All that Jazz brings music to backcountry
BackCountry Jazz does more than just make great music — its members all take music lessons to students in need.
The group is hosting its Jazz Club Benefit Concert on Thursday, May 16, at the Burning Tree Country Club, with cocktails at 6:30 p.m. and the dinner and concert from 7 to 9:30 p.m.
The famed Bennie Wallace will be joined by his friends: Grammy winner Peter Martin on piano, Herlin Riley on drums, Matt Dwonszyk on bass, Corey Wilcox on trombone, and Charenee Wade as the vocalist. And, of course, the amazing Bennie Wallace is the leader of Jazz.
Backcountry Jazz brings “a shining exemplar of New Orleans rhythm ... prepare to have a good time,” according to the New York Times.
The group has presented outstanding jazz concerts with major artists since 2007. In 2010, BackCountry Jazz began offering quality music education in Bridgeport, where the members enrich the lives of young students by providing good music education.
The tuition-free programs include BackCountry Jazz Summer Music Camp, the After School Music Program, scholarships, student performance ensembles, instrument workshops, master classes and exciting concerts and events with artists and educators who teach at the highest level. Through these classes and workshops the rich tradition of America’s music — jazz — is preserved.
This year, BackCountry Jazz will serve more than 2,000 young people in the city of Bridgeport. In the 12 years, the group has thrilled more than 18,000 fans with the joy of music through its concerts and music education programs. The programs are free to the young students so music will be a part of their lives.
Through concerts and music education BackCountry Jazz celebrates, preserves and expands the rich tradition of America’s music. Its board includes Wallace, Artistic Director Pierre Bastid, Malou Beauvoir, Bill Bonnell, Greg Carlon, Jeffrey S. DeMond, Jeff Goldblum, Arthur Landi, Elise Kelsey Merrow, Thelonious Monk Jr., Melissa Newman, Brad Nordholm, Chuck Royce, Deborah Royce, Everett Schenk, Sally Schenk, Cynthia P. Schneider, Steve Shapiro, David Waring, Robert Whitby and William Whitworth.