What a wonderful night it was for our Songcatchers by the Sound "Evening of Jazz" event on July 22. We had a blast -- it was a great evening filled with amazing music, old friends coming together, new friends meeting for the first time, and support for Songcatchers.
After a beautiful cocktail hour on the outdoor patio of the VIP Country Club in New Rochelle, Songcatchers board member Rosemarie Castellano got the program started by speaking about her longtime experience with and impact of the organization on her life. She then introduced the emcee, WABC-TV meteorologist Amy Freeze, who spoke about the importance of music in the lives of her own children. Next up was headliner Joey Calderazzo, fresh off a European tour with the Branford Marsalis Quartet. After several solo and group performances with his band members Rich Syracuse, Tony Jefferson, and singer Joie Bianco, Joey turned the mic over to two former Songcatchers students, Vanessa and Ulysses Torres. Vanessa and Ulysses relayed the story of how Songcatchers helped them after their family suffered a house fire many years ago. Vanessa and Ulysses still play an active role in Songcatchers today. The night ended with a mini-jam session involving Joey, his band, and several Songcatchers mentors and friends: Jim Weingast (drums), Ulysses Torres (tuba), and Chris Stelluti (saxophone). A great time was had by all -- check out the pictures below!
THANK YOU to all those who came to and/or supported the event. Special thanks to Joey Calderazzo, his band, and emcee Amy Freeze for joining us for the evening. Bravo to all!
