Eastman student musicians create social atmosphere at Jazz for Justice

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For the ninth year in a row, the Eastman School of Music partnered with the Foundation for the Monroe County Bar to create a unique atmosphere for one of the most casual fundraisers in the legal community: Jazz for Justice, which was held Friday, Nov. 8 at the Harro East Ballroom.

Auction packages to browse while listening to three talented jazz trios and a wide assortment of food to enjoy with a Friday evening cocktail: What’s not to like? Freedom to move around and talk to friends and colleagues, the opportunity to taste delicacies donated by a variety of local restaurants, and music by students who have come from Maine, Utah, Illinois, and Georgia in addition to students with roots in Ithaca, Canandaigua, Buffalo and Oneonta.

Committee and purpose

The 2019 Jazz for Justice Committee was again chaired by Elaine Z. Cole, with Marlene Attardo, Kenneth Aufsesser, Siddharth Bahl, Caitlin C. Carrigg, Patti Carter-Morrison, Joseph D’Angelo, David Ross, Debbie Ryan and Lauren Whiting making up the committee that organized the event.

With some prior events to use as a gauge, this year’s committee seems confident it will raise close to $30,000 to put in the Foundation coffers. Each year the Foundation awards grants to support a variety of programs, including the Rochester Legal Diversity Clerkship Program, Rochester Teen Court, and the Sydney Rubin Mock Trial Competition.

Foundation President David Ross thanked the numerous event sponsors and in-kind donors during the very brief welcome and raffle-drawing break at 7:15 p.m.

Sponsors and donors

Gallo & Iacovangelo, LLP; Harris Beach PLLC; and Nixon Peabody LLP were Ragtime Sponsors this year, with Bebop Sponsorships from Abrams, Fensterman, LLP; Adams Leclair, LLP; Barclay Damon, LLP; Bond Schoeneck & King, PLLC; Boylan Code, LLP; Brown, Gruittadaro & Prato, PLLC; Canandaigua National Bank & Trust; Counsel Press; Faraci Lange, LLP; Phillips Lytle, LLP; Rochester Area Community Foundation; Rochester Institute of Technology; The Wolford Law Firm, LLP; Underberg & Kessler LLP; Ward Greenberg Heller& Reidy LLP; and Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP.

Constellation Brands, Inc. donated wine and additional underwriters included Alesco Advisors LLC, Genesee Regional Bank, and Howard Hanna Real Estate Services.

The list of in-kind sponsors, either providing food the night of the event or items for the auction, is too long to reprint here, but demonstrates the community support for the local programs being funded via the local bar foundation.

Musicians

The Palmer-Rogers-MacPartland Trio opened the evening. Trumpet player Joseph Palmer is beginning his master’s degree after relocating from Utah. Yvonne Rogers, a junior from Maine, is studying jazz piano, and Robert MacPartland is a jazz bassist from Illinois finishing his master’s in Jazz and Contemporary Media.

Grace Frarey of the Grace Frarey Trio played for the 2018 Jazz for Justice with a different group of musicians. This year, saxophonist Frary, from Canandaigua, was joined by Ryan Brasley (Illinois) on drums and bassist Rafael Encisco, who hails from Ithaca.

The Judo Trio closed the evening with a well-received set. Guitarist Josh Achiron is originally from Atlanta, and studies both classical and jazz guitar at Eastman. Bassist Stephen Parisi Jr. is from Buffalo, while trombonist Ethan Cypress is from Oneonta.

Foundation

As the charitable arm of the Monroe County Bar Association, the Foundation was founded in 1951. During the past decade-plus, the Foundation has awarded grants of more than $350,000 to programs that focus on at-risk youth and other needs within the legal community.

The current board under President Ross includes President-elect William G. Bauer, Treasurer Pamela Reynolds, and Secretary Peter H. Abdella.

Board members include Siddharth Bahl, Mark W. Bennett, Christin M. Cornetta, Katherine E. Courtney, Deborah M. Field, Timothy M. Fitzgerald, Scott A. Forsyth, Michael F. Geraci, Harold A. Kurland, Shani C. Mitchell, Laura A. Myers, Rita Nischal, Bridget A. O’Toole, Christine F. Redfield, Joseph A. Rossi, Michael S. Schnittman, and Stacey Trien. Ex-officio members include MCBA President Carolyn G. Nussbaum, Jill Paperno, and MCBA Executive Director Kevin F. Ryan.

Nora A. Jones is a Rochester-area freelance writer who can be reached at [email protected].