Fifth Annual Orinda Jazz Festival Presents Nepal Earthquake Benefit

– By Beau Behan, Films and Entertainment

The Fifth Annual Orinda Jazz Festival comes to the Orinda Community Church Auditorium, on Saturday, July, 18, 2015 from 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM.

A one-day event benefiting the victims of the Nepal earthquake via UCC Disaster Ministries, it will feature well-acclaimed international, regional, and local musicians and artists including two-time Grammy Award-winning violinist, Mads Tolling and multi-award winning bassist/composer, Kai Eckhardt.

Born and raised in Copenhagen, Denmark, Tolling received Denmark’s Sankt Annae’s Award for Musical Excellence as well as grants from Queen Margaret, the Sonning Foundation and the Berklee Elvin Jones Award. Blending classical and jazz grooves into his own unique style, he is well-known as a crossover artist.

A German born musician and composer, Eckhardt was heavily influenced by the emerging fusion of funk, rock and jazz in the late ‘70s. He has performed at distinguished venues around the globe such as the Royal Festival Hall in London, the Philharmonic in Munich and the Esplanade in Singapore.

Also scheduled to appear are Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center flutist/vocalist, Carol Alban; bansuri player, Mimoha Karki from Nepal; former Isaac Hayes keyboardist Ben Flint; vocalist/harmonica player Brian Byrnes; fellow guitarists/vocalists, Chico Coelho and Dave Ridnell; drummer Jon Weiner; bassist Adam Noel; vocalists, Alvenson Moore and Thai Leitao; guitarist Jim Freeman; accordionist Patricia Henning; saxophonist Dwaine Spurlin; pianist, Filipe Leitao; and other celebrated performers.

The suggested donation is $5 - $10.

For more details, visit the festival’s website (OrindaJazzFestival.org), e-mail OrindaJazz@gmail.com or call 925.255.5164.