A Night of Rhythm and Soul for AIDS Relief

A Night of Rhythm ’n’ Soul
A Journey through American Music

A Benefit Concert with
The David Horowitz and Friends Band featuring Vaneese Thomas

Date: Saturday, 19 January, 2008
Location: The Great Hall at Cooper Union venue information
7 East 7th Street (between 2nd and 3rd Avenues) New York City
Time: 8pm

Tickets: $50

The proceeds from the event will be channeled by the international NGO AVSI-USA to the HIV/AIDS project "Meeting Point International" in Uganda. Meeting Point is a program whose goal is to accompany, support and value the person affected by HIV/AIDS, regardless of tribe or denomination.

New York has always been a city of music. While it is undeniable that jazz constitutes the soundtrack of the City, it is also true that New York is the crossroads of all genres. However, since most bands do not take you through all of the American musical traditions it is extremely difficult to experience this musical melting pot.

This is where the David Horowitz and Friends Band and Vaneese Thomas come in.

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Benedict on Mozart

From the National Catholic Register article by Fr. Kramarz:

“When in our home parish of Traunstein on feast days a Mass by Mozart resounded, for me, a little country boy, it seemed as if heaven stood open. In the front, in the sanctuary, columns of incense had formed in which the sunlight was broken; at the altar the sacred action took place of which we knew that heaven opened for us. And from the choir sounded music that could only come from heaven; music in which was revealed to us the jubilation of the angels over the beauty of God. …

“I have to say that something like this happens to me still when I listen to Mozart. Mozart is pure inspiration — or at least I feel it so. Each tone is correct and could not be different. The message is simply present. …

“The joy that Mozart gives us, and I feel this anew in every encounter with him, is not due to the omission of a part of reality; it is an expression of a higher perception of the whole, something I can only call inspiration out of which his compositions seem to flow naturally.”

Photo by BBC

Ave Maria

Click here for a rather beautiful rendition of Gounod's Ave Maria performed by Bobby McFerrin (doing the background music with only his vocal chords!) and an audience singing the words. I thought it was quite moving.

hat-tip A Living Education