JPL Big Band Outfit Plays to Help Homeless

Family Promise, a program to aid the newly homeless, is setting up shop in the San Gabriel Valley. To help them get off to a good start, a group of musicians affiliated with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory will present a benefit concert with music from the big band era. The band will perform in a program hosted by the beginning with dinner at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22 with their concert following.

The group, known as Big Band Theory, puts aside their professional duties in high tech space programs to offer a unique brand of space-age music. But when the band, filled with many PhD's, pick up their trumpets, saxophones, or trombones, they swing with music tinged with space themes.

There's "Orange Colored Sky" (think the planet, Mars); or "Fly Me to the Moon" and "Ja-Da" the first song heard in space. On the more earthly side are songs mostly from the swing era with a dose of Sinatra along with some tunes from the swinging 1960's.

There is a serious purpose behind all the fun. The Sierra Madre church, which is hosting the event, has joined with a dozen other local congregations to affiliate with Interfaith Hospitality Network, a nationwide non-profit organization. Known as Family Promise, the network is comprised of 165 groups in 41 states that serve homeless family members in locating transitional housing following the loss of a residence due to disaster or foreclosure. 

Network Director, Lynnea Hughes, says that although the program has been in existence since 1986, it is in a start-up mode in the San Gabriel Valley.  A Resource Center location will be opened shortly.

"Our program serves the newly homeless who are traumatized by the loss of their home and have no experience in dealing with issues that are suddenly confronting them." 

Typically, the Sierra Madre Methodist Church will provide volunteer help in securing temporary lodging, get the kids to school, provide meals and other services for anywhere from 30 to 90 days while the family gets on their feet.

The program's budget is a relatively modest $150,000—but, or course, an equal amount, or more, is provided by the volunteers. But the seed money needed to underpin the program is vital, Hughes says.

Scott Basinger, who plays baritone saxophone in the Big Band Theory orchestra (and works in the optical department at JPL) is a member of the Sierra Madre Methodist Church. He is responsible for the band's support of the benefit concert.

Tickets for the event are $15 for the dinner; $15 for the concert only; or the complete package of dinner and concert for $25. Reservations should be made by Oct. 20 by calling Pat Tomlin at the church office during office hours, at (626) 355-0629.

The Sierra Madre United Methodist Church is located at 695 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., at the corner of Sierra Madre Blvd. and Michillinda Ave.  Parking is available in the church lot: enter off Michillinda Ave.