WBGO's Champions Of Jazz Celebrated In Stormy Weather!

SOURCE: 

CAROLYN MCCLAIR PUBLIC RELATIONS, 

Published: 2012-11-19
WBGO’s Champions of Jazz Benefit 2012 Honoring Global Law Firm Hogan Lovells, Grammy® Award Winner Bobby McFerrin and Music Industry Executive Bruce Lundvall Included Once-in-a-Lifetime Performance During a Historic Noreaster

As the snow fell, the dollars were raised for jazz’s number one public radio station

NEWARK, NJ: WBGO’s Champions of Jazz Benefit 2012 took place the night of the historic Noreaster “Athena” as many of the performers and audience members braved not only the cold, but also their own personal challenges in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, to come together and honor Bobby McFerrin, Bruce Lundvall and Hogan Lovells.

“Even with limited train service, tunnels closed and horrendous weather, nothing could get in the way of this group of dedicated public radio supporters honoring three important figures in the world of jazz. WBGO’s Champions of Jazz Benefit was perfect proof of that as a nearly full house turned out to celebrate WBGO in the midst of the Noreaster” said Cephas Bowles, the station’s CEO. “The evening gave new meaning to the adage ‘the show must go on’ and what a fabulous show it was. We’re grateful to those who braved the weather as well as for those who supported the station but were unable to make it.”

Those who couldn’t make it missed a once-in-a-lifetime performance featuring an eclectic gathering of artists, including one of the evening’s honorees, Grammy® Award-winner Bobby McFerrin, who was joined on stage by Paquito D’Rivera, Cyrus Chestnut, Amir ?uestlove Thompson and others.

Bruce Lundvall, another Champions of Jazz honoree, was also the evening’s guiding musical spirit. Lundvall, who led CBS Records and brought the Blue Note label back to life in 1984, made requests for tunes from his front row seat, as a heavy snowfall blanketed Columbus Circle outside The Allen Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Musicians played selections from “Bruce’s Juke Box” – songs which marked milestones from his career as a producer. Trumpeter Marcus Printup, clarinetist Paquito D’Rivera, singer Bobby McFerrin and producers Michael Cuscuna and Tommy LiPuma all shared stories from the stage about how Bruce’s unshakeable faith in their talents had helped launch their careers, often at great risk to his own.
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