Wednesday 13 August 2014

Keeping Jazz Alive: We Need Your Support.

WATERLOO, Ont. --- The Brenda Earle Trio from New York City.  The Johnny O'Neil Trio from New York City. The Andrea Marcelli Quintet from Italy.  The Norbert Kogging Band from the Netherlands.  The Joe Sullivan Quintet from Montreal.  The Peter Van Hufel Quartet from Berlin.

These are just a few of the amazing artists coming to The Jazz Room at the Heuther Hotel in Kitchener-Waterloo as the Grand River Jazz Society presents its fourth season.  (www.kwjazzroom.com).

There will be 80 shows, running from the first weekend in September to the end of June 2015.  Live jazz just about every Friday and Saturday night in a terrific venue.

The fourth season begins Friday, Sept. 5 with the Ray Podhornrik Sextet.  On Saturday,. Sept. 6 it is the Dave Young Quintet doing a Horace Silver Tribute. The not-for-profit, volunteer driven Grand River Jazz Society scheduled an incredible line-up for this fall. Go to www.kwjazzroom.com and see for yourself.

During the 2013-2014 season the society paid out $111,000 in artists fees, and about another $20,000 for sound engineers.  The not-for-profit model means musicians are paid first, and are paid well.  The club attracts more than 3,000 people a season into a historic hotel in downtown Waterloo.

A season pass is $350.  That works out to $4.37 a show.  The society will have passes on sale until the beginning of the fourth season.  You can buy one online at The Jazz Room's website.  This is one of the best ways to support the society, The Jazz Room and this great art form.  The society is also looking for new corporate sponsors --- $10,000 to sponsor a room, and smaller amounts for individual shows or weekends. Contact the founding-president of the jazz society, Stephen Preece (spreece@wlu.ca) to discuss details.

The Jazz Room is one of the best jazz clubs in Canada.  The society and the club are modelled after the Yard Bird Suite in Edmonton and The Cellar in Saskatoon.  Both are supported by not-for-profit, volunteer-driven societies.  Everyone is involved because they love the music.

The society and the Jazz Room enjoy a great reputation among the musicians. Every band is paid $300 per musician. The musicians are provided with a meal.  Talking during the shows is discouraged.  There us a wonderful Yamaha C10 piano on the stage, professional lights, and a sound engineer works the latest audio technology for every show.

The legendary New York City pianist Mullgrew Miller played one of this last shows in The Jazz Room. Help keep this art form alive.  Buy a season pass for yourself, and another for your friend.





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