Brass For Africa
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News update -- 21 May 2005 bulletin
JAZZ@THE FACTORY CONGO CABARET
On Saturday June 4, Jazz@ the Factory kicks off its 3rd Concert for 2005 with a Cabaret Fundraiser to build new classrooms for a school in the war- torn Democratic Republic of the Congo. The local people continue to suffer the effects of 7 years of civil war in which over 3 million people have been killed.
Many have starved to death having fled to the forest to escape rebels who attack villages and rape and murder the villagers.
There are a number of schools in the Butembo area of North-East Congo that the Brass For Africa Committee of Springwood-Winmalee Anglican Church has been helping over recent years. In the schools in Congo, teachers don't get paid except by small donations by the parents of the schoolchildren who themselves are impoverished. Their weekly wage could be as low as $2. The school facilities are very basic and inadequate for the number of school children, with many schools having to run a morning and an afternoon shift to accommodate their students. Over there, one Australian dollar goes a lot further than it does here. For instance, for $750 you can build a classroom: walls with a bamboo framework filled in with mud and corrugated iron roofing. For another $200, the students can have a concrete floor instead of the usual dirt floor. For another $50 you can equip this classroom with a blackboard, chalk, books and ballpoint pens. So for $1000 we can build (the labour is provided by the parents and the teachers) and equip one classroom and this Cabaret on June the 4th is hoping to build 3. Will you help us and in the process enjoy a night that you will long remember?
For $25 a head you can come and mingle with pre-dinner drinks at 6pm in the foyer of the Factory, then at 6.30 savour an Authentic African meal while you are entertained at 7 pm by the sometimes sweet, sometimes hard-driving Jazz-Rock sounds of Chicago and Blood Sweat and Tears with the newly formed 14 piece group 'Chicongo Tears'.
This group, formed by Graham Toulmin and Chris Sheerman, features 6 singers, Jenny Carson-Drever, Rosemary Cooper and Gemma Sampson with the Andison Brothers - Ben, David and Jonathon. A great rhythm comprising Chris on keys, Jeremy Toulmin on bass, Brett Beasley on guitar and the awesome 13 yr old drum sensation Steve Dodd, plus a vibrant brass section of trumpets, trombone and sax completes the band.
You will love the 10 songs which include the Chicago selection : 'Does anybody really know what time it is', 'Saturday in the Park', 'You're the inspiration', 'Hard to say I'm sorry', 'Just You and Me', 'If you leave me now' and 'Make me smile'. Then followed up with the BST selection: 'And when I die', 'You made me so very happy' and the classic 'Spinning Wheel'.
To book a table of 8 or just one or two seats, call Jenny the Catering Manager on 4751 9720 or the booking office (which also doubles as a dental surgery) and talk to Heather or Jeremy on 4751 9000.
- $25 for the African meal and 2 floorshows starting at 6pm
- $20 for just the two floorshows starting at 7pm
- $10 for the second floorshow at 8.30
Not only a great night of music and African food but you will be helping build a school.
Bird Yard Bird Band (performing at 8.30) in rehearsal