Jazz bands, local band to play at café
Chillicotheans wanting to contribute to Haiti relief efforts in even a small way will have that opportunity Friday night.
Add to that hearing the tunes of three bands, and the fundraising becomes a night out in Chillicothe.
CrossWord Café will host the Haiti Benefit Show from 6 to 10 p.m.
Illinois Valley Central High School’s Jazz I and Jazz II bands will perform, and students also will
bring desserts with them for the night.
The students have played at the café for the last two years, Dan Dietrich, director of bands, said.
John Heffron, executive director of CrossWord Café, originally suggested the event years ago as a band fundraiser.
But with the band’s fundraising all in place, Dietrich had other plans.
“I told John, ‘We’ll come down here and support your entity and what you do,’” said Dietrich.
Fast forward to this year, the men decided those suffering from the earthquake in Haiti Jan. 12 needed the assistance.
With doors opening at 6 p.m., Jazz II will play at 6:30 p.m.
Both jazz bands will use the night as a warm up for their jazz competition the next weekend at Rolling Meadows Jazz Festival.
Anne Fox of the American Red Cross will speak at 7 p.m. about the relief efforts in Haiti.
Jazz I will play next, followed by the check presentation to the Red Cross of the proceeds of the night.
To round out the evening, the PwnTones, a band of Chillicothe students, will round out the evening. The band is a “ska, Christian, happy hardcore” blend featuring music of the saxophone, trumpet and guitar, Heffron said.
The low-key, non-formal event is merely “a good time,” as Dietrich put it.
Residents are reminded that seating is limited at the café, located at 947 N. Second St.
Speaking of seating, the benefit is the first major event the café has held with its new treehouse loft, which is nearing completion.
Residents are welcome to write checks to the American Red Cross with Haiti relief in the memo line at the event, or mail them to CrossWord Café, P.O. Box 14, Chillicothe, IL 61523.
For more information, visit the café’s Web site at http://crosswordcafe.net/.
