer is also seeking volunteers to sell tickets, solicit sponsors, and help with the general organization and the day of the event. Call 480-488-4553 to volunteer. For more information about the concert, visit http://hometown.aol.com/alsingerpresents/myhomepage/business.html.
For more information on the JFA, visit www.jazzfoundation.org.
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