The Bridge

Nicki Rivers forwards this letter, describing an opportunity for you to help the musicians of New Orleans:

Dear Friends of Jazz,

In the last two weeks we have been brainstorming about how to raise some money specifically for the musicians of New Orleans to get back on their feet after hurricane Katrina. Clearly, what has happened down there in the cradle of jazz is utterly devastating and desperately endangers this invaluable segment of the cultural heritage of the nation.

More than any city I can think of, in New Orleans it is the people and the great and unique culture that make the place. NOLA has a particularly vibrant music scene which stems from its community of extended families, both black and white, middle and working class. The tourists will probably eventually return to visit the French Quarter and the Garden District. But a big part of the future of New Orleans depends on whether these families, now scattered throughout Texas and the South, will be willing and able to return to rebuild their homes and to restore their neighborhoods, customs and culture. Without them, visiting a cleaned up NOLA will be like visiting a theme park. We have to help and time is of the essence.

After spending some time trying to identify which organization might be the best one to focus our awareness on, I have been pointed to the Jazz Foundation of America (JFA), a wonderful group helping musicians in need. Since the New Orleans Musicians Clinic (N.O.M.C.) is now operating outside of its own office, without access to its usual bank accounts, the JFA has been designated the official donation coordinator for the N.O.M.C.

For details about all the great things the JFA is trying to do, go to:
http://www.jazzfoundation.org/new_orleans.php.

Some of their goals are to:

• create employment opportunities (as they did after 9/11 with their Jazz in the Schools program in NYC which employed over 400 musicians a year)
• rebuild lives
• to house them (E*TRADE Financial Group just gave $100,000 to go directly to a first month’s rent for our New Orleans & Delta displaced musicians)
• put food on their tables
• keep them from eviction and homelessness
• pay phone bills and keep the electricity turned on
• offer pro bono legal services as well as our pro bono network of physicians and specialists

Through the N.O.M.C. they will be also be employing musicians to play at nearby shelters to lift spirits, repair and replace instruments, repair their souls by taking the time to have long talks on the phone, seven nights a week, and keeping spirits up when it seems that all is lost. They are also working with the Tipitina’s Foundation, whose first step is to locate all New Orleans artists and their families and then find housing for those who need it. And that is just the beginning.

Please check these folks out and give what you can. All it takes is one click.

Thanks for your time and attention!
Kitty Margolis

We have word about some upcoming gigs for AKAA members:

• The Sonny Harris Trio, featuring Karen Gruber, J. Hatch and Chris Wendle, will be playing from 8:30 – 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 22 at Ona’s Music Room.
• World class trombonist Andy Martin, along with the Sonny Harris Trio, featuring J. Hatch and Chris Wendle, will be playing at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, September 23 at the Moonlight Music Cafe (cost $10)

Vic Atkins sends word of an upcoming SuperJazz Concert:

Sunday, September 25, 2005
3 PM
John Carroll High School Concert Hall
Lakeshore Parkway at John Carroll Drive, in the Wildwood Area
$5

It’s the first concert of the season, with guest artist Andy Martin, a trombonist from Los Angeles, California.

The SuperJazz Big Band features 21 of Birmingham’s top professional jazz players, including Chip Crotts, Daryl Jones, Mallory Pierce, Bo Berry, Wages Argott, Mike Lingo, Billy Bargetzi, Spencer Shaw, Mark Foster, Rex Sherrer, Dave Amaral, Mike Lyle, Sallie Vines-White, John Remley, Grady Chandler, Brother Atkins, J. Hatch, Chris Wendle and Sonny Harris. Everett Lawler conducts.

Jeremy Leff sends word that the current Auburn Knights have elected new officers as follows, effective immediately:

Ricky Callaway – Business Manager
callari@auburn.edu
(334) 750-3927

Courtney Jones – Rehearsal Coordinator
jones_courtney@hotmail.com
(706) 573-1074

Zack Feldman – Secretary
feldmzb@auburn.edu
(334) 502-5348
(205) 937-5348

My dear fellow Knights, friends, and loved ones:

Hurricane Katrina has left all of us in somewhat of a feeling of helplessness for our family, friends, and fellow Knights who have been caught in the throes of this incredible disaster. The first thing that comes to mind after we get over the initial shock of the magnitude of this event is, “What can I do to help the plight of those we so dearly care for?” Naturally, some are inclined to turn to the organization that is a strong bond for many of us: The Auburn Knights Alumni Association.

