SFJAZZ To Stream Wayne Shorter Tribute, Fundraiser

By DownBeat I May. 19, 2020

Nonprofit SFJAZZ is adding four Wayne Shorter tribute concerts to its Fridays at Five streaming series.
(Photo: Robert Ascroft)

The Bay Area nonprofit organization SFJAZZ is aiming to lend assistance to Wayne Shorter with a series of livestreaming events.

Offering viewers four Shorter tribute concerts recorded last year at the SFJAZZ Center, the nonprofit aims to raise money to fund the saxophonist’s “ongoing medical needs.” The recordings come as part of the group’s Fridays at Five series, as SFJAZZ has worked to provide music to homebound audiences while the coronavirus pandemic limits possibilities for live performances. It also has created a new revenue stream for the organization.

The first installment of the Wayne Shorter Celebration is set for 5 p.m. PST May 19, and will feature performances by Kamasi Washington, Danilo Pérez, John Patitucci and Brian Blade. A second stream, slated for June 26, is set to include Herbie Hancock, Terence Blanchard and others. Subsequent events are planned for July 31 and Aug. 28 with performances by Branford Marsalis, Joshua Redman and others.

Access to the videos requires a $5 digital membership. And for the Shorter series, a digital tip jar has been set up to generate funds that will go directly toward paying the saxophonist’s medical expenses.

Additional information about the series can be found here. DB

Updated June 25