Staying vital through the COVID-19 pandemic with a number of live-streamed video performances, Philadelphia's innovative music organization, The Jazz Sanctuary, is slated to return to live, in-person performances across the Greater Philadelphia region with bookings beginning this month. The non-profit performing arts program is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2021.
The Jazz Sanctuary is set for a performance at Historic Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church in Philadelphia on May 27 at 7:30 p.m. Also booked for the organization are appearances at Trinity Church in Birmingham, PA on September 9, October 14, and November 18, and a second appearance at Gloria Dei on September 23.,
œThe Jazz Sanctuary has grown into a Delaware Valley first, said Alan Segal, the founder, and CEO of The Jazz Sanctuary. œWe are the only such organization in the Philadelphia, Bucks, Delaware, Montgomery and Chester county areas, as well as the U.S., that I know of. We are unique in every sense of the word. The Jazz Sanctuary's ongoing mission is to provide events free of charge to charitable organizations and houses of worship, as well as provide a place of comfort, comradery, and musical enjoyment for the public. We also continue to provide education via Jazz Master Classes and pay a fair rate of compensation to our talented musicians and performers.
The story of The Jazz Sanctuary begins with Segal's personal story of brain injury. In August 2006, Segal was diagnosed with brain AVM (arterio-venous malformation). After a four month wait, he was admitted to Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, and following two days and 13 hours of surgery to address the brain AVM, was unable to talk, walk, read, and had no hand-eye coordination.
œWhat followed was 33 days in the hospital where I was visited by priests, rabbis, family, and friends, Segal recalled. œAfter my release from the hospital I began the hard part of working to make myself better. And so, I began the arduous task of rehabilitation. I decided that as part of my therapy I would practice the bass to help my hand-eye coordination and ability to read.
It worked! I turned myself into a jazz bassist. During the years of therapy, I wondered how I was going to ever repay the folks that paid so much attention to me, not to mention the love that was showered on me through cards, calls and prayers. I concluded that I would form an organization that would provide music free of any charges to charitable organizations and houses of worship. I continue to practice bass, study Tai Chi and give my time and effort to The Jazz Sanctuary.
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic protocols, the artists and performers from The Jazz Sanctuary have not been able to perform in front of a live audience since March 2020 but have come together in a controlled studio environment six times to perform as a group for six video concerts in œThe Jazz Sanctuary “ Live series. All six video concerts are available at any time on-demand at The Jazz Sanctuary website, https://thejazzsanctuary.com/the-jazz-sanctuary-live/.
The Jazz Sanctuary is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that brings jazz music free of charge to charitable organizations, community centers, and houses of worship, among others. Since its founding in 2011, The Jazz Sanctuary has brought more than 600 live performances to people throughout Philadelphia and the neighboring Pennsylvania and New Jersey suburbs. In addition, the organization brings its music to healthcare facilities, including regular performances for the Council on Brain Injury and others in the region.
Charitable events in the five-county area have served organizations such as Friendship Circle, Cradle of Hope, Ronald McDonald House, Interfaith Hospital Center of the Main Line, and Council on Brain Injury and Re-Med golf outing and therapy sessions.
Funding for The Jazz Sanctuary is provided by individual donors as well as sponsors, including CBIZ, Compass Ion Advisors, Philadelphia Federal Credit Union, The Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, The Big Event, Zled Lighting, LPL Financial, Covenant Bank and DMG Global.
Interested donors or sponsors, as well as local townships, houses of worship, or other public venues interested in participating in, or hosting The Jazz Sanctuary live events, are encouraged to contact Segal directly, either by phone at (215) 208-7314 or by e-mail at music@thejazzsanctuary.com. Additional information is available at http://www.thejazzsanctuary.com.
Source URL - https://www.issuewire.com/philadelphias-innovative-music-organization-the-jazz-sanctuary-returns-to-live-in-person-performances-1698855594997669
