Top jazz performers Dave Koz, Lalah Hathaway, Patti Austin, Phil Upchurch, Marcus Miller, Kenny Rankin and others will share their talents at a special private gathering tomorrow (September 15th) called Jazz On The Grass in suburban Los Angeles to raise money for the Jackie Robinson Foundation Education and Leadership Development Program. Founded by the widow of the history-making baseball great after his death in 1973, the foundation is dedicated to helping African Americans complete their education and move into roles of leadership within the community.

Della Britton-Baeza, president and CEO of the foundation, says that because jazz was Robinson's favorite music, jazz has always been part of its fundraising efforts. For many years, the annual jazz concert at his Connecticut home was a highlight of the social season in the New York City metro area.

Britton-Baeza explained: "For twenty five years we had a jazz concert here on the East Coast that was very much of an iconic event and the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton, Ella Fitzgerald, Gerry Mulligan, all performed at those concerts year after year for free, which was just such an exciting event on the East Coast, so that starting these jazz concerts out on the West Coast last year was a natural for us."

The mistress of ceremonies for the event will be radio personality Pat Prescott, co-host of The Brian McKnight Morning Show on KTWV "The Wave" Los Angeles. Also performing will be one of the JRF scholars, Nicolette Robinson (no relation).

More information about the organization and its events can be found at jackierobinson.org.


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