N A M E SSeptember 12, 2007

Berklee alum steps up

Saxophonist, vocalist, composer, and arranger Lance Bryant won the Steppin' Out talent competition held at Scullers Jazz Club on Monday. The Berklee College alum who hails from just outside Chicago earned $500 and a spot onstage at the Nov. 3 Steppin' Out gala, a benefit for Dimock Community Health Center. The lineup also includes George Benson, Vivian Green, Freddie Jackson, Cyrus Chestnut, Joey DeFrancesco, and Rebecca Parris.

STEPPIN' OUT AT THE EMERALD BALL featuring GEORGE BENSON at Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel

Concert Date: 11/03/07

Ticket Cost: $350, $200, $100

Show Time(s): 8:00 pm - 2:00 am

Event Description:

Boston's Dimock Community Health Center will this year celebrate its 20th Anniversary of Steppin' Out. Guitarist/vocalist GEORGE BENSON will headline at “Steppin’ Out at the Emerald Ball,” taking place at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel [425 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02210] on Saturday, November 3 from 8:00 p.m. to 2:00 am. An elegant pre-gala reception, dinner and performance by George Benson will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., for Star Patrons only.

Staged to mimic Boston's legendary and historic jazz clubs of the ‘30s through today, this one-of-a-kind charity music-fest-party attracts more than 3,000 of the city’s glitterati for an evening of music, dancing, food, cocktails, friends and fun.

Sony Urban Music Columbia Recording Artist VIVIAN GREEN, whose critically acclaimed debut album, A Love Story, is a soul classic, will take the stage in the young professionals dance room. Grammy® nominated, American Music Award-winning vocalist FREDDIE JACKSON, who has dominated R&B with eleven #1 singles on the Billboard charts, will perform on the big stage following GEORGE BENSON in the Grand Ballroom. His contributions include such era-defining classics as “Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times’ Sake),” “You Are My Lady,” “Tasty Love,” “Nice ‘n’ Slow” and “Love Me Down.”

Other newly announced performers appearing in various “nightclubs” include jazz pianist CYRUS CHESTNUT, jazz organist JOEY DEFRANCESCO and his Quartet, jazz singer REBECCA PARRIS and her trio, Latin percussionist TITO PUENTE, JR. and his Orchestra, guitarist CHUCK LOEB & saxophonist ERIC MARIENTHAL [performing together with their band], singer ED REED and THE PECK ALLMOND QUARTET, ANTHEM REGGAE BAND, singer VIVIAN MALE and her group, saxophonist MYANNA and her band, smooth jazz saxophonist ANDRE WARD and his ensemble and the extraordinary Samurai drumming group, MASTER TSUJI SAMURAI TAIKO. Back again also after several years hiatus will be Boston’s R&B party band MOTOWN EXPRESS with WANNETTA JACKSON, FRANK WILKINS, PAT LOOMIS and HERMAN JOHNSON.

In addition, Steppin’ Out always offers one very popular Gospel room. That room will be hopping this year with the sounds of THE SOUTH CENTRAL MASS CHOIR, the PSALMISTS from the Greater Faith Worship Center, JEROME KYLES & the LEVITICAL SINGERS from Morning Star Baptist Church and DAVID from Bethel AME Church.

Tickets at $100.00 [seniors], $200.00 [general admission] and $350.00 [Star Patron tickets] are on sale now. Star Patron tickets can ONLY be purchased

at Dimock Community Health Center. General admission tickets can be purchased via Ticketweb at http://www.Ticketweb.com/, by phone at 866-468-7619 and directly at Dimock Community Health Center located at 55 Dimock Street, Roxbury. General admission tickets are also available at Allan’s Formalwear, A Nubian Notion and Bob’s Southern Bistro. For full information, go to: www.steppinoutgala.org or call: 617-442-8800 x1006.

