Harlem Concert Benefits Jazz Elders

11/08/2003 11:15 PM, Reuters
Dan Ouellette

"This is an organization that should not have to exist," said Wendy Oxenhorn, executive director of the Jazz Foundation of America, in her opening remarks Oct. 16 at the foundation's third annual A Great Night in Harlem fundraiser at the historic Apollo Theater in New York. "If our jazz musicians were taken care of in their later years, we wouldn't be needed."

JFA is the only organization solely dedicated to aiding jazz elders who require medical services, health insurance and housing. The benefit concert raised $324,000 for JFA's Jazz Musicians' Emergency Fund, which assisted 300 musicians last year.

At the show, Jarrett Lilien, of online financial firm E*Trade, announced that his company has committed to build a residence for elderly musicians.

MCs included Bill Cosby , Quincy Jones , Whoopi Goldberg , Branford Marsalis and Chevy Chase , who surprised the event planners by opening the second half of the show playing two jazz tunes on piano, including a number by Thelonious Monk.

Cosby quipped with musicians throughout the show, making the rounds onstage while saxophonist Jimmy Heath (who received a JFA Lifetime Achievement Award) fronted his all-star Generations Octet featuring trumpeters Clark Terry and Jon Faddis, saxophonists Frank Wess and Antonio Hart, pianist Jeb Patton, bassist Bob Cranshaw and drummer Marcus Gilmore (the 17-year-old grandson of drum legend Roy Haynes).

"I was here 52 years ago on this stage with Lionel Hampton's band," Jones said during his hosting stint. "I just hit 70 this year, and the best thing about getting older is you get to see how everything worked out."

The benefit paid special tribute to African drummer Babatunde Olatunji and vocalist Nina Simone , both of whom died in the past year. A full ensemble of drummers and dancers filled the Apollo aisles in percussive homage to Olatunji, while Simone's daughter, who starred in Elton John 's Broadway show "Aida" and uses the stage name Simone, performed "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free" and later joined Cassandra Wilson for a rousing bluesy/funky/jazzy rendition of "See Line Woman."

Also on the bill: Stanley Jordan playing solo electric guitar, ex-Coasters vocalist Jimmy Norman (a recipient of JFA assistance) singing his classic tune "Time Is on My Side" and bassist Billy Cox (from Jimi Hendrix 's original Band of Gypsys), whose rocking trio was ably assisted by Oxenhorn on blues harp on such Hendrix classics as "Voodoo Chile" and "Machine Gun."

For more information on JFA, visit jazzfoundation.org or call 212-245-3999.

Reuters/Billboard