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It’s going to be a spirited evening of sass and class Sunday, Oct. 22 nd, when the 4 th Annual Divas of Jazz takes over the Lancaster B.P.O. Elks ballroom at 219 N. Duke St., Lancaster, for the benefit of the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition (PBCC). The event, which sold out last year and has raised over $52,000 for the PBCC, is going to be bigger and better than ever with a roster of eight powerful jazz performances backed by the Andy Roberts Trio, introduction of a new signature song written especially for the event, silent and live auctions, a four course dinner, Divas & Diamonds Raffle, and fun surprises. The $85/person ticket also includes a copy (per household) of the Divas of Jazz 2006 CD to be recorded that night.
Doors open at 3 p.m. with music provided by DJ Gerri McCritty, and performances beginning at 4 p.m. WGAL-TV8’s Susan Shapiro and Smooth Jazz 92.7 program director and morning personality Paul Scott are serving as MCs, Pat Brogan is guest auctioneer, and event co-founder Diane Dayton, host/producer of Cool Jazz (internet) Café, is this year’s Divas & Diamonds personality.
The PA Breast Cancer Coalition is the only statewide grassroots organization that speaks to and for breast cancer survivors. This year over 12,000 Pennsylvania women will be diagnosed with the disease – more than 2,300 will lose their lives. The PBCC is dedicated to finding a cure, and improving the quality of breast cancer education, research and outreach in the state.
Like last year, the Divas of Jazz benefit is guaranteed to bring the house down with a series of lively performances that will turn the Elks Ballroom into the nightclub scene of old. The lineup includes (in alphabetical order):
Amy Banks – has been performing as a professional singer and actress for 18 years. The Minnesota native has appeared on stage and screen all over the world, and calls Lancaster home after relocating here to perform at the American Music Theatre. She has self-published and produced three music CDs, appeared as a host-commentator on TV shows for FOX and HGTV, and currently sings jazz in venues throughout Central PA – from Lancaster restaurants to the Harrisburg Hilton’s prestigious jazz room The Bar. She's also appeared at The Berks Jazz Festival, Yorkfest, and the Strand-Capitol Theater’s Studio. Her third CD, When the Sun Comes Out, reached Chartbound status at JazzWeek .
Ruth Benns-Suter – a subtle, nuanced performer of classic jazz standards, launched her jazz singing career at Philadelphia’s trendy Astral Plane and is seen at restaurants and clubs throughout Central PA. As a teen she was a member of the Philadelphia All City Choir, and returned to music a few years ago as a student of legendary jazz singer and educator J.D. Walter. A champion of forgotten songs and lesser-known songwriters, her 2005 tribute concert to the music of trumpeter Kenny Dorham, which co-starred internationally known jazz violinist John Blake, Jr., was a packed-house hit.
Marion “CoCo” Coleman – a consummate professional whose performances grab you from the first note, CoCo has thrilled audiences in the U.S. and abroad with her jazz, R&B and blues standards, from Blues Alley in DC, to New Orleans’ Bourbon Street, to the Santa Fe Plaza, as well as Freemantle, Australia and Ghana, West Africa. She’s also well known at area clubs and jazz festivals, and has opened for the famed Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Roy Ayres, Kim Waters and Jean Carne. Her CD is called In Good Company.
Erin Cruise – bandleader/vocalist Erin Cruise is tough to capture in one paragraph. She moved to the Harrisburg area five years ago from New York City, where she spent 14 years as a jingle/demo singer, solo artist (part of the time with RCA Records), promoting her own hit record in 1992, doing backup vocals on a number of albums, and spending much of that time as a bandleader. Erin formed Cruise Control three years ago, continues to freelance in NY and D.C., is writing and recording original songs for future album projects, and is featured on two recently released CDs called Xatanga and McCalltucker.
Rose Hudson – an accomplished jazz/blues vocalist from York, Rose has been touring the scene with the Blue Light Special and Omer G & Jazzup bands, and has performed as guest vocalist with a host of bands including the New Quintones, Extremity, D.C. & Co., Chris Waller Blues Band and the Dave Holt Band.
