Lighthouse Arts, Inc.

Sustaining Pittsburgh’s Jazz Legacy

Contact:

Tim O’Brien

O’Brien Communications

PHONE: 412.854.8845

Joe Negri & Firm Roots Headline Special Night of Jazz

for Lighthouse Arts, Saturday, March 28, 2015

Fundraiser at North Side’s James Street Gastropub will Support

Efforts to Sustain Pittsburgh’s Jazz Legacy

Pittsburgh, PA, March 4, 2015 – Lighthouse Arts, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to sustaining the Pittsburgh region’s jazz legacy, has announced it will host a special evening showcasing Pittsburgh’s legacy of jazz with a performance from legendary jazz guitarist Joe Negri, sharing the stage with one of the region’s emerging jazz bands, Firm Roots. The event, “Generations Now: The Pittsburgh Jazz Legacy Continuum,” will be held in the ballroom at theJames Street Gastropub on Pittsburgh’s North Side, Saturday, March 28, 2015, starting at 7 p.m.

The mission of the event, a night of soulful live jazz music and fine dining, is to raise early stage funding for Lighthouse Arts, a newnonprofit organization dedicated to keeping the region’s jazz traditions alive and thriving in future generations. Lighthouse will focus on promoting jazz appreciation byproviding affordable access to musical performance to younger generations, particularly at-risk youth.

Joining Joe Negri in providing the music is Firm Roots, a sextet of Pittsburgh’s top young jazz artists, featuring James Moore on trumpet, Jeff Bush on trombone, Eric DeFade on saxophone, Alton Merrell on piano, Paul Thompson on bass, and Thomas Wendt on drums.

Bill Hillgrove, the voice of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Pitt Panthers, and a well-known jazz enthusiast,

will emcee the event. Tickets are $60 per individual, or $100 per couple. To RSVP and purchase tickets:

“This event will help Lighthouse in its work to foster a groundswell of interest and participation in jazz among young people,” said Harry Clark, Co-Chair, Lighthouse Arts, Inc. “To do this, we celebrate the artists, past and present, by spotlighting them, their performances and their contributions to help sustain America’s music, jazz,”

About Lighthouse Arts

Lighthouse Arts, Inc., is an emerging nonprofits organization dedicated to sustaining Pittsburgh’s jazz legacy with a particular focus on promoting jazz appreciation through accessible performance for younger generations. This includes education, community outreach, to cultivate a new and informed audience for America’s original musical art form. Lighthouse will work in partnership with the community, schools and other arts organizations to promote renewed appreciation for jazz music. This includes documenting and preserving recordings of Pittsburgh jazz artists. For more information visit

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