GIVING TUESDAY WITH SHEILA JORDAN
Welcome to Giving Tuesday with the Vermont Jazz Center and Sheila Jordan!
At 8pm on Tuesday, May 5 we will be presenting a new interview with Sheila Jordan (in the window above) followed by a concert given by Sheila at the Vermont Jazz Center on June 1, 2019 with pianist, Eugene Uman, bassist Genevieve Rose and drummer Billy Drummond (in the window further below on this page). This will be the first in a series called Gems from the Archives, where we will release selections of tunes from choice past concerts at the VJC.
There are numerous reasons why Sheila Jordan is a living legend: her classic recordings, her swinging, clear, sense of tempo, her stunning ability to scat sing and create spontaneous lyrics, her empathic communication with the audience, her embodiment of the essence of jazz, her willingness to embrace creative opportunities, her expansive repertoire. A few of the awards that have been bestowed upon Ms. Jordan include the Lil Armstrong Hardin Jazz Heritage Award (2004), Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs Lifetime Achievement Award (2006), International Association of Jazz Education Humanitarian Award (2007), Mary Lou Williams’ Women in Jazz for Lifetime of Service Award (2008), New York Nightlife Outstanding Jazz Vocalist Award (2010), National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master Award (2012), University of Massachusetts Honorary Degree, Doctor of Fine Arts (2017), Bistro Ward for Outstanding Contributions to the Art of Jazz (2018), Columbia Center for Jazz Studies Satchmo (Louis Armstong) Award (2018).
Your contributions will directly support VJC’s efforts to continue both educational and performance programming during this challenging time, please give generously (read a letter from from the VJC director below).
DONATE TO THE VJCSupport the Vermont Jazz Center
Dear VJC Family,
In the past month and a half, the Vermont Jazz Center’s day-to-day has changed drastically along with the rest of the world. As we navigate the waters into a new future, the Vermont Jazz Center continues to develop ways to serve our community and thrive in spite of a loss of most of our earned income.
It will be a while before listening to live music in a group setting can serve as the thread that connects us. Nonetheless we are excited to be in a position to fill that void, honored to provide productive and enjoyable jazz-related options to you on-line in the upcoming weeks.
After a successful Piano Fest with thousands of views on Facebook and Vimeo, we look forward continuing to using these technologies to bring the Jazz Center’s mission and good vibes to your homes in real-time. Now and in the coming weeks, you can now find livestreamed events, classes and even (non-live) Gems from the Archives on our website (www.vtjazz.org).
As you can imagine, while in-person events are restricted, the Jazz Center’s earned income stream has been reduced to nil. We are in dire need of contributions in order to meet our monthly costs.* For the time being, all streaming events will be offered for free with an option to make donations as you are able. Your contributions will directly support VJC’s efforts to continue both educational and performance programming.
As a team unified in our love for music and each other, we continue with confidence, making the best of it when encountering difficult times. Together we have created an institution that, like a tree, is both strong and flexible. We are persevering. We are adapting. We are doing this together!
As Berklee piano professor, Hey Rim Jeong, reminded me, “we are in the midst of a temporary situation.” Until then, stay safe and savor the sweetness of the deepened connections that arise from being together, both virtually and at home with loved ones.
Yours always,
Eugene
The Fine Print:
For those of you in a position to donate now, we hope you can be generous, because we need your help. The recent CARES Act passed by Congress includes several incentives for charitable donations. Even if you are not able to itemize deductions on your Federal income tax return, you will be able to deduct up to $300 ($600 per married couple) of charitable donations from your Adjusted Gross Income for 2020. For those of you who do itemize, the limit for charitable donations has been increased to 100% of AGI for 2020. Also, Required Minimum Distributions from IRA’s have been waived for 2020, and there is a tax benefit to making a Qualified Charitable Distribution from your IRA. We realize some of our loyal supporters may not be in a position to make a donation at this time; if this is you, we will still be here when you are able to support us.