Bernie Williams and Richie Cannata perform at Dave Brubeck’s Big Birthday Bash in Waterbury, CT on December 6, 2012
Richie Cannata, sax player for Billy Joel, and Bernie Williams, former New York Yankees star and jazz guitarist, team up for a star-studded evening of jazz in honor of legendary Dave Brubeck’s 92nd birthday. “Brubeck’s Birthday Bash” will include performances from internationally acclaimed pianist Darius Brubeck, along with other surprise guests. The “Birthday Bash” is slated to take place on Thursday, December 6, 2012 at 7:30pm at the Palace Theater in Waterbury, CT. Proceeds will benefit Jazz’d4Life, a local nonprofit organization started by Brubeck’s daughter Catherine Yaghsizian five years ago. Tickets to “Brubeck’s Big Birthday Bash”, priced at $35, $48 and $75, can be purchased at the Palace Theater Box Office (203-346-2000) or online at www.palacetheaterct.org. Jazz’d4Life will also be hosting a private champagne and cake reception (limited tickets for $50) with the band and members of the Brubeck family following the show.
The December Show “Brubeck's Birthday Bash” is Jazz'd4Life's way of saying “Thank You” to Dave for his decades of musical inspiration and humanitarian contributions. “Excitement has been growing as musicians from all over are planning to come, contacting each other, and asking to be part of the lineup” says Dave's daughter Catherine, whose late husband championed mission work to Haiti. “My brother who lives in London will be here for this”. It will be a very special musical performance, a one of a kind fundraiser and a way of paying tribute to Connecticut's living legend , Dave Brubeck.
The first Jazz’d4Life concert was at Coginchaug High School in Durham, Ct., in 2007 with the Dave Brubeck Quartet raising enough money to complete a large school in Haiti. This year they hope to raise money to buy land for a nearby hospital to be built in Les Cayes. Jazz'd4Life has also helped in the U.S., supporting music education programs such as Litchfield Jazz Camp and KippAmp Academy in Brooklyn. Each benefit concert has grown to include more and more participants. In 2009 Infinity Hall (Norfolk, Ct) hosted a Brubeck show with Nicole Zuratis and Rachel Z opening. New England Arts and Entertainment was called upon to handle the next event, with over a dozen musicians in downtown Waterbury at the Mattatuck Museum, featuring Jane Monheit and the Ladies of Jazz last spring. That show quickly sold out, so it was decided to move the 5 year celebration into a larger venue for Dave's Birthday.
For more information on Jazz’d4Life, visit www.jazzed4life.org
