Day: April 7, 2014

Philadelphia, April 3, 2014 – Mayor Michael A. Nutter proclaimed April 2014 Jazz Appreciation Month in the City of Philadelphia and launched the month-long celebration during a press conference at City Hall this morning. During the event, Philadelphia-born jazz legend and saxophonist Benny Golson was honored with a City proclamation and live performance by the Francois Zayas Trio.rnrn rnrn“Philadelphia is home to a rich jazz legacy and a dynamic music scene,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “This April, we observe National Jazz Appreciation month and celebrate Philadelphia’s past and continued contribution to American jazz history. What better time to get out, hear some great music and truly experience Philadelphia’s vibrant jazz performance scene?”rnrn rnrnFor the rest of the month, local organizations including the Kimmel Center, JazzBridge, and the Philadelphia Jazz Project will collaborate to promote and support Philadelphia’s jazz tradition and assets with scores of performances across the city, workshops, events, and pop-up performances.rnrn rnrnPhiladelphia has an extraordinary jazz heritage, beginning with Ethel Waters, and extending to John Coltrane, Billie Holiday, Joe Venuti, Eddie Lang, Stan Getz, the Heath Brothers, Dizzie Gillespie, Sun Ra, McCoy Tyner, Grover Washington Jr. and other music luminaries. During the mid-20th century, Philadelphia contributed to the development of bebop-style jazz, which was born in after-hours New York City clubs. In the 1940s, the city’s lively jazz scene was based out of clubs along Columbia Avenue in North Philadelphia and in South Philadelphia (The Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts and Pep’s). Many of these clubs and jazz legends with Philadelphia roots have inspired an active roster of premier musicians and venues over the years, and even now in the modern era.rnrn rnrnThe goal of Jazz Appreciation Month is to showcase and stimulate the current jazz scene andrnencourage people of all ages to participate by studying the genre, attending concerts, listening to jazz on radio and recordings, and supporting institutional jazz programs. For a complete listing of Jazz Month activities in Philadelphia and surrounding areas, please visit philadelphia.jazznearyou.com.rnrn rnrn###rnrn rnrn rnrnAbout National Jazz Appreciation MonthrnrnJazz Appreciation Month is a project of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History and this year marks the 14th anniversary of the national celebration. It is designed to draw more public attention to the iconic tradition of jazz and its importance as an American cultural heritage. The goal of JAM is to stimulate the current jazz scene and encourage people of all ages to participate in jazz by studying the genre, attending concerts, listening to jazz on radio and recordings, reading books on the topic and supporting institutional jazz programs. For more information on the national program, please visit http://www.smithsonianjazz.org/.

Tickets are now available for the nonprofit’s largest fundraising event of the year.rnnnPhiladelphia, PA (PRWEB) April 04, 2014nnOn Saturday, June 7, at 8:00PM, the city of Philadelphia’s leading young philanthropists and change makers will come together to celebrate seven years of empowering the area’s youth. The Spruce Foundation’s 7th Annual Gala will be held at Union Transfer in Philadelphia.nnrnnnThe funds raised will support the nonprofit’s mission of redefining philanthropy and cultivating the next generation of philanthropists through community giving and grant-making in support of Philadelphia’s youth.nnrnnn”This has been an exciting year of growth for Spruce, with more opportunities than ever for our donors and volunteers to meet and work with our grantee organizations, as well as attend events where they can learn about philanthropic giving,” said J. Rudy Flesher, Co-President of the Spruce Foundation. “We look forward to celebrating our impact at our largest gala yet.”nnrnnnEach year, at the Spruce Foundation Gala, the organization celebrates the work of its grantees. This year the Asian Arts Initiative was selected for the Spruce Foundation’s arts program area; the Attic Youth Center for its LGBTQ program area; iPRAXIS for its education program area; and Girls on the Run Philadelphia for its health and wellness program area.nnrnnnThis year’s Gala will feature performances by the Nimrod Speaks Quartet, a Philadelphia-based Jazz ensemble, and Swift Technique, billed as “Philly’s fiery funksters.”nnrnnnTo learn more about The Spruce Foundation or to purchase tickets to the 7th Annual Gala, please visit http://www.sprucefoundation.org.