apolloreed

Lou Reed played w/ Metal Machine Trio @ Gramercy, playing Jazz Foundation's 20th anniversary benefit @ the Apollo

by Andrew Frisicano

Same Reed, different Apollo
Lou Reed

A Great Night in Harlem
May 14, 2009
8pm
Apollo Theater
253 West 125th Street (between 7th & 8th Ave.)
Hosted by Danny Glover, Chevy Chase and Michael Imperioli

Performances include:
Lou Reed • Dr. John • Henry Butler • Irma Thomas • Sweet Georgia Brown • The Frank Foster Band • Gary Brown, The King of Bourbon Street • Bob Cranshaw • Eric Lewis aka ELEW • Dr. Frank Forte • Davell Crawford, The Prince of New Orleans • Alberta Adams, 91-year-old Detroit Blues Queen • Beverly “Guitar” Watkins • Bucky Pizzarelli • Gene Bertoncini • Francesco Pini • John Dee Holeman • Deacon John, Slide Guitar Genius from New Orleans • with over 50 legends and surprises…

Concert-only tickets for this benefit range from $50-$250. To make reservations, call Jazz Foundation at 212-245-3999, Ext 13 or e-mail [email protected].

Lou Reed played the first of two Metal Machine Trio shows at the Gramercy Theatre last night (4/23)…

“No Songs. No Vocals.” The stern warning was printed on every ticket to Thursday night’s performance of Lou Reed’s Metal Machine Trio at the Gramercy Theatre in Manhattan. And besides the occasional moan or grunt from Reed himself, that’s exactly what his fans got: an hour and a half of pure, throbbing — occasionally blissful — noise. This was no “Sweet Jane.”[SPIN]

The second song-less Metal Machine show is tonight (4/24). No official word, but I think it’s safe to say the Harlem appearance will include both vocals and songs, even if only a few of them.

Info on what exactly the Jazz Foundation does, below…

Jazz Foundation press release

For 20 years the JAZZ FOUNDATION OF AMERICA has been the first and only national organization that has quietly been saving the homes and lives of elder jazz and blues musicians in crisis. Since Katrina, they have rescued hundreds of New Orleans musician families, young and old-averaging 1600 cases a year.

HOUSING: By paying rents and mortgages, the Jazz Foundation has been keeping hundreds of jazz and blues pioneers and New Orleansgiants from eviction and homelessness, managing to keep a roof over their heads thanks to the Jarrett Lilien Emergency Housing Fund.

EMPLOYMENT: Our Agnes Varis Jazz & Blues in the Schools Program was the first to create employment for New Orleans musicians after the flood. With over two million dollars in funding, over 1,000 musicians have been employed since Katrina. (Special thanks to our “Saint Agnes” Varis, with a little help from Jazz at Lincoln Center, and the band Pearl Jam.)

REPLACING INSTRUMENTS: $250,000 worth of manufacturerdonated top-shelf instruments have been provided to New Orleans’ most beloved senior and junior jazz & blues artists including a piano for Fats Domino.

PRO BONO MEDICAL CARE AND OPERATIONS: For the past 15 years, our Angel-partners at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center’s Dizzy Gillespie Memorial Fund has provided pro bono medical care, worth over five million dollars to approximately 1,000 musicians. Their amazing generosity literally keeps jazz and blues alive.

Together, we are saving jazz and blues…one musician at a time.

Lou Reed is also on board for Lollapalooza this year.