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| James Moody Scholarship Fund Benefit Concert by McClair Public Relations Jazz great and saxophonist James Moody headlines Moody & Friends, a concert to benefit the James Moody Scholarship Fund at Purchase College March 26 at B.B. King's Blues Club and Grill, New York City. Tickets include the concert and a birthday toast with Moody and other great jazz artists. NEA Jazz Master James Moody will be joined by Todd Coolman, bass; NEA Jazz Master Paquito D'Rivera, clarinet and saxophone; Jon Faddis, trumpet; Roberta Gambarini, vocals; Roy Hargrove, trumpet; John Lee, bass; Mike Longo, piano; Jeremy Monteiro, piano; Adam Nussbaum, drums; Jimmy Owens, trumpet; Ken Peplowski, clarinet and saxophone; Renee Rosnes, piano; and Yotam Silberstein, guitar. Faddis will serve as music director for the concert. In 1946, Moody joined the seminal bebop big band of Dizzy Gillespie, beginning an association that gave him worldwide exposure and ample opportunity to shape his improvisational genius. Two years later, he made his recording debut as leader of James Moody and His Bop Men. Moody is best known for the masterpiece of improvisation "Moody's Mood for Love", a timeless standard which has been recorded countless times byperformers including Eddie Jefferson, Aretha Franklin, George Benson, Van Morrison and, most recently, Queen Latifah. Music critic Peter Watrous said of Moody, "As a musical explorer, performer, collaborator and composer he has made an indelible contribution to the rise of American music as the dominant musical force of the 20th Century." Moody and his wife, Linda, established the James Moody Scholarship Fund in 2005 because of their commitment to the health, vitality and future of jazz. Potential recipients must excel in scholastic achievement, community leadership skills and musical aptitude. With the support of their family and friends, the Moodys' dream of raising $100, 000 has become a reality. To continue building the Scholarship Fund, they host an annual concert as their featured fund-raiser. Students in the Jazz Studies program at the Purchase College School of the Arts Conservatory of Music are mentored by an accomplished professional faculty and take private lessons with some of the most renowned musicians based in New York City. Students record on state-of-the-art equipment and perform with the Purchase Jazz Orchestra and the Purchase Latin Jazz Orchestra, as well as at the campus jazz club and at various openings and receptions on campus. Jazz students also have regular gigs at local clubs and perform in New York City. write your comments about the article :: © 2007 Jazz News :: home page |