Andy Gonzalez Benefit

[Lois Gilbert]

ANDY GONZALEZ BENEFIT

Birdland

Tuesday, April 27, 2004

Doors open 8:00pm

=featuring=

Chico O'Farrill Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra
Graciela
Eddie Palmieri
Ray Barretto
Manny Oquendo &Libre
Matt Dillon
Special Surprise Guests

$25 Contribution


In a stellar Latin Jazz tribute, Arturo O'Farrill, in association with Birdland, will present the Chico O'Farrill Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra, Graciela,
Eddie Palmieri, Ray Barretto, Manny Oquendo & Libre, Matt Dillon and special surprise guests. All will perform to benefit the great, world renowned and
beloved bassist Andy Gonzalez.

Birdland is located at: 315 West 44th St. (bet. 8th & 9th Ave.) Dinner served.
For reservations and further information call 212-581-3080.

[bluenoter]

Oy. A benefit suggests that he's ill or otherwise in distress.

I know him only from the film Calle 54 and its soundtrack CD. He surely deserves an MVP award for that project, in which he was a mainstay of seemingly half the groups filmed.

P.S.--Having just talked about an MVP award, I see that there is or was an Andy Gonzalez in baseball too!

[gonzo]

is he ill? hes one of the best bassist out there.

[Lois Gilbert]

Gonzalez, 53, is presently recovering from surgery for complications from
diabetes, his second such operation since December. The hospitalizations
have dealt a staggering financial blow to the musician, who has no health
insurance.

"Andy has given all of us years, if not decades, of incredible music,"
Arturo O'Farrill told Robert Dominguez of the New York Daily News (4/22).
"Yet at this point in his career he was still scuffling from gig to gig.
For this illness to prevent him from working, it's just very hard on him. .
. . Andy is one of the music's true heroes. He helped define Latin jazz for
a generation, and he deserves our love, respect, and help."

Those unable to attend the fund-raiser who wish to make a contribution may
send a check payable to Eileen Altomari (Andy's sister) and marked "Andy
Fund" to the attention of Arturo O'Farrill at Birdland, 315 W. 44th Street,
New York, NY 10036. Every penny will go toward defraying the bassist's
medical bills.