The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra played to a packed Village Vanguard in New York in its Japan earthquake and tsunami benefit performance on Monday Night. The event streamed live on the internet and had hundreds of viewers, many of them in Japan. Guest artists included Barry Harris, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Lew Tabackin, Lou Soloff and, in a memorable flugelhorn solo on Slide Hampton’s Frame for the Blues, Tom Harrell. The evening’s three sets may be viewed again on this page of the VJO’s website.

The VJO organization is continuing to encourage donations for earthquake/tsunami relief and has set up a special page on its website for making them. Please go to this web address for instructions.

On Saturday, April 9, in Los Angeles, Vitello’s Jazz Club and the Los Angeles Jazz Society are teaming in a 12-hour performance to raise funds to benefit victims of the triple disaster. Peter Erskine, Joe LaBarbera, Terry Trotter, Larry Koonse, Bob Sheppard, the Wayne Bergeron big band, Chuck Berghofer, Tamir Hendelman and the Yellowjackets will be among the musicians donating their talents. The L.A. Jazz Society will transmit all the money collected to the Japanese Red Cross. Dick McGarvin, a favorite radio host of southern California jazz listeners, will be the MC. For time, location and further details, see Vitello’s website.