2003 Space Coast Jazz Society Benefit:
A grand night for pianist Jane Jarvis
Jane Jarvis enters the hall with bassist Earl May, left, and trombonist Benny Powell. Applauding at right is Sandi Hall, the 2003 Benefit chairperson.
More than 550 jazz lovers and 20 first-rate jazz musicians filled the Radisson Convention Center in Cape Canaveral on Feb. 9 for the Space Coast Jazz Society's 2003 Jazz Benefit. The event honored 87-year-old pianist Jane Jarvis, who headlined the program along with her close friends, jazz legends Benny Powell and Earl Mays.
Jarvis, who was the guest of honor, was praised throughout the night in a running narrative by jazz broadcaster Jack Simpson, a founder of the SCJS when it was known as the Jazz Society of Brevard. He detailed how she rose from a child prodigy in the Midwest to an internationally known jazz pianist who along the way took detours as the organist for the New York Mets and Milwaukee Braves and as a vice president for Musak before going back to her fulltime run at jazz stardom.
A fourth jazz giant--drummer Grady Tate--was sidelined with the flu and unable to attend. Drummer David Dunscombe filled in for the ailing Tate and delighted the audience with his performance, which was praised on stage by May and Jarvis.
The set by the Jane Jarvis Quartet followed four sets by various Space Coast and Central Florida musicians, who are shown in photos on the next page. There was a surprise special appearance by Steve Patterson, the Palm Bay High School graduate who was one of last year's SCJS scholarship winners and is now studying music at the University of North Florida. Proceeds of the benefit go to support the Jazz Society's outreach and education programs.
This was the third annual Jazz Society Benefit, an outgrowth of 17 years of annual Jazz on the Beach Food Bank benefits produced by Jack Simpson. After Simpson stopped producing those benefits, then Jazz Society Senior Director Helen Inglis was instrumental in staging the first Jazz Society Benefit in 2000, which honored Jack Simpson, and the second annual benefit in 2001, honoring saxophonist Bert Francis. This year's benefit was produced by Sandi Hall, the benefit chairperson, under the guidance of SCJS Sr. Dir. Neal Weiss. Inglis, Simpson and Francis all helped Sandi Hall put together the tribute to Jane Jarvis.
The Benefit Committee
Sandi Hall, chairperson
Ed Bergmiller, ticketmaster
Sheila Abrahams, Marilyn & Duane McMillen, ticket sales
Lou Schwartz, promotion and photos
Sandra Purdy, CD sales
At the doors: Hugh Hord and Joan Bixby
Ushers: Phyllis Hansen and Helen Inglis
At will-call desk: Dorinda Lowery and Millie FraserPlanning consultants: Bert Francis
and former SCJS Senior Directors Jack Simpson and Helen InglisSound and lighting by George Wilson with assist from Steve Koenig.
Piano from Unique Pianos of Melbourne, piano tuning by Warren CooperNext: Photos from the Jazz Benefit (click here)
