Jane Monheit Sings for JazzReach

JazzReach, a non-profit organization that travels all over the country to bring jazz-related multimedia educational outreach programs to young people has had a remarkable year. In 2003 JazzReach encountered 17,000 young people in 20 different communities in 11 different states. That’s 17,000 potential jazz fans-seeds, we’ll call them. We need to make sure groups like JazzReach have the necessary resources to turn these seeds into fully grown, “Stella”-loving, record-buying fanatics. Organizations like JazzReach need cash.

So, JazzReach will close this year of success with a fundraising event on December 15, 2003 at New York City’s Blue Note. The event will feature a special performance from vocalist Jane Monheit (pictured), who will sing with her band: saxophonist Joel Frahm, pianist Michael Kanan, bassist Joe Martin and drummer-husband Rick Montalbano. We’ve also been told that some special, surprise guests will come out that night in support of Monheit and Jazz Reach.

Showtime for the Monheit concert is 8 p.m., but later in the evening, at 10:30, there will be a special screening of one of JazzReach’s most acclaimed programs, Stolen Moments: The First One Hundred Years of Jazz, a live multimedia program that chronicles jazz’s dynamic first century against the backdrop of 20th Century American History. You can read more about Stolen Moments here.

Tickets for the Monheit event are $50, which includes table seating and two drinks. Admission to the screening of Stolen Moments is $20. You can make reservations online at www.bluenotejazz.com or by calling (212) 475-8592. All proceeds will benefit JazzReach and help to further its commitment to arts education. Save the music, ya’ll.

JazzReach has already made plans to bring its good works to even more kids in the first half of next year and will visit nine different states before the close of April with educational performances, concerts, workshops and master classes.

Here’s the JazzReach 2004 itinerary:

2/6/04 • New Brunswick, NJ • The State Theatre

2/12/04 • 2/13/04 • Providence, RI • The Nazarian Center

2/23/04 • Sandusky, OH • The Sandusky Theatre

2/24/04 • Cincinnati, OH • Aronoff Center

3/3/04 • Joliet, IL • The Rialto Square Theatre

3/4/04 – 3/5/04 • Urbana, IL • The Krannert Center for the Performing Arts

3/10/04 – 3/12/04 • Cedar Falls, IA • Gallagher • Bluedorn Performing Arts Center

3/29/04 • Greensville, MS • Delta Children’s Museum

3/31/04 – 4/2/04 • Hattiesburg, MS • The University of Mississippi

4/19/04 – 4/21/04 • Tampa, FL • Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center

4/27/04 • North Adams, MA • Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art

4/04 • HOME SEASON • New York City • Venue TBA

For more information visit www.jazzreach.org.

Originally Published December 9, 2003