Michelle Leigh – with a major in jazz performance at Temple University, and years of performing and studying with some of the areas greats (including the late Mike Falcone, Glenn Ferracone, Papa John DeFrancesco and his bluesman son Johnny DeFrancesco, and the ever inventive Shawn Quissaunee in whom she has found a musical soulmate), Michelle Leigh moves seamlessly from the Philadelphia and West Chester scenes to appearances throughout Central Pennsylvania. She has also performed at the Chaddsford Winery Jazz Festival.
Sonia V (Vrooman) – a Sweet Adeline singing with the Red Rose City Chorus, Sonia V recently returned to the local jazz scene after a performance tour that took her to Munich, Vienna and Salzburg. Throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s she sang in a Top 40s band with husband Harry Vrooman plus she has recorded several CDs – including the popular I Wish You Love.
Robin Work – a veteran of the music business for 25 years, is a featured vocalist in the Dave Stahl Sacred Orchestra and the Rob Stoneback Big Band. She has performed and recorded with many local and nationally known musicians. Her first CD, Pure Imagination, featured the Steve Rudolph Trio including Paul Langosch(Tony Bennett) on bass and Bill Goodwin(Phil Woods) on drums. She can be heard on various recordings including Extremity, D.C. and Company, The Robin Work Trio, The Bobby Mercer Road Show as well as the latest CDs of the Sacred Orchestra and Rob Stoneback and others yet to be released.
During the event the Lola Thomas Living Life Award will be presented to honor a breast cancer survivor who is living life to the fullest. The award includes a Divas of Jazz sterling silver pin created last year by custom jewelry designer Jude Sharp. The award is named after Lola Fletcher Thomas, who operated Chestnut House crafts gallery with her husband Frank, and lost her life to breast cancer in 2004.
Also taking center stage are two spectacular pieces of jewelry for the Divas & Diamonds Raffle that generates a lot of excitement throughout the evening. Parkhill Jewelry of Ephrata has donated a pair of elegant dangle diamond earrings, bezel set in 14 ct gold, plus a diamond and sapphire pendant that can also be worn as an elegant broach.
Because almost everyone involved donates their time and talent to the Divas of Jazz benefit, virtually 100% of the moneys raised go to the PBCC. Special thanks go to the Elks for the use of its beautiful facility, Chefs Chris Metzger and Chris Young and the team at the new Christophers’ Dining who organized area food vendors and are preparing the entire menu, photographers Steve Stoltzfus who handles advance promotional photography and Allan Holm who covers the event and provides photography for the CD, Holly Doench of Boardroom Graphics for poster design, plus Mark Pontz and Arlington Capital Mortgage for producing the Divas of Jazz 2006 CD as well as the new signature song “We Will Thrive.” The song, written by Jim Conte, Amy Banks and Mark Pontz, arranged by Andy Roberts and recorded by all eight divas, will be performed live for the first time at the benefit.
Menu for the evening includes both stationed and butlered hors d’oeuvres, Caesar salad, Crab Stuffed Filet of Beef, Roasted Yukon Gold Potatoes and a fresh vegetable medley, plus a fabulous selection of desserts. Dietetic preferences will be accommodated, and cash bars will also be available.
Two local stores are holding month-long events with proceeds going to the Divas of Jazz program. Deerskin Leather at Kitchen Kettle Village, Park City and Exton Square malls, which annually raises funds for breast cancer through the sale of a special edition “Power of Pink” Brighton bracelet, is donating five of the bracelets to the live auction, along with $5 from every Power of Pink bracelet sold at the Deerskin shops throughout the October campaign. In addition, Girls Day Out – also at Kitchen Kettle Village – is donating a portion of the proceeds raised from the October sale of Vera Bradley handbags in the New Hope and Hope Toile patterns, and is providing a Vera Bradley bag for auction. Both stores will make a check presentation at the Divas of Jazz event.
Tickets, at $85/person, are available through the PBCC by calling (800) 377-8828, Ext. 105. |
