Real Good for FREE: Jazz Gala @ Colonie Elks Club, 4/21/13

Photograph of Michael Benedict & Bopitude by Andrzej Pilarczyk
A JazzApril event

April is Jazz Appreciation Month, and the Albany Musicians’ Association is doing its part to celebrate with a big bash on Sunday afternoon (April 21). You’re invited, and admission if free.

The four-hour, eighth annual Jazz Gala will take place at the Colonie Elks Lodge in Latham from 2-6pm on Sunday featuring some of the Local 518’s finest jazz bands.

In addition to the music, the musicians’ association will also be honoring five Capital Region individuals for their ongoing contributions to the local jazz scene. The honorees will be photographers Rudy Lu, Andrzej Pilarczyk and Albert Brooks – all of whom have been regular Nippertown contributors – in addition to artist Wren Panzella (for her jazz-themed paintings) and Brian Patneaude (for his operation of the local jazz website Albany Jazz.

Here’s the schedule of performances for the Jazz Gala:

2pm: Ten 27
3pm: The Jeanne O’Connor Quartet
3:45pm: Jazz honorees presentation
4pm: The Mike Lamkin Organ Trio
5pm: Michael Benedict & Bopitude with special guest pianist Bruce Barth