This year's gala will celebrate the history and the legacy of this remarkable Boston fundraising institution. Over the 20 years of its existence, Steppin' Out has presented some of the biggest names in jazz, R&B and Latin music. Founded in 1987, it was Dimock’s fantastic vision to have major jazz artists performing in many "nightclubs" all under one roof--while gala attendees in sequins and tuxes danced the night away and listened to great music.In addition to the artists mentioned above, Steppin' Out just held its Talent Search, Steppin' Out with the Stars. In an effort to encourage new talent, one emerging jazz, R&B or Latin musical artist or group was chosen from tens of entries to perform at Steppin’ Out. The final competition just took place and Saxophonist, vocalist, composer and arranger LANCE BRYANT was chosen from among four contestants.

Steppin’ Out for Dimock is Boston’s liveliest and most highly anticipated annual gala fundraising event. Steppin' Out will transport this year's partiers to a world of toe-tapping, head bopping music; the diverse group of party goers’ snappy suits and fancy dress have given Steppin' Out its reputation for great people-watching. Partiers will be dazzled by the array of nationally-recognized jazz headliners who set toes a-tapping and lift audience members out of their seats to join the crowd dancing in the aisles!As with all years prior, proceeds from the 20th Steppin’ Out Gala will go to support Dimock Community Health Center’s many health and human services programs. Established in 1862 as the New England Hospital for Women and Children, Dimock has been an enduring presence in the Roxbury community for 145 years. Since it became a Community Health Center in 1969, Dimock has become a national model for delivering high quality health care and innovative “wrap-around” programming, and has helped improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of individuals and families throughout Roxbury, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain and Mattapan.

Musicians: George Benson Vivian Green Freddie Jackson Cyrus Chestnut Joey DeFrancesco Quartet Rebecca Parris and her Trio Tito Puente, Jr. and his Orchestra Andre Ward Anthem Reggae Band Chuck Loeb & Eric Marienthal Ed Reed & The Peck Allmond

Quartet Motown Express featuring Wannetta Jackson, Frank Wilkins, Pat Loomis & Herman Johnson Myanna Vivian Male Master Tsuji Samurai Taiko David, Bethel AME Church Jerome Kyles & The Levitical Singers, Morning Star Baptist Church Psalmists, Greater Faith Worship Center South Central Mass Choir 2007

Steppin’ Out Showcase Winner Lance Bryant

Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel Address: 425 Summer Street Boston MA 02210 U.S.

About the Venue: Explore the exciting city of Boston from the new AAA Four Diamond Westin Boston Waterfront. We’re less than three miles from Logan International Airport, and a short cab, water taxi, or T train ride away from Back Bay and the Financial District.

Connected to the newly opened Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, which boasts 516,000 square feet of space, The Westin Boston Waterfront is an ideal location for your next business function. The hotel itself offers a total of 32,000 square feet of meeting space, including the 15,000-square foot Grand Ballroom and 4,000-square foot Commonwealth Ballroom. Our additional 14 meeting breakout rooms will accommodate groups of five to 150. Parking is available onsite for 400 cars.

When work is done, rejuvenate body and mind in our WestinWORKOUT® Powered by Reebok Gym, and enjoy a delicious meal in our dining room, Sauciety.Our 793 guest rooms and suites reflect Westin’s soothing aesthetic. Rest in the signature Heavenly Bed® and enjoy the flat-screen TV and Wireless High Speed Internet Access. Our Heavenly Bath® is the perfect place to refresh. We also provide slippers and bathrobes to make your stay with us even more relaxing. Westin didn't discover fresh air, but we're proud to offer it at this hotel. Learn more about Breathe Westin™ and our smoke-free hotels.