Let me suggest to you a better way for all of us to deal with this, in addition to our prayers and constant communication with each other: use those organizations that are already in place and doing the work. The AKAA is not set up to do this job adequately nor effectively. But, we are set up to help individuals with their immediate needs and with possible long term needs. This is going to be a very long recovery from the aftermath of this hurricane, and for all we know, there could be another one or more before the season ends. I suggest we use the Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Catholic Charities. They are there now and organized to do the jobs on-site.

Victor Atkins told me that one of the most important things we can do for the victims of this catastrophe is to help find jobs for those who need them. Please use Victor as the point of contact at vbatkins@bellsouth.net. He can edit as needed, and send out the call for assistance for those specific things needed. This call would include more than job needs. Victor can also let us know of the present location of those who have been displaced so we can better aid them personally, even if it is only to send them a card or letter of support.

We can take care of our loved ones and meet their needs in every way as appropriate. There are government agencies in place to immediately aid the victims monetarily. Let’s work together to support the victims for the long haul. It will be months before they are able to return to the truly devastated areas. Our friends and loved ones need work and possibly shelter. Let us help them in the ways we are best suited to meet their needs.

To sum up: We cannot properly manage the monetary aspects of distribution of special funds collected. Please give to those agencies that are designed and in place to assist the victims. Kindly keep us abreast of the immediate needs of those we can help as you find out about them by writing to Victor. Be prepared for the stamina needed for this ordeal. People will start to burn out in helping after about a month or so. Our friends and loved ones’ needs will be there for a while. Think “slow and steady”. Be ready for constant updates from Victor, and be ready to lend a hand if you can.

Sincerely yours,

Fritz Siler
President, AKAA

The latest issue of Black & White, “Birmingham’s City Paper”, features a review of Jane Drake’s CD Brand New Woman. Check it out!

Update: For people interested in buying the CD, Jane sends word that she will be selling the CD at the event on September 14th at the Moonlight Music Cafe. Besides that, the CD will be available in Birmingham at the Laser’s Edge and Charlemagne Record Exchange. Hastings in Auburn will also carry it. She plans to have a website up soon as well, and we’ll post a link to it here when that’s in place.

Vic Atkins reports that Bert Cotton is safe in Birmingham. Matt O’Connor also sent word that Nicki Rivers now lives in New York (not New Orleans) so she’s OK.

Jana Burns reports that Khari Lee is back in Auburn, safe and sound. We also have a report that Peter Cho is at his parents’ house in Auburn.

Judy Hill-Sullivan sent us a report about her parents, Bob and Lorraine Hill:

“My parents Bob and Lorraine Hill are safe in a motel in Columbus, Mississippi. Their home in the Biloxi, MS, area is a total loss, together with most all the Knights’ history. I had a few of their things at my house while workingto inventory a few records from which Dad would prepare Knight orchestration. I kept forgetting, and KEPT forgetting to bring that signed 75th anniversary booklet to Dad… thank God. On Sunday, September 4th, I delivered that booklet and their cat, Missy, whom I’d rescued Thursday, September 1st, from grim circumstances at a damaged veterinary clinic in the Biloxi area.”

As noted in the previous report, if you have information on any other Auburn Knights from the affected areas, please contact us. We will do our best to post updates on this Web site as soon as they come in.

Auburn Knights Alumnus (and New Orleans resident) Brian Graber sends this report by way of Vic Atkins:

“… My house flooded since it was near the levee. As the storm approached I evacuated to Shreveport thinking I would return after a couple of days to New Orleans. But as scenes appeared on TV of the flooding I realized I couldn’t stay in a Motel 8 forever so I am temporarily staying with my mom in Auburn until it becomes more clear what is next for us. For now we are happy we are alive and have each other. So let other Auburn Knights know we are alright and I hope the same thing for Brother (Atkins), Bert Cotton, and other Knights who live in my area.”

Vic adds that Brother Atkins and family are in Birmingham, Charlie Dennard is in Japan, and he thinks that Bert Cotton was on an out-of-town gig.

As of this writing, we don’t have any information on Peter Cho, Khari Lee or Nicki Rivers. If you have information on these people, or any other Auburn Knights from the affected areas, please contact us.

AKAA Secretary Nat Michelson has submitted the approved minutes of the July 30 meetings of the AKAA Board of Directors and General Membership. These files are provided as Microsoft Word documents.