Jazz saxophonist James Moody will headline the annual Moody & Friends Benefit Concert for Jazz Scholarships at Purchase College on March 30 at B. B. King’s Blues Club & Grill in New York, NY.
Joining Moody on stage will be musical director Jon Faddis, trumpet; Randy Brecker, trumpet; Todd Coolman, bass; Mike Longo, piano; Barbara Morrison, vocals; NEA Jazz Master Paquito D’ Rivera, clarinet; Adam Nussbaum, drums; Tim Ries, saxophone; NEA Jazz Master Hank Jones, piano; and Yotam Silberstein, guitar; Andy Roninson, piano.
Tickets are $100 per person, $40 of which is tax deductible, with proceeds benefiting the James Moody Scholarship Fund. More ticketing information Is available through the Performing Arts Center at Purchase College.
The honorary co-chairs at this year’s event are Bill and Camille Cosby, and Quincy Jones. Moody Scholars who will perform with the group include: Duncan Hardy, saxophone, 2008, and Andy Roninson, piano, 2009. Michael Bourne of WBGO radio will serve as master of ceremonies.
The James Moody Scholarship Fund was started in 2005 by James and Linda Moody to create opportunities for the next generation of jazz masters by providing financial assistance and visibility for students of outstanding ability and good character for whom the scholarship makes a difference. A goal is to provide access to quality higher education.
The first scholarship concert began with an event that celebrated Moody’s 80th birthday and has continued each year at various venues. This is the third year the jazz event is being held at B. B. King’s.
The scholarship has surpassed its minimum $100,000 endowment and the goal is to continue to grow the endowment to enable the granting of full scholarships to Moody Scholars and to support continued opportunities for the next generation of jazz masters.
Moody’s honors include being named a Jazz Master by the National Endowment of the Arts in 1998 and receiving a Kennedy Center Living Jazz legend Award in 2007. He performed at the White House in 2004 for President Bush and twice in the 1990’s for President Clinton. He maintains an extensive touring schedule and also conducts master classes for university students; at age 21, he joined the Dizzy Gillespie Band.