Phone: 617-532-4600

Steppin' Out for Dimock Announces Full Artist

LineupPosted: 2007-09-11

Dimock Community Health Center Announces FULL LINEUP FOR STEPPIN' OUT 2007

CYRUS CHESTNUT, FREDDIE JACKSON, VIVIAN GREEN, JOEY DEFRANCESCO,

REBECCA PARRIS, TITO PUENTE, JR., CHUCK LOEB & ERIC MARIENTHAL, ED REED,

ANTHEM REGGAE BAND, VIVIAN MALE, MYANNA, ANDRE WARD, MOTOWN

EXPRESS, TSUJI DAIKO and othersJOIN GEORGE BENSON AT

Twentieth Anniversary of Steppin' Out CelebrationSaturday, November 3

At The Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel

Tickets on sale nowBoston, MA--Dimock Community Health Center today announced the full lineup of performing artists that will join guitarist/vocalist GEORGE BENSON at the celebration of Dimock's 20th Annual Steppin' Out fundraising event. This year's “Steppin' Out at the Emerald Ball” will take place at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel [425 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02210] on Saturday, November 3 from 8:00 p.m. to 2:00 am. The elegant pre-gala reception, dinner and performance by George Benson will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., for Star Patrons only.

Staged to mimic Boston's legendary and historic jazz clubs of the '30s through today, this one-of-a-kind charity music-fest-party attracts more than 3,000 of the city's glitterati for an evening of music, dancing, food, cocktails, friends and fun.

Sony Urban Music Columbia Recording Artist Vivian Green, whose critically acclaimed debut album, A Love Story, is a soul classic, will take the stage in the young professionals dance room. Grammy nominated, American Music Award-winning vocalist Freddie Jackson,who has dominated R&B with eleven #1 singles on the Billboard charts, will perform on the big stage following George Benson in the Grand Ballroom. His contributions include such era-defining classics as “Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times' Sake),” “You Are My Lady,” “Tasty Love,” “Nice 'n' Slow” and “Love Me Down.”

Other newly announced performers appearing in various “nightclubs” include jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut, jazz organist Joey DeFrancesco and his Quartet, jazz singer Rebecca Parris and her trio, Latin percussionist Tito Puente, Jr. and his Orchestra, guitarist Chuck Loeb & saxophonist Eric Marienthal [performing together with their band], singer Ed Reed and The Peck Allmond Quartet, Anthem Reggae Band, singer Vivian Male and her group, saxophonist Myanna and her band, smooth jazz saxophonist Andre Ward and his ensemble and the extraordinary Samurai drumming group, Master Tsuji Samurai Taiko. Back again also after several years hiatus will be Boston's R&B party band Motown Express with Wannetta Jackson, Frank Wilkins, Pat Loomis and Herman Johnson.

In addition, Steppin' Out always offers one very popular Gospel room. That room will be hopping this year with the sounds of The South Central Mass Choir, the Psalmists from the Greater Faith Worship Center, Jerome Kyles & the Levitical Singers from Morning Star Baptist Church and David from Bethel AME Church.

Tickets at $100.00 [seniors], $200.00 [general admission] and $350.00 [Star Patron tickets] are on sale now. Star Patron tickets can ONLY be purchased at Dimock Community Health Center. General admission tickets can be purchased via Ticketweb, by phone at 866-468-7619 and directly at Dimock Community Health Center located at 55 Dimock Street, Roxbury. General admission tickets are also available at Allan's Formalwear, A Nubian Notion and Bob's Southern Bistro.

This year's gala will celebrate the history and the legacy of this remarkable Boston fundraising institution. Over the 20 years of its existence, Steppin' Out has presented some of the biggest names in jazz, R&B and Latin music. Founded in 1987, it was Dimock's fantastic vision to have major jazz artists performing in many “nightclubs” all under one roof--while gala attendees in sequins and tuxes danced the night away and listened to great music.

