The evening is organized as a benefit in memory of the late drummer, Lance Carter, a long-time player in the downtown New York avant" music scene, career musician and client of The Jazz Foundation. Mr. Carter succumbed to the very rare bone marrow disease, amyloidosis, last November at age 51. The Jazz Foundation provided assistance to the musician and his family during his terminal illness and the benefit has been planned by Mr. Carter's wife. After providing immediate financial assistance to defray uninsured medical and living expenses, the Jazz Foundation introduced the Carter's to a network of other musician aid organizations which united and offered the family ongoing support for the duration of Mr. Carter's illness. In addition to the JFA, the Carters received support from MusiCares, The Actor's Fund, the Musicians' Foundation and Sweet Relief Musicians' Fund. This event is the first in a series of benefits planned by Mr. Carter's wife, Lisa Cooney Carter, to support these organizations. She states, The work of the Jazz Foundation and the other organizations that helped us, and comfort their support provided during the darkest of days, is truly the story here."
Lance Carter is best known for touring and recording with avant- garde guitar innovator, Sonny Sharrock, including their duet on the theme to the Cartoon Network animated series Space Ghost: Coast to Coast". He recorded and toured and with jazz vocalist, Cassandra Wilson, with whom he appears on the Grammy nominated Blue Note release, Blue Light Till Dawn, and also recorded Permutations and the soundtrack to the film Broken Vessels" with bassist/producer Bill Laswell.
Mr. Carter collaborated with all of the musicians performing at the benefit, including guitarist Marc Ribot; Elliot Sharp's edgy blues band, Terraplane; vocalist Eric Mingus; renowned bass player Percy Jones & Tunnels; experimental improvisers, The Harriet Tubman Band featuring Mr. Carter's cousin, Brandon Ross; guitarist Robert Musso, and violinist Charles Burnham. Also reuniting for the evening will be Sons of Sharrock, featuring former members of The Sonny Sharrock Band, playing together under this billing for the only second time since Mr. Sharrock's untimely death in 1994. Other special guests will be announced. The emcee of the evening is Bruce Gallanter of Downtown Music Gallery.
The beneficiary of the event, The Jazz Foundation of America (JFA), is a New York City based national non-profit organization, founded in 1989. The JFA's Musicians' Emergency Fund provides financial assistance and support services for elderly jazz musicians, and those facing illness or crisis. The Jazz Foundation of America is located at 322 West 48th Street, 6th floor, New York, NY 10036, (212) 245-3999, www.jazzfoundation.org. The Executive Director of the Jazz Foundation of America is Wendy Oxenhorn. The benefit organizer is Lance Carter's wife, Lisa Cooney Carter.
FULL PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:*
7:00 pm ROBERT MUSSO & FRIENDS: Robert Musso (guitar), Raoul Bjorkenhiem (guitar), Sim Cain (drums), Dave Dreiwitz (bass), Elliot Levin (saxes/flutes), John Lunar Richey (words)
7:45 pm SONS OF SHARROCK*: Pheeroan akLaff (drums), Ed Cherry (guitar), David Snider (keys), Charles Baldwin (bass), Erik Lawrence (winds)
8:30 pm HARRIET TUBMAN BAND: Brandon Ross (guitar), Melvin Gibbs (bass), JT Lewis (drums)
9:15 pm CHARLES BURNHAM
9:30 pm PERCY JONES & TUNNELS: Percy Jones (bass), Marc Wagnon (midi-vibes), Walker Adams (drums)
10:15 pm MARC RIBOT
11:00 pm ERIC MINGUS with Catherine Sikora (tenor sax)
11:15 pm ELLIOT SHARP'S TERRAPLANE: Elliot Sharp (guitar), Dave Hofstra (bass), Curtis Fowlkes (trombone), Alex Harding (baritone sax), Tony Lewis (drums), Eric Mingus (vocals)
*Other special guests to be announced. Schedule and line up are subject to change
For more information contact Lisa Cooney Carter.