Band Raises Funds for Homeless Shelters

The Tall Granite Jazz Band has been raising money for Concord's winter homeless shelters, accepting donations at the True Brew Barista shows. Patch asked Dave Dustin some questions about the effort, music, and the band. 

Q. What's Jazz for a Cause all about? Where is the money going?

A. The Tall Granite Jazz Band comprises seven players, with most of us coming from the Concord area, and it includes two clergymen, Rev. Tim Wildman (trumpet and flugelhorn) and Dr. Bob Maccini (1st trumpet). We rehearse at Concord’s jazz-friendly South Congregational Church, which operates the city’s emergency winter homeless shelters along with the First Congregational Church. Their generosity gave us the idea to approach our friends at the True Brew Barista about hosting a monthly performance series in which donations would be channeled to community support activities such as the emergency homeless shelters in the winter and other charities during the warmer months. All monies donated are conveyed to the charity being benefited. Since we started “Jazz For a Cause” in the late summer, the Tall Granite Jazz Band, in conjunction with the True Brew Barista, has raised more than $1,200 to benefit the emergency winter homeless shelters!

Q. Why is it important for musicians to hold benefit concerts? 

A. We’ve found that benefiting community support causes is a great reason to get together and play regularly without compensation! It keeps us bonded and it give us a certain amount of visibility, which is helpful if you are a band scuffling around for the dwindling number of paying gigs in the small New Hampshire market for live music.

Q. What makes Tall Granite Jazz Band different than previous bands you've played in?

A. This band is made up, with one exception, of amateur musicians who love jazz and have played a lot of it over the years. From our start in 2007, TGJB has been all about playing tuneful, fun music that engages listeners, and having a great time. I’ve played in some groups that were plagued with “artistic differences,” but that has not been the case with TGJB. We all get along well, and as some players have moved on we’ve been able to attract excellent replacements who have kept our internal enjoyment factor and musicianship trending upward. And as our membership has evolved, we’ve made a shift into exciting charted material from more improvisational approaches, which has given more of a focus and edge to our sound. 

Q. What's your favorite musical piece to play and why?

A. That’s a tough question! We’ve been fortunate to attract the services of a couple gifted arrangers, including our own Bob Maccini, and they each have their strengths. I think the whole band really enjoys Bob’s arrangement of a Duke Ellington tune called “Concerto For Cootie.” Our tenor sax player switches to clarinet for this soulful and swinging ballad. We also enjoy the hard-swing charts written for us by a Texan friend of mine, typified by “Cabaret” or “Just Friends.” 

Q. Anything else we need to know?

A. We are available for hire for concerts and special events. Interested parties can contact us through our website. And we are coming back to the True Brew Barista on Saturday, March 16 (the eve of St. Patrick’s Day) for a cover-charge performance that will feature some great Irish Swing (who knew, right?) arranged especially for the Tall Granite Jazz Band!

Click here for details about the Tall Granite Jazz Band concert Wednesday.