George Reed Jazz Scholarship OrganizationGRJSO

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

On TV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90Q1N3u_OrU

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Jazz Concert at the Starlight Room in Elmira

Chad Lefkowitz-Brown & Christian Li!

Friday, April 10, 2015

7:00 pm
Horseheads Natives, Rising Jazz Stars!!
The Dynamic Duo return to their routes to help the Starlite Room celebrate our 8 Year Anniversary!
These Two Young Men already have extremely impressive resumes!!
Don't delay tickets will sell fast!!
Tickets: $15.00

Monday, March 30, 2015

George Reed Jazz Heritage Concert Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

Media Contact: Steve Seaberg

(607) 592-1459

steve.seaberg.c39g@statefarm.com

Swing into Spring at the George Reed Benefit Jazz Concert

Elmira’s Park Church with resound with Gypsy-Swing jazz at the fifth George Reed Jazz Heritage Concert on Sunday, April 26^th at 3:00 p.m. Ithaca-based Gypsy Swing Band, Djug Django will perform. Djug Django features many former bandmates of George Reed. They have been playing together for over twenty years.

The George Reed Jazz Scholarship Organization honors and celebrates the legacy of Elmira’s legendary jazz drummer George Reed (1922-2011). George Reed toured across the country and Europe playing with many of the greats in Jazz. A showman and artist, George Reed befriended and mentored innumerable young musicians, a living tribute to his passion. Since its inauguration, the George Reed Jazz Scholarship Organization has given over $3,000 in scholarships to the young, talented jazz musicians. This concert will raise funds for the scholarship (administered by The Community Foundation of Elmira, Corning and the Finger Lakes), and the presentation of this year’s scholarship will be awarded at the April 26^th concert.

Tickets are available at the door, $20 for adults and students are FREE. Follow George Reed Jazz Scholarship Organization events on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/TheGeorgeReedJazzScholarshipOrganization and on the web at http://www.GRJSO.blogspot.com.

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Here is the poster for this year's concert! Please share it with your friends and gear up for this exciting event!

Monday, March 16, 2015

Very Exciting News!

Look out for the March/April edition of Life in the Finger Lakes Magazine, where we have published an article titled "The Beat Goes On: Swing into Spring with George Reed Jazz" by Steve Seaberg. You can pick up a copy at Dandy Mini Mart, Rubin's, Target, Wegman's, and many other venues throughout the region. Don't forget to mark your calendars for April 26th at 3:00 p.m. at The Park Church!

Mission, History & Purpose

The George Reed Jazz Scholarship Organization (GRJSO) operates under the aegis of the Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes, Inc., a 501(c)(3)charitable foundation.

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the George Reed Scholarship is to preserve the legacy of George Reed through live jazz and scholarships to young jazz musicians.

HISTORY & PURPOSE

George Reed Wilbourn (1922-2011) became George Reed early in his musical career when the management of the Apollo Theater in Harlem, NY decided "Wilbourn" was too long for the marquee. George Reed started as a dancer, side-lining on drums. Invited to play on more and more gigs, drums won out. Many musicians have testified that they loved to play with George. He had the capacity to make them sound good. "I always sang my best," claimed vocalist Heather Moran, "when George was behind me."

It's hard to say what George did best. But, he lived his life fully for his entire 89 years as a performer, friend and family man. He never gave up, lost hope, or resigned himself to incapacity. Although frequently in pain near the end of his life, he continued to perk up the moods of those around him with his banter and wit.

George never had a lot of money. His bequest exceeds the monetary. The young musicians George tutored, nurtured, trained, mentored, and inspired are the gifts George left us, with the promise to extend jazz's future. Chad Lefkowitz-Brown, Christian Li, Walter Stinson, Russ Sternglass, and many more, shared a stage ruled by the beat of an old and generous drummer who helped young kids fall in love with making jazz.

George knew that there's nothing better than being with people doing what they love, and doing it with them.

Jazz audiences, large and small, participate in the transmission of this musical form as it emerges through time. Good jazz is delicious, satisfying, nutritious, sustaining, inspiring, and altogether delightful; a true art. The synergy between and among jazz musicians and listeners creates a community of understanding and happiness, even when feelings have roots in sadness.

In honor of George Reed, our organization produces live jazz concerts performed by outstanding musicians, in the Park Church, the center of George's chosen community, Elmira, NY.

Funds raised at the concert are managed by the Community Foundation to stage future concerts and to create an endowment granting scholarships to young jazz musicians, to extend George Reed's legacy of musicianship, mentoring, and his true love of jazz into the future.

THE GEORGE REED JAZZ HERITAGE CONCERTS

Christian Li & Friends

May 20, 2012

Chad Lefkowitz-Brown & Friends

December 2, 2012

The Salt City Jazz Collective

May 19, 2013