In addition to the artists mentioned above, Steppin' Out is again holding their Talent Search, Steppin' Out with the Stars. In an effort to encourage new talent, one emerging jazz, R&B or Latin musical artist or group is chosen from tens of entries to perform at Steppin' Out. Tonight, the final competition takes place at Scullers Jazz Club [DoubleTree Guest Suites Hotel, 400 Soldiers Field Road, Allston]. One artist or group will be chosen from among several finalists. The finalists, narrowed down from all the submissions by a team of Steppin' Out judges, will each perform two to three songs at Scullers, beginning at 7:30 p.m. A second panel of celebrity judges will then determine which artist or group will join the 2007 Steppin' Out lineup.

Steppin' Out for Dimock is Boston's liveliest and most highly anticipated annual gala fundraising event. Steppin' Out will transport this year's partiers to a world of toe- tapping, head bopping music; the diverse group of party goers' snappy suits and fancy dress have given Steppin' Out its reputation for

great people-watching. Partiers will be dazzled by the array of nationally-recognized jazz headliners who set toes a-tapping and lift audience members out of their seats to join the crowd dancing in the aisles!

As with all years prior, proceeds from the 20th Steppin' Out Gala will go to support Dimock Community Health Center's many health and human services programs. Established in 1862 as the New England Hospital for Women and Children, Dimock has been an enduring presence in the Roxbury community for 145 years. Since it became a Community Health Center in 1969, Dimock has become a national model for delivering high quality health care and innovative “wrap-around” programming, and has helped improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of individuals and families throughout Roxbury, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain and Mattapan.NECN is the official television network of Steppin' Out for Dimock 2007Visit website

Posted by: Sue Auclair Promotions

Fall Arts PreviewSeptember 9, 2007

Steppin' Out at the Emerald Ball Westin Waterfront Hotel, 425 Summer St. Boston. 866-468-7619, 617-442-8800, ext. 1006. steppinoutgala.org 11/3: 8 p.m.-2 a.m. $200 general admission, $100 seniors. $350 Star Patron tickets include 6:30-9 p.m. performance by George Benson, with dinner and pre-gala reception. Lineup includes Andre Ward, Freddy Jackson, Vivian Male. Proceeds support Dimock Community Health Center health and human services programs.

THE KAY BOURNE ARTS REPORT

Presented by The Color of Film Collaborative, Inc.

BERKLEE ALUM WINS SPOT TO PLAY WITH STARS

GREETINGS Welcome to The Kay Bourne Arts Report (KBAR). We are thrilled to be celebrating our 1st Anniversary! With high hopes for the future, KBAR continues with its mission: "to connect people who love The Arts with The Arts they love." Published by The Color of Film Collaborative, Inc., KBAR's Arts Editor is Kay Bourne, a seasoned arts reporter and supporter of the arts.

We hope you continue to look forward to KBAR, and we ask that you forward it to others, using the blue link at the bottom of this newsletter, so your collegues, friends and family can also subscribe and enjoy!

BERKLEE ALUM WINS SPOT TO PLAY

Gifted arranger Lance Bryant - who also plays the sax and sings - won the 'Steppin' Out' talent

contest in a duel of eager and musically adept vocalists and their bands. The coveted win means he joins the roster of celebrity musicians who'll perform at 20th annual event benefiting the Dimock Community Health Center in Roxbury.

The worship leader of the Andover Baptist Church and Berklee College of Music graduate, stunned the judges and audience alike, Monday night, September 10, at Scullers with his jazz arrangement of the Civil Rights anthem "We Shall Overcome."Interchanging his sax and doing vocals which quoted the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the "I just want to do God's will" passage, thrilled listeners. And when he got to the line, "I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the Promised Land." there were sighs and shouts and arms lifted in praise. The meaningful lyrics were supported by a muscular jazz composition. Lance's second offering, the poignant "The Very Thought of You," showed his strengths as a balladeer. Bryant's sidemen went the distance with him as well: Stanley Swann, drums, Larry Roland, bass, and Carl Reppucci, piano.

