Jan. 22, 2013 — Tucson’s A-list celebrities have come together to strike a musical chord in the community for an increasingly important cause.

The Love Show, presented by Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance and the University of Arizona School of Music, aims to bring music to Tucson students of all ages through an evening of romantic songs. The fundraiser takes place Friday, Feb. 1 at Westin La Paloma Resort, 3800 E. Sunrise Drive, featuring hors d’oeurvres, desserts, cash bar and silent auction at 6 p.m. and performances beginning at 7:30 p.m.

With the lengthy list of local fame – like pro bono lawyer and stand-up comedian who has opened for Jerry Seinfeld, Elliot Glicksman; award-winning cartoonist and Pulitzer Prize finalist, David Fitzsimmons; and winner of three Los Angeles Emmy Awards whose jazz arrangements have become famous throughout Hollywood, Jeff Haskell – The Love Show is sure to captivate audiences.

Hosts – Elliot Glicksman and David Fitzsimmons

Glicksman is undoubtedly one of the “breaths” of the community, contributing unselfishly to Southern Arizona for more than 20 years. He received the Pima County Bar Association service award in 2001, was listed as one of the top 50 pro bono attorneys in the State of Arizona in 2004 and was recognized by the Arizona Trial Lawyers as the “outstanding pro bono lawyer” in 2007.

Glicksman is listed in Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers. In addition to his legal career, he has worked as a professional comedian, opening for Jerry Seinfeld, Phyllis Diller, Ricky Nelson and many others.

Editorial award-winning cartoonist and public quick-sketch artist, Fitzsimmons, is known throughout Tucson simply as “Fitz.” He graced the pages of the Daily Wildcat and the Arizona Daily Star with his humor and drawings in the 1970s. A Pulitzer Prize finalist in 1988, Fitz has been judged by the Arizona Press Club to be the best political cartoonist in the state for the past three years in a row.

While continuing to draw a daily edit cartoon for the Star, Fitz has also developed a public speaking career, using topical humor and quick sketches to entertain audiences throughout Southern Arizona. Part performer, part caricaturist, part satirist, part clown and part teacher, he has become a Tucson icon with pen in hand.

Producers – Jeff Haskell and Moisés Paiewonsky

When Haskell – pianist, arranger and conductor – sits down at the piano, something inventive and inspired happens. The word eclectic does not even begin to describe his amazing musical dexterity.

He was the first winner of the first American Collegiate jazz festival (Villanova) and toured Europe with flute great Jeremy Steig and trumpet legend Chet Baker. He has arranged music on two Linda Ronstadt albums and cues for Dudley Do-Right and Fight Club. Locally, you can hear his work every half-hour in the 4-note station ID for KUAT-TV.

A veteran of hundreds of “jingles”, Haskell has orchestrated an album for UP WITH PEOPLE!, has recorded a legendary synthesizer album for Capitol Records, and has served as music director, arranger and conductor for country music legend Buck Owens, with whom he recently completed an album with the Bakersfield Symphony.

He is co-founder and musical director of the Tucson Jazz Orchestra and, as a senior faculty member in the School of Music and Dance at the University of Arizona, Haskell is the area coordinator of jazz studies and director of the recording studio.

Moisés Paiewonsky is University of Arizona associate professor of music (trombone) where, in addition to maintaining a strong studio and directing the trombone ensemble, he is the associate director of the UA Studio Jazz Ensemble.

While obtaining his degree at University of Florida, Paiewonsky performed as the principal/lead trombonist in all of the major large and jazz ensembles as well as in a variety of chamber groups. Professionally, he has performed with several orchestras including the Detroit Symphony, Detroit Civic and Orlando Philharmonic. He has also collaborated with a wide variety of legendary jazz artists including Terry Gibbs, Jimmy Cobb and Shelly Berg.

Paiewonsky has worked as a jazz/commercial musician and lead trombonist and leader in both the Walt Disney World Christmas Brass and the 2004 Walt Disney World All-American College Band. In addition, he has been the winner or finalist of numerous competitions and has appeared as a clinician and performer throughout the United States, and around the world.

A cause for romance

While the hilarious improvisation, quality performances and classic romantic songs characterize this annual event, the heart of The Love Show beats to raise money for music education.

The benefit started as a cooperative effort between the University of Arizona School of Music and the Rodney Glassman Foundation to bring a classic variety show to Tucson.

During the first seven years of the show, the Glassman Foundation raised nearly $1,000,000 to benefit music and arts programs in Southern Arizona.

“Our goal was to create a venue for Tucson’s business and community leaders to share their hidden musical talents and live out their secret fantasies of performing on stage with a live orchestra,” Glassman said. “It’s more than just a talent show.”

The performance has brought many celebrities to stage in support of music education.

