Summati
THE
n Weekly USPS Publication Number 16300
T h i s C o m mu n i t y N ew s p a p e r is a publication of Escambia / Santa Rosa Bar Association
Section A, Page 1
Vol. 16, No. 43
Visit The Summation Weekly Online: www.summationweekly.com
November 2, 2016
1 Section, 12 Pages
Jazzing
Up Pensacola By Dawn Gresko
What’s all that jazz about? It’s about the Legal Services of North Florida (LSNF) jazzing up Pensacola with their second annual Jazz for Justice fundraising event returning to the 400 Block of South Palafox on Nov. 6 from 4 to 7 pm. Although Jazz for Justice has been a long-standing event in nearby Tallahassee, Fla., where it has successfully raised funds for the LSNF for two decades, the event will be returning for only its second year under the banner of Pensacola’s famous fall festivities: Foo Foo Fest. Last year alone, Pensacola’s Jazz for Justice event raised a total of $20,000 for the LSNF. “We’ve held the event for 20 years in Tallahassee,” said Leslie PowellBoudreaux, executive director for the Legal Services of North Florida. “After seeing its success there, we decided to bring Jazz for Justice over here and put a little Pensacola ‘flavor’ into the mix.” Speaking of putting in Pensacola flavor, this year Jazz for Justice has actually altered its logo (thanks to a generous donation by local marketing and design firm Emagination Unlimited) to better fit with the energy of our city. This year, Jazz for Justice received a minigrant from Pensacola’s Arts, Culture, and Entertainment, Inc. (ACE) of $7,800, which only serves to help the event achieve all its jazzy greatness and glory. Of course, there’s a long list of community sponsors without whom Jazz for Justice 2016 would not have been possible. As many as 25 volunteers help set up Jazz for Justice in various ways; there’s a “roadie” crew of volunteers who help set the stage for bands, a group that coordinates ticket sales as well as the merchandise booth (which will offer 2016 Jazz for Justice t-shirts and other souvenirs), a volunteer photographer (Sharron Ellison) who will be on-site
snapping event photos, and a special clown volunteer who will be putting on a show for the kiddos. Remember, Jazz for Justice is absolutely family friendly and children under age 12 get in for free. “One of the interesting things this year is that the event falls around the time change,” explained Leslie. “So, our event will kick off around sunset and carry on into the evening. Between various lighting
boasts a pretty diverse silent auction selection from local and national artwork and jewelry to gift certificates for local businesses both here in Pensacola and around the Florida Panhandle. There will be over $50,000 of items auctioned off. However, the biggest items up for auction will be unique fantasy trips: these are larger, fullypackaged trips with everything included (although sometimes you are re-
Leon Anderson, the director of jazz study at Florida State University, who is also the leader of the Leon Anderson Band--internationally and nationally renowned. on the stage and across the venue, coupled with decorations outside the shops on the block, we anticipate a truly relaxing Sunday evening with jazz.” Since the event is taking us to the streets of Downtown Pensacola, all along the 400 Block of South Palafox, attendees are encouraged to explore the shopping and dining options available, especially the nearby Bodacious Family of Shops. You might want to show up a little earlier if you’ve bought tickets to the VIP Champagne Hour, which will feature an early show at 3 pm by Jim Andrews—a local jazz saxophonist. Tickets are $100 per person for VIP, As always, the event
sponsible for airfare fees). But, you might be wondering, where do these trips take you? To places you may not have ever imagined yourself going: this year, choose to bid on fantasy trips to locations like Alaska’s majestic frontier, Bali’s exotic escape, the Kentucky Derby, Spain’s Barcelona, a retreat to Canada’s British Columbia, New York City, Hawaii, Seattle, medieval Cortona, or even the captivating Country Music Awards in Nashville! These trips range in starting bids from $2,250 to $6,300, and you can find out more details, or how to bid online, at Jazz for Justice’s website. Of course, Jazz for Justice wouldn’t be complete
without the music for which the event is known. With that being said, you can expect to see bands like local gypsy-jazz band Caravan, as well as others coming from outside of our city such as Randall “Big Daddy” Webster and Red Hot Java as well as Leon Anderson—the director of jazz study at Florida State University, who will be making waves at Jazz for Justice with his traveling band, accompanied by powerful vocalist Avis Berry, who perform nationally and internationally. Internationally-known and returning artist Big Daddy and Red Hot Java will kick of the musical entertainment with some Chicago blues at 4 pm. Following shortly after will be Caravan, a fivepiece Gypsy jazz group with Parisian origins, who will begin playing at 5 pm sharp. Closing out the festivities on a musical note will be a smooth performance by Leon Anderson Band with guest vocalist Avis Berry at 6 pm. All of this and more to raise funds to support the main mission of the LSNF: that is, the goal of helping low-income and vulnerable individuals and families who might be facing hardships, such as the threat of homelessness or domestic violence. LSNF is there for those who might not have access to a lawyer or know what their legal options in situations like foreclosures. LSNF is there to aid these individuals in working through any legal issues and ultimately ensure no one takes advantage of them. As Leslie aptly put it: “If we are able to put them in a better position with legal assistance, then we’ve done our job.” General admission tickets to the event are $10 per person and all proceeds go toward the LSNF cause. If you’d like to learn more about Jazz for Justice, or how to become a sponsor, call (850) 701-3313 or check out jazzforjustice.org.
Many thanks and much appreciation goes out to the following community sponsors for their special contributions to Jazz for Justice:
Jazz Partners Foo Foo Festival Bodacious Family of Shops Blues Angel Music Emagination Unlimited Innisfree Hotels Entertainment Sponsors Beggs & Lane Islander Lounge Levin, Papantonio, Thomas, Mitchell, Rafferty & Proctor, P.A. Sperry Van Ness Jazz Fans Jason Cromey & Will Nelson, Attorneys Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association Sharron Ellison (Freelance Photographer) Wilson, Harrell, Farrington, Ford, Wilson, Spain & Parsons, P.A., IMS Expert Systems Kerrigan, Estess, Rankin, McLeod & Thompson Kontact Intelligence SmartBank Taylor, Warren & Weidner Media Sponsors Emagination Unlimited Cat Country 98.7/NewsRadio 1620 WUWF North Public Relations Family Sponsors Cox Communications T-Shirt Sponsor Daisy’s Wedding and Event Planning