None of the contestants came away embarrassed that evening. The other entries were: the energetic Joe Gallo with the well- modulated, sexy voice and powerhouse five-man band including maestro Frank Wilkins on keyboard and Herman Johnson who wallops out vigorous riffs on his soprano sax; Dorchester's own, Wendy Jones who gave a daring challenge by singing her own intriguing compositions; and jazz vocalist, Pauline Jones who gave a dramatic reading of Nina Simone's "Four Women."A sparkling line-up for "Steppin' Out At The Emerald Ball" on Saturday, NOVEMBER 3 will feature guitarist/vocalist George Benson. The Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel will also provide the stage for urban music's Vivian Green, R&B singer Freddie Jackson, jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut, saxophonist Myanna, the Samurai drumming group Master Tsuji Samurai Taiko, and a host of gospel artists. Back at the popular night is Boston's R&B party band Motown Express with Wannetta Jackson, Frank Wilkins, Pat Loomis, and Herman Johnson. The bill goes on and on.

Judges of the talent contest were Ruth Ellen Fitch, Dimock president & CEO; Chair of Dimock Board of Directors, Clayton Turnbul; Jeff Turton, host of Sunday Jazz Brunch on WFNXfm;

saxophonist and recording artist Andre Ward ; radio and TV personality Coach Willie Maye; and vocalist and Berklee College of Music board member Vivian Male, who is also a star at this year's "Steppin' Out."

The evening also saw the Ronald M. Leavell Award, for combining a love of music with a strong social activism, go to State Rep Gloria L. Fox. A supporter of the arts, she has spent her years as a legislator working on issues, such as health services, that matter to her constituents in the black community. (by Kay Bourne)

“Steppin’ Out for Dimock” Talent Search Deadline is August 17

ìSteppiní Out for Dimock,î which celebrates its 20th Anniversary this year at the Westin Waterfront Hotel on Saturday, November 3, announces the launch of its annual ìSteppiní Out with the Stars Talent Search & Showcase.î Contestants will be judged on musical ability, presentation, creativity and style. The deadline is August 17, 2007.

One hot new jazz, blues, Latin, reggae or R&B artist or group will have the opportunity to win $500 and perform alongside internationally known artists and showcase their musical talents at ìSteppin' Out for Dimock at the Emerald Ballî on November 3. 

This year, George Benson will be the headlining artist at the event, considered Bostonís liveliest and most highly anticipated annual gala fundraiser. Staged to mimic Boston's legendary and historic jazz clubs of the 30ís through today, this one-of-a-kind charity music-fest-party attracts more than 3,000 of Greater Bostonís glitterati for an evening of music, dancing, food, cocktails, friends and fun. 

For complete details call 617-442-8800, or visit www.dimock.org.

Enjoy! 

George Benson News

Steppin' Out At The Emerald Ball Artist Lineup Announced 12 Sep 2007 20:34 GMT ...

MOTOWN EXPRESS, TSUJI DAIKO and others JOIN GEORGE BENSON AT Twentieth ...music.einnews.com/news/george-benson -

Jazz stars shine at Steppin' Out

Gala benefit for Dimock CenterJohn Black

For the past 20 years, Steppin' Out has

recreated the jazz clubs of the 30's through the

60's for a one-of-a-kind charity extravaganza

that combines music, dancing, food, friends and

fun.

This year's "Steppin' Out at the Emerald Ball," a

benefit for the Dimock Community Health

Center, will take place at the Westin Boston

Waterfront Hotel on Saturday, November 3 from

8:00 p.m. to 2:00 am.

The elegant pre-gala reception, dinner and

performance by George Benson will take place

from 6:30 to 9 p.m., for Star Patrons only.

Grammy-nominated vocalist Freddie Jackson

will perform on the big stage following George

Benson in the Grand Ballroom.

Sony Urban Music Columbia Recording Artist

Vivian Green, whose critically acclaimed debut

album, A Love Story, is a soul classic, will take

the stage in the young professionals dance

room.

