Jazz to the Max Fundraiser
Jazz to the Max will take place Saturday, August 19, 2023; 11:00 am – 7:00 pm; in a Private Shaded Garden.
By News Desk
Over 45 stellar West Coast jazz musicians will donate their time and talents for a day-long summer jazz fest “Jazz to the Max” to raise much-needed funds for the family of beloved colleague, Nick Mancini. Nick and his family are going through a period of unrelenting stress and financial hardship in the wake of their newborn son’s (Max) diagnosis of a severe heart defect, Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). The day-long jazz festival will include a silent-auction, along with food and beverages for sale, and will be held in a beautiful, shaded garden setting in Pasadena (address disclosed at ticket purchase checkout).
Proceeds go towards the medical expenses for Max Mancini, the son of L.A. Vibraphonist, Composer, Arranger, and Educator, Nick Mancini.
Nick, a popular performer in the L.A. Jazz scene, moved with his wife, Afton and young daughter, Minerva to Tulsa, OK, from Los Angeles. Then literally overnight, the COVID pandemic shut down live venues and the livelihood of countless performing artists.
As if the pandemic wasn’t grief enough, the Mancini’s discovered in prenatal checkups last summer that their second child, son Max, had a potentially fatal heart defect syndrome (HLHS) and would need intense medical intervention to survive, especially over the next two years. Max was born in early January and their journey has been a rocky one ever since, although, miraculously, Max has continued to come through every crisis.
A month ago, a 100-mph gale-force wind came through Tulsa, uprooted a tree, dropped it on the two cars parked in their driveway, crushing them both…along with Nick’s vibes which were in the back of his car. Fortunately, they had insurance and are now car shopping. They continue to maneuver between Oklahoma City, where their son Max is receiving treatment in the ICU at the Children’s Hospital, and their home in Tulsa (90 miles away) where they care for their four-year-old daughter with the help of extended family nearby.
There will be 16 jazz combos presented throughout the day – two every hour. Two-hour tickets may be purchased for $40 per two hours: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm; 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm; 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm. A full-day pass with unlimited in-and-out entry may be purchased for $100 (25% discount with purchase of 3 or more full-day tickets). Seating is limited and tickets are available through Eventbrite or through the site: performancesalacarte.org.
Participating Artists Scheduled to Perform
- Piano: Gary Fukushima, Michael Ragonese, Vardan Ovsepian, Adrianne Duncan, Otmaro Ruiz, Andy Langham.
- Bass: Lyman Medeiros, Ahmet Turkmenoglu, Cooper Appelt, Edwin Livingston, Eric Sittner, Dan Lutz, Ryan Roberts, Jamie Rosenn.
- Drums: Kevin van den Elzen, Chris Wabich, Steve Hass, Paul Kreibich, Andy Sanesi, Brad Dutz, Dan Schnelle, James Yoshizawa.
- Clarinet: John Tegmeyer.
- Flute: Katisse Buckingham.
- Saxophone: Katisse Buckingham, Bob Sheppard, Chuck Manning, Ricky Woodard, Danny Janklow.
- Horns: Tony Guerrero, Nolan Shaheed.
- Vibes: Jake Chapman, Lolly Allen.
- Guitar: Will Brahm, Adam Ratner, Jamie Rosenn.
- Vocalists: Carla Jamie Perez, Catina DeLuna, Teryn Ré, Cathy Segal-Garcia, Jay Matsueda, Mark Christian Miller, Mon David, Ashley Maher, Adrianne Duncan, David Joyce, Cecily Gardner.
Jazz to the Max Saturday, August 19, 2023 11:00 am – 7:00 pm Location Private shaded garden setting in Pasadena. (Address will be released upon registration) Tickets Eventbrite
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