“We have had just about every luminary on stage” Haskell said, naming former UA basketball coach Lute Olsen, former Mayor Bob Walkup and John Pedicone of Tucson Unified School District as well as many known and unknown doctors and lawyers.

“It’s a live show. Anything can happen, and does,” Haskell said.

Featured Performers

Jason Carder

Trumpeter Jason Carder grew up in Arizona and studied music at Interlochen Arts Academy and University of Miami, now touring extensively as the trumpet soloist with Yanni. His musical credits include touring with the bands Ray Charles, Woody Herman, Maynard Ferguson, Paul Anka, K.C. and the Sunshine Band and Jaco Pastorius Big Band. Carder has also contributed his talent to more than 80 albums.

 

Bob Fee

Since appearing on the Bell Telephone Hour in 1966 as a boy soprano singing cowboy songs with Hugh O’Brian and Eddy Arnold, Bob Fee has had a passion for Western music. He grew up on a working cattle ranch in Southern Arizona and attended the University of Arizona. After serving as a Tucson police officer, as a national park ranger and later with the Central Intelligence Agency, Fee came back to Tucson to settle down, practice law and occasionally sit on his porch and pick guitar.

Crystal Stark

Crystal Rose Stark is an award-winning pop and R&B singer who became a finalist on the hit TV show “American Idol,” making her way to the top 44 contestants out of the 100,000 participants. Stark has since performed on shows such as “Jay Leno,” “Regis & Kelly” and “The Today Show.” In 2006, she entered the gospel music competition, Music in the Rockies, where she won first place Best of Show and was asked to perform at Disney World’s Night of Joy alongside Christian artists such as Kirk Franklin, Rebecca St. James and Mercy Me.

Julie Anne

Julie Anne’s personal style sets her aside from all others. Influenced by the most distinguished jazz vocalists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Julie London and Peggy Lee, Julie Anne pays tribute to them by keeping these classic jazz standards alive. Her quality voice, unique phrasing and interpretations make Julie Anne a top jazz performer.

Jack Neubeck

Jack Neubeck spent nearly 20 years in and around New York City, in more than 2,500 appearances on Broadway, including performing in the original casts of “Evita” and “La Cage aux Folles.” He has also appeared on films, cruise ships, the Catskills and Grand Opera. Active in local arts, Neubeck participates in Tucson’s theatre community, including Pima College, SALOC, Music Theatre Arizona and the Invisible Theatre as well as collaborating with Susan Claassen and Jeffrey Haskell in “Once and Forever,” a musical tribute to Irving Berlin. His “day job” is one of the owners of The Planning Center, a Tucson-based design company specializing in master planned communities.

University of Arizona Studio Jazz Ensemble

The UA Studio Jazz Ensemble (aka Jazz A) was founded by Tom Ervin in 1972, and Jeff Haskell began conducting the ensemble regularly in 1977. The players’ names read like a “who’s who” as well as the list of soloists who have starred with the band over the years. In the 1980′s, the band was hired to tour with Dizzy Gillespie, exposing to the students the great teaching expertise Gillespie had at his command. Since then, the band has backed up some of the most high-profile and legendary jazz artists of our time including Bill Watrous, Bobby Shew, John Fedchock, Brian Lynch, Chris Potter and many more. Most recently, they undertook a groundbreaking, two-week performance tour throughout China. The group will return to China during the summer of 2013 as, still, the only American jazz ensemble, professional or student, to play the Chinese large Poly Theaters.

 

 

The Love Show

When: Friday, Feb. 1 at 6 p.m.

Where: Westin La Paloma Resort, 3800 E. Sunrise Dr.

Cost: General Admission- $100 per person ($70 tax deductible); VIP Packages- $1,000 for group of 10, VIP seating and full-page ad in event program ($700 tax deductible)

Online: http://saaca.org/LOVE_Show.html

Phone: (520) 797-3959

NOTE TO MEDIA: Photos available

About the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance

The Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance (SAACA) is a not-for-profit organization that exists to ensure that, through engagement in arts and culture, our communities produce strong, inspired citizens. SAACA enlists artists, businesses, governments, and individuals to expand artistic and cultural opportunities in their respective communities. To enhance access to the arts and to promote cultural awareness in the communities it serves, SAACA presents large-scale festivals, events and other programs. The Alliance also promotes educational opportunities in the arts and culture for both the young and the old.

Organization History
The Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance (SAACA) grew out of the Greater Oro Valley Arts Council (GOVAC), an organization established in 1997 to provide artistic and cultural opportunities for residents of northwest Tucson. GOVAC eventually became one of the largest arts organizations in the region. In 2009, owing to its success, the group expanded its mission to include creation of partnerships with business, governments, and communities throughout Southern Arizona that would encourage innovative, creative cultural expression in the arts for years to come.

For more information about programs and events produced by the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance, go to www.saaca.org.

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