Cooperative of All-Star Musicians Inspires Activism and Giving Through Music as Phish drummer Jon Fishman, banjoist Tony Furtado, bassist Kai Eckhardt and activist Julia Butterfly Hill Collaborate with the Everyone Orchestra for First Annual Pangaea Project Benefit April 29 and May 1 in Eugene and Portland
Eugene, OR (PRWEB) April 8, 2004 - The Everyone Orchestra continues to flourish by fusing members of the music community with a beneficial cause. This revolving cast of stellar musicians comes together to showcase their craft, improvise, and raise funds and awareness for environmental and philanthropic projects.
The First Annual Pangaea Project Benefit featuring The Everyone Orchestra on April 29 at the McDonald Theatre in Eugene and May 1 at the Aladdin Theatre in Portland will highlight the groove-based, genre-bending collaborative music of special guests Jon Fishman of Phish on drums, Kai Eckhardt of Garaj Mahal on bass, Tony Furtado on banjo and slide guitar, and Jans Ingber formerly of the Motet on vocals and percussion.
Proceeds from ticket sales, a fundraising raffle at each show, and other generous donations will be contributed to the Pangaea Project, a Portland-based leadership development program engaging youth from low-income families in creating solutions to social and environmental issues that confront their communities through local and international service-projects that share a common theme.
Deb Delman, co-Creator of The Pangaea Project, states "Bringing the world together again is what The Pangaea Project is all about. My business partner, Stephanie Tolk and I chose the name Pangaea to inspire an image of a reunited world. Our aim is to provide opportunities to low income teens to experience first-hand that this world is full of options and is theirs to enjoy, explore, take responsibility for and improve. By inspiring teens from disadvantaged communities to engage in both local and international service projects that will positively impact the world, they will feel awakened, empowered, valued and hopeful. The essence of the Benefit is also about bringing people together: community activists, musicians, music lovers and creative souls so that we can collectively make a difference."
Special guest speaker Julia Butterfly Hill will also appear at both Everyone Orchestra shows. Since her descent from a redwood tree called Luna in which she lived for over two years, Julia's schedule has been packed with speaking engagements that activate people through education, inspiration and connection to live in a way that honors the diversity and interdependence of all life. Her mantra recognizes that we are all connected, and that every choice we make makes a difference - particularly relevant to the work of The Pangaea Project and The Everyone Orchestra who are striving together to produce this and all their events in a sustainable manner as possible, making choices that protect, conserve, respect, and honor all life.
The Oregon-based Everyone Core-tet serves as the house band and musical launching pad for the special guests sharing the stage with one another. With Tye North conducting various sections of the performance, the foundations of improvisation are led by Everyone Orchestra founder and multi-instrumentalist Matt Butler on drums, didgeridoo, and vocals, Scott Law on electric guitar, mandolin, and vocals, Asher Fulero on keyboards and electronics, and Damian Erskine on bass; also performing will be singer-songwriters Libby Kirkpatrick and Maya Dorn.
Music interpreted by the all-star talent within the Everyone Orchestra performances is unique yet surprisingly impressive not only because of their rotating lineup, but also because of the three distinct elements that comprise each performance. Butler explains "in every show there are highlighted mini-sets with members of various collectives playing their songs, and a number of jams with a mix of the players from small to medium-sized ensembles."
All of this leads up to conducted jams in which the entire orchestra is on stage together, following the conductors directions on giant placards, with hand signals and various body movements. This varies from key changes and instrumentation jam-offs to random sounds with audience participation.
Throughout the night, improvisational grooves will be the underlying foundation and different players will be highlighted doing what they do best," asserts Butler.
As for what to expect from the performance, Butler says, "it's amazing to get this many players of this caliber together to improvise, live in front of an audience. Anything can happen."
A limited number of VIP Tickets are available for both Everyone Orchestra shows. VIP Tickets include preferred seating, signed event poster and an after-show meet and greet with the musicians. VIP tickets for April 29 at The McDonald Theatre are $35 and available at TicketWest outlets. VIP Tickets for May 1 at Aladdin Theatre are $40 and available at Ticketmaster venues.
Thursday, April 29: McDonald Theatre Eugene www.mcdonaldtheatre.com
1010 Willamette Street -- 541-345-4442 | Tickets on sale now at all Safeway TicketsWest outlets (800-992-8499) for $18 in advance and $20 day of show. http://www.ticketswest.com/TW/Events/Performance.asp?xval=NONE&Cat1=CON&Cat2=---&Cat3=PMCD29APR&MP=False
If not sold out, tickets will also be available at the McDonald Theatre Box Office day of show beginning at 5:30 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. Show starts at 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 1: Aladdin Theatre Portland -- www.aladdin-theater.com
3017 SE Milwaukee Ave 503-233-1994 | Tickets are $22.50 in advance and $25 day of show and available now at all TicketMaster locations and at http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0F00386FCD98E6D2?brand=&artistid=856560&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=60
Doors open at 7 p.m. Show starts at 8 p.m.
Complete list of players for The First Annual Pangaea Project Benefit Featuring The Everyone Orchestra:
Jon Fishman (Phish) - drums
Tony Furtado - banjo, slide guitar
Kai Eckhardt (Garaj Mahal) - bass
Julia Butterfly Hill - contributing inspiration
Tye North (Leftover Salmon) - conducting
Hans Ingber (The Motet) - vocals, percussion
Libby Kirkpatrick vocals, guitar
Maya Dorn vocals, guitar, poetry
The Everyone 'Core-tet':
Matt Butler (Jambay) - drums, didgeridoo
Scott Law (Hanuman) - guitar, mandolin
Asher Fulero keys, electronics
Damian Erskine bass
About the Everyone Orchestra:
Since its inception in 2001, The Everyone Orchestra has performed its shows nationally featuring such luminary musicians as The Derek Trucks Band, Col. Bruce Hampton, Steve Kimock, Cyro Baptista, members of the String Cheese Incident, and many others. Through the events and work of The Everyone Orchestra, funds have been raised for meaningful contributions to non-profit and environmental organizations around the nation including The Sierra Club, The Buckeye Forest Council, Cascadia Forest Alliance, and The Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Music :: Activism :: Improvisation
|
