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Haiti Concert Shows Value of Local Arts Community

Anyone who continues to be a naysayer about the local arts community and the value of the arts in general should have been at the Janesville Performing Arts Center last Friday night to see the Music For Haiti benefit concert.

Those in attendance saw exactly why the arts are vital and what talented people can accomplish when working together. They also witnessed a darned good show.

I avoided writing about this event because I was directly involved in it as part of the organizing committee and as the show's emcee. Plus, after front page coverage in the Gazette, I felt like it had gotten enough publicity.

But after a week of reflection and discussion with the other people involved, it is clear to us that this was more than just a show. This was a statement.

Rather than rehash what's already been reported, here are some of the things that you may not have been aware of.

First of all, it was really important to us that 100% of the money we raised go to the Haiti relief effort. But there were some expenses that just couldn't be avoided. Thanks to the United Arts Alliance, SpotLight on Kids and Theatre Unlimited, those were covered, allowing us to meet our goal of giving 100% of the proceeds. In case you haven't noticed, all three of those organizations are small non-profits that aren't exactly swimming in cash. The fact that they thought enough of this concert to help make it happen speaks volumes about the quality of the folks running them. Please keep them in mind when you see future events of theirs on the community calendar.

And that was just the start of the effort. Ed Gansen designed the event logo and invited local high school art students to contribute art for the posters and programs. I hope you saw the results of these young artists' efforts; they were outstanding. If you didn't, and you have a Facebook account, their art can still be seen on the Music For Haiti Benefit Concert event page.

Programs and posters were printed by Custom Xerographics. Rick Mueller doesn't get a lot of publicity, but he always seems to step up to the plate. A last minute decision to sell T-shirts to raise more money was made a reality by MMPR. Best Events contributed drinks and desserts.

Craig High School's student body was well-represented with plenty of volunteers who did everything from selling T-shirts, to distributing posters to local businesses. This included many of the same young people who recorded and sold the “Christmas to Remember” CD that raised money for the GIFTS Men's Homeless Shelter.

The musicians gave their time and talents freely and several of them rearranged schedules to participate. After raising the roof to start the concert, Bop Ritual had to run down the street to play at Time Out. Yuri Rashkin shortened his piano gig at the Armory to literally run back over to JPAC. (He didn't need to run that fast, however. I guess I should have held off on the third exclamation point when I text messaged him to “Get over here!!!”)

We had a top-notch technical crew that made everyone sound great, and made the setups and transitions between acts run as quickly and smoothly as any show I can ever recall.

The event itself, considering how quickly it was put together, came off amazingly well. The music was all top-notch and incredibly diverse. You had the Sapphire String Quartet performing classical Beatles music, JP Merz and a group of his fellow Craig High students doing the modal jazz of Miles Davis, and a group of musical doctors from Dean Riverview Clinic (who cleverly called themselves the GoDeans) nailing one of the best rock songs of the 1970's, “Radar Love.”

During rehearsals earlier in the day, Tim Markus of Johnny Can't Stop got an inspiration and asked the Sapphire String Quartet if they would accompany his group on one of his original songs. They literally ran it through once and then played it that evening. The result was an absolutely gorgeous rendition that wowed the audience.

The evening finished up with members of the various groups all joining together on stage to perform The Beatles' “Let It Be.” Anyone who didn't rush out of their seat when it was over received added value when an impromptu version of “Squeeze Box” by The Who broke out on stage.

The joy and camaraderie of the event wasn't done with the concert. After the show, most of the committee and many of the musicians headed out to The Speakeasy, where an unsuspecting singer/guitarist named Kevin Welsh was performing. In a fit of inspiration, Johnny Can't Stop's guest percussionist Dean Dwyer ran out to his car and brought in his bag of tricks that included various shakers, spoons, tambourines and hand drums. Distributing them to all of us, Kevin looked out in amazement as he was suddenly accompanied by a full percussion section. After he finished his song, he bewilderedly asked, “Where did all the drums come from?”

When he tried to finish for the night, his PA system was hijacked by several of the Haiti musicians who took turns playing and singing, still backed by loads of percussion. (Kevin was eventually coaxed back to the mic to do a couple more songs, thanks to the financial contributions of the guilty hijackers. The extended night ended up to be well worth his while.)

When all was said and done, over $3,100 was raised for the American Red Cross Haiti Relief Fund. I will admit that I was slightly disappointed we didn't draw more attendees and raise more money, but those who came raved about how wonderful the event was. Those who didn't come missed out on an evening that proved the incredible talent that exists in this community, as well as the tremendous results that can be achieved when many, many people come together to support one goal.

There will be naysayers that will read this and say, why doesn't anybody do something for the local folks who are struggling?

First of all, if you had been at JPAC and seen the photos of the destruction and heard the testimony of the Rev. John Galvan, who just returned from Haiti, you would never in a million years trade your plight for theirs.

Secondly, if you want to help, step up. There are lots of opportunities. Nobody who was involved in organizing the Haiti concert was a professional benefit organizer. It was just a group of people with an idea and some passion to go behind it. This event proves it can be done.

Denouement:

JATV videotaped the event and DVD copies are available. Call 608-754-2607 to order one. Your $10 purchase price goes entirely to the Red Cross Haiti relief effort.

I would like to personally thank the Music For Haiti committee members, Teresa Nguyen, Ed Gansen, Yuri Rashkin and Dan Fredricks. You made it happen. Teresa, you score extra points for being the den mother of a group of unruly boys.