Comment: The Red Cross

Rifftides reader Russ Layne writes from Chester, New York.

Wow, Just read the piece on Paul Desmond and the Red Cross. The first live jazz group I ever saw, a bar mitzvah present from my mother at age 13, was The Dave Brubeck Quintet at Fordham University (splitting the bill with Jackie Mason).

Anyway, as founder and executive director of _blank">Sugarloaf Music Series, Inc. in ‘downstate’ New York, my wife and I have developed a growing affinity to most Louisiana music, including Cajun. So…when we had the opportunity to help a group of Cajun artists in much need from New Orleans, The Bruce Daigrepont Cajun Band, and booked them into seven schools and venues with ALL proceeds going to the band, I reached out to the Red Cross, requesting that they help underwrite air fare for the band to Newark. After several connections with the NYC and local Goshen, NY offices, I was informed that they had no mechanism to facilitate our request. And now I’m learning that one of my original jazz idols, Paul Desmond and his estate has left nearly $5 million to the Red Cross. That I couldn’t get a penny to help some victims get work makes it even MORE of a
p—-r!

I was finally able to get Tipitina’s Foundation to handle that expense. I encourage all to funnel their contributions to that organization.