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Events and Schedule
Fund Raiser
Date May 22, 2010
Time: 6:00 P.M.
Location:Blind Mule
Mobile Bay All-Star "Rock Meets Jazz" Benefit for the GCEH Jazz Fest
We wanted to invite you to participate in the The GCEH “Mobile Bay All-Stars: Rock Meets Jazz” benefit on Saturday, May 22 from 6-10pm at the Blind Mule (57 N. Claiborne St).
We would like to take the liberty to answer some questions that performers have been asking about the benefit. And make a few quick points:
· You are under no obligation
· Free Food and Drink for Performers
· You can play one song or more than one
· You can play early (6-8pm) if you have another commitment later
· You can play any jazz standard/song in any style you like
· Rhythm section tenatively available (if needed)
· Goal is to promote jazz and musical awareness among Mobilians (especially aspiring young musicians)
Q: What is the Gulf Coast Ethnic & Heritage (GCEH) Jazz Festival?
A: The GCEH Jazz Fest in Mobile, Alabama is in its 12th year. Prior performers include the Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Count Basie Orchestra, and the James Brown Band, and well as newer acts like Trombone Shorty and local performers.
In addition to the free concert held in Bienville Square in August, GCEH has a jazz workshop for area youth – particularly the disadvantaged, a poetry slam, and an amature jam.
GECH needs community support to continue these programs and to bring the best jazz artists to the festival in the future. The benefit will help with this.
We are asking participating musicians to participate by performing one or two (or possibly more if desired) jazz songs/compositions (i.e. standards) during the benefit.
Q: I would like to participate – but I don’t play jazz.
You may either play the songs in the original jazz style, or perform an interpretation of the songs in your own style.
For conveience, a list of possible jazz standards is attached below. They are roughly ranked easy (*), medium (+), or hard (-) based on the chord progressions. They range from simple 12-bar blues to very complex – something for everyone. But also feel free to play any jazz tune not listed here. www.jazzstandards.com is a good resource for listening to different versions of the songs, and charts are available at www.realbook.us among other sites.
Q: Will there be a backing band?
Yes. They are 3 options for participating:
1) Solo or Duo
2) With the GCEH-provided rhythm section (tenatively led by Jimmy Roebuck)
3) With an existing band or group
However, rehearsal time will be limited if any, so the rhythm section will likely be limited to playing standards. If you would like to use the GCEH band please let us know ASAP with which tune you will be playing.
Q: I have another gig that night – can I play early?
Yes, we will be happy to accommodate performers with other obligations by letting them perform first thing (6-8pm). Or you can play later if you like.
Q: What do I get for participating.
Free food and drinks.
Also the ability to challenge yourself with a different musical style, camaraderie with fellow area musicians, and the good feeling of putting Mobile on the musical map and giving role-models and tutoring to disadvantaged youth.
Q: When do I have to let you know by?
You can decide to participate right up to the day of the event. Posters and media announcements will be made in early April, however, so if you wish to be included in these we will need to know by then. Also if you plan to play with the rhythm section the sooner the better.
Please feel free to reply to this message or contact any of us for any questions. Thank you for your consideration
Sincerely,
Creola Ruffin – GCEH Founder & Treasurer
Kevin Lee – GCEH Board Member
Ted Flotte, MD - GCEH President (802-7730)
GCEH Benefit “Suggestions” List
-A Night in Tunisia (Gillespie)
-Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Waller)
-All of Me
+All the Things You Are
-April in Paris
-Autumn Leaves
+Basin Street Blues
+Besame Mucho
*Better Git It In Your Soul (C. Mingus)
-Black and Tan Fantasy
*Blue Monk (Monk)
-Body and Soul
*Breezin’ (Benson)
-Buddy Bolden Blues (aka Funky Butt)
*Canteloupe Island (Hancock)
+Caravan (Ellington)
+Chameleon (Hancock)
+Charleston
-Cherokee
-Come Rain or Come Shine
(Crusaders - multiple songs)
+Don’t Get Around Much Anymore (Ellington)
+Down By the Riverside (Trad)
-Georgia
-Girl from Ipanema (Jobim/Getz/Gilberto)
-Goodbye Pork Pie Hat (Mingus)
-Honeysuckle Rose (Waller)
+I Got Rhythm
-I’m in the Mood for Love
-In a Sentimental Mood (Ellington)
-It Don’t Mean a Thing (Ellington)
-It Had to Be You
-Jelly Roll Blues (Morton)
*Jumpin’ with Symphony Sid (L. Young)
-Just the Two of Us (Washington)
*Mack the Knife
-Maple Leaf Rag (Joplin)
*Mercy Mercy Mercy (Adderley)
-Misty
+Moanin’ (Blakey)
+Mood Indigo (Ellington)
-Moonlight Seranade (Miller)
+Mister Magic (Washington)
-Naima (Coltrane)
-Night and Day (Porter)
*Oh Didn’t He Ramble
+On the Sunny Side of the Street
+One Note Samba (Jobim/Getz/Byrd)
-Over the Rainbow
‘Round Midnight (Monk)
+Sanford & Son (Q. Jones)
-Sheik of Araby
-Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
*So What (M. Davis)
-Sophisticated Lady (Ellington)
*St James Infirmary (Trad.)
*St Louis Blues (Handy)
*St Thomas (Rollins)
-Star Dust
-Stars Fell On Alabama
*Straight, No Chaser (Monk)
-Summertime (Gershwin)
+Sweet Georgia Brown
*Take Five (Desmond / Brubeck)
*Take the A Train (Strayhorn / Ellington)
-The Lady Is a Tramp
-Tiger Rag
-Unforgettable
*Watermelon Man (Hancock)
*Well You Needn’t (Monk)
-We’ll Meet Again
-What a Wonderful World
-Willow Weep for Me