Other performers appearing in various

"nightclubs" include jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut,

jazz organist Joey DeFrancesco and his Quartet,

jazz singer Rebecca Parris and her trio, Latin

percussionist Tito Puente, Jr. and his Orchestra,

and the Samurai drumming group, Master Tsuji

Samurai Taiko.

Tickets at $100 [seniors], $200 [general

admission] and $350 [Star Patron tickets] are

on sale now. Star Patron tickets can ONLY be

purchased at Dimock Community Health Center.

General admission tickets can be purchased via

Ticketweb, by phone at 866-468-7619 and

directly at Dimock Community Health Center

located at 55 Dimock Street, Roxbury. General

admission tickets are also available at Allan's

Formalwear, A Nubian Notion and Bob's

Southern Bistro. For full information, visit the

website or call: 617-442-8800 x1006.

This year's gala will celebrate the history and

the legacy of this remarkable Boston fund

raising institution. Over the 20 years of its

existence, Steppin' Out has presented some of

the biggest names in jazz, R & B and Latin

music. Founded in 1987, it was Dimock's

fantastic vision to have major jazz artists

performing in many "nightclubs" all under one

roof--while gala attendees in sequins and tuxes

danced the night away and listened to great

music.

• Lance Bryant, saxophonist, vocalist,

composer & arranger WINNER of

Steppin' Out Talent Competition

• Jeff Turton, host of Sunday Jazz Brunch,

WFNX FM [judge]

• Andrew Ward, Saxophonist and

recording artist [judge]

• Latoyia Edwards, TV personality from

NECN and host of Talent Competition

• Ruth Ellen Fitch, President & CEO of

Dimock Community Health Center

[judge]

• Coach Willie Maye, radio and TV

personality [judge]

• Vivian Male, vocalist, [judge] [AND she

is a also real judge!]

• Clayton Turnbull, Chairman, Board of

Directors, Dimock Community Health

Center, [judge]

Published on Mon, Oct 1, 2007

Myanna: Making It in a Man’s Worldby Kay BourneEDGE Boston ContributorWednesday Oct 17, 2007

Myanna.

Female sax player Myanna borrows rotound, stride piano titan Fats Waller’s sly humor for the title of her new CD, "One Never Knows...Do One" A bit of tongue in cheek humor and a heads up for listeners in the macho world of jazz instrumentalists: this straight ahead saxophonist and competent band leader is not only female but gay to boot.

Does talent win out? Yes, it does. Listen up to Eric Jackson, the respected host of WGBH radio’s nightly jazz show: "This is exciting music that is full of passionate playing and good tunes."

You can catch Myanna live at the glamorous 20th anniversary Steppin’ Out For Dimock gala, Sat., Nov. 3 from 8 pm to two am a the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel. The popular annual benefit night is hallmarked as a night when a remarkable array of name jazz musicians return Boston to the vibrant jazz center it was in the 1940s and 1950s.

This year will see a line-up with Cyrus Chestnut (whose new album jazzes up the Elvis Presley songbook), R&B balladeer Freddie Jackson ("Rock Me Tonight for Old Times Sake," "Do Me Again," and "You Are My Lady"), and guitarist George Benson ("The White Rabbit" CD for his jazz licks; "Give Me The Night" for his R&B electricity). All told, there are some 20 artists and their bands taking up residency in rooms named for clubs of those by-gone days (and today’s swinging addresses too). For more about Steppin’ Out go to www.steppinoutgala.org or phone 617-442-8800 ext1006.

Myanna, who grew up in the Boston suburb Weston, found a jazz hang-out early on, Lennie’s On The Turnpike. "The owner (Lennie Sogoloff) let us come in; fed us roast beef sandwiches," she recalls about traveling to the Rte. 1, West Peabody spot. There she saw giants Duke Ellington, Dewey Redmond, and Roland Kirk, but the jazz player who stood out for her Illinois Jacquet ("Flying Home"), whom she recalls as "a gentleman," as well as a phenomenal tenor saxophonist. She’s dedicated one of the tracks on her CD to him, "For Illinois."

