Second Fundraiser for George Davidson
Drummer George Davidson has some continuing health problems, and a second fundraiser for him will be held in Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti on November 11. A prior fundraiser was held in Detroit, his hometown, but since George has many friends around Ann Arbor, this would give more people an opportunity to show their appreciation for all he has done for jazz in Southeastern Michigan.
The program on Saturday, November 11, is as follows: jam session, noon – 4:00 p.m. at the Zal Gaz Grotto (2070 West Stadium Blvd. in Ann Arbor) with a house band of Tad Weed (piano), Kurt Krahnke (bass), and Pete Siers (drums). The long list of participants include Dr. Alberto Nacif, Paul VornHagen, Los Gatos, Dave Sharp, RJ Spangler Quartet, and Ron Brooks, with more added continuously. An afterglow and additional fundraising event will take place at Ziggy’s, 206 West Michigan Ave. in Ypsilanti, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. Featured will be Ralph McKee & Friends with Mercury Tuna Sandwich as an opening act.
Davidson has had an impressive career in the jazz and blues/r&b worlds of Detroit since the 1950s playing with Motown greats like The Four Tops and the Supremes, as well as Aretha Franklin and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. For many years he was the house drummer with the Ron Brooks Trio at the Bird of Paradise jazz club in Ann Arbor. In Detroit he worked with a long list of jazz greats like Marcus Belgrave, The Tribe (with Wendell Harrison and Harold McKinney), Kirk Lightsey, Donald Byrd, Geri Allen, and Teddy Edwards.
SEMJA is one of the sponsors of this fundraiser, as is the Michigan Music Hall of Fame and participating venues and musicians.
TOP: Steve Wood, Alberto Nacif, and Vincent Bowens at Davidson benefit at Cliff Bell’s, August 1.
photographs by Lars Bjorn (top) and Chuck Andersen