"I used to worry about the gay part but one of the joys of getting older is you worry less."

From high school Myanna went to Berklee College of Music, then UMass/Amherst (studying with master drummer Max Roach). She joined a Northhampton-based band Lilith and following that all women experience joined the Bill Bellamy Project, a jazz/R&B band. In 1986, she hooked up with saxophonist Cercie Miller and singer Didi Steward in a group they called Girls’ Night Out, which flourished for several years. Most recently, she’s played with The Love Dogs and her own band MYANNA, which has won such prestigious awards as the Boston Phoenix/WFNX Best Music Poll as "Best Local Jazz Act" (twice).

Well established now, Myanna says, "I used to worry about the gay part but one of the joys of getting older is you worry less. And once people hear me play as powerfully as I do and compared with other players who don’t put the sound across as I do, they like me. I let the music speak for me."

Myanna says she chose the Fats Waller quip for her CD because, "I’ve always loved the saying. Great stuff can happen and you never do know.

"Perserverance is a theme in my life," she said. Myanna lives in J.P. with her partner Linda Giles, a judge on the Massachusetts Superior Court who is the Commonwealth’s first openly lesbian jurist.

Proceeds from the 20th Steppin’ Out Gala go to support Dimock Community Health Center’s many health and human services programs. Dimock is a national model for delivering high quality health care

for thousands of individuals and families in the urban neighborhoods.

Meet the Steppin Out Artists - Andre Ward

William Ruhlmann, Correspondent

Smooth jazz saxophonist Andre Ward was born and raised in Chicago. His first instrument, which he took up at age eight, was the snare drum. He later moved to trumpet and tenor saxophone before settling on alto saxophone and becoming sufficiently proficient to earn a music-performing scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College of Music. Based in Boston, he played internationally and did session work for such artists as Freddie Jackson. He was signed to Orpheus Music and

released his debut solo album, Feelin' You, in October 2001 which reached number four on Billboard's Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart and also appeared on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. His second album, Steppin' Up, released in March 2004, was similarly successful.

The Steppin Out Gala will take place at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel on Saturday, November 3 from 8:00 p.m. to 2:00 am. For a complete list of performers, go to steppinoutgala.org.

Published on October 3, 2007

WESTIN BOSTON WATERFRONT HOTEL

Date(s): Saturday, November 03, 2007

Steppin' Out For Dimmock Fundraiser with George Benson, Freddie Jackson, Vivian Male, Andre Ward

JAZZThe ticket price is steep, but you get your money’s worth at the “STEPPIN’ OUT EMERALD BALL” — and it goes to a good cause — Dimock Community Health Center. The line-up for the 20th annual Steppin’ Out fundraiser includes George Benson (at a separate-ticket pre-ball reception), Vivian Green, Cyrus Chestnut, the Joey DeFrancesco Quartet, Rebecca Parris, the Tito Puente Jr. Orchestra, Andre Ward, Chuck Loeb & Eric Marienthal, and Freddie Jackson, and there’ll be many more. The event is set up with multiple stages in various “nightclubs” including a gospel room; there’s an all-night buffet, and the African-American community turns out in force, dressed to the nines | Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel, 425 Summer St, Boston | 8 pm | $200 | 866.468.7619.

VENUEWESTIN BOSTON WATERFRONT HOTEL425 Summer St.Boston MA 02210617.532.4600

11/3/2007

Getting TherePublic Transportation:YesNearest T:7 Bus - Summer + D Sts.Cross Street:D St.

STANDARDSJulius Hemphill at the Gardner, Cyrus Plays Elvis

By JON GARELICKOctober 23, 2007 12:01:32 PM

HARD BLUES The Hemphill concert rocked the Gardner’s Tapestry Room.

For much of his life, no one played Thelonious Monk pieces except Thelonious Monk. Even now, Monk isn’t as pervasive as you might think. So how does the music of a visionary composer like Julius Hemphill survive, if not become standard repertoire?

One answer was evident at the Gardner Museum a week ago Thursday night. Hemphill died in 1995, but his long-time companion, the esteemed pianist and new-music specialist Ursula Oppens, was on hand along with one of Hemphill’s frequent collaborators, Marty Ehrlich, as well as the Julius Hemphill Sextet and the Daedalus String Quartet. For a good two hours they had the Tapestry Room rocking for a sold-out audience that included veteran jazz fans as well as neophytes. It’s doubtful anyone left the hall who isn’t looking forward to hearing more Hemphill.

Hemphill was born in Forth Worth, a cousin of Ornette Coleman, and he exemplied the region’s raw, rootsy, blues-drenched sound. His alto playing had Bird-like fluidity, but — born in 1940 — he had a strong taste for doo-wop and R&B as well as Mingus-like structures full of twining contrapuntal lines and collective improv, and grounded in funk rhythms. His work gained its greatest prominence when he was one of the key players/composers for the World Saxophone Quartet — a “hit” avant-garde group of the ’80s that still carries on.

Through-composed pieces played by the Daedalus and Oppens bridged the two halves of the wisely devised program at the Gardner, with the Sextet — created by Hemphill and continued by original member Ehrlich — opening and closing the night. This was a hefty group: legendary players Andrew White and J.D. Parran along with Ehrlich and the younger Alex Harding, Andy Laster, and Matana Roberts.

The first number, “Fat Man,” was typical — a character portrait (written for Hemphill’s opera, Long Tongues) that stated a long-lined, winding theme with a rising dynamic before settling into a rocking ostinato from White’s tenor and Harding’s baritone. The theme split off into free-flowing counterlines, and back into supporting riffs for soprano and alto solos. “Opening,” written for the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane dance company, was a stately curtain raiser, with call-and-response figures and tart sustained, dissonant harmonies. “Mirrors” was a feature for Parran’s soprano — his a cappella passages varied beautifully calibrated vibrato and split tones with silky fast runs as the band answered him with chorus figures or gaggled like ducks. I had begun to think that those sustained melancholy ensemble dissonances were becoming too much of good thing, but then in “JiJi Tune” the high horns suddenly took off from the rocking bottom, soaring over the top with a jaunty beboppish theme that might have been some latter-day imagining of the Dizzy Gillespie Big Band.

“One Atmosphere” — for Oppens with the Quartet — offered those harmonies and lines with less rhythmic grounding. Piano and strings sparred, then a brief call-and-response pattern would emerge, a jazz chord, or a satisfying eight-beat figure in 4/4. The solo piano piece “Parchment” leaned even farther in the direction of serialism — more discontinuous, spiky rhythms and splashes of color, skittering lines and then chordal rests. A couple of times in the three-minute piece, an R&B bass figure emerged — a recurring memory.

“Mingus Gold,” an arrangement of Mingus themes for the Quartet, showed Hemphill’s strengths and weaknesses with the instrumentation — “Nostalgia in Times Square” had the appropriate humorous, slurring swagger in the phrasing but needed rhythm-section swing. “Alice’s Wonderland,” though, connected Hemphill and Mingus to ancient American folk — Africa

seemed to disappear. “Better Get Hit in Your Soul” allowed Hemphill to write a Mingus bass solo for Clancy Newman’s pizzicato cello. Cool.

The closing “The Hard Blues” was one of the real rockers, Harding holding down the riff as the Sextet left the stage and marched around the room, then convened in front of the stage for ecstatic collective-improv blowing. Before the concert, Ehrlich had announced that Oppens was still finding Hemphill pieces that had not been recorded, or even performed. “Like most composers, he wasn’t interested in documentation, he was writing for tomorrow.” Good for us.

Aside from original pieces like Hemphill’s as a source for jazz players, the quest for modern standards continues — the pop tunes that will take us past the Great American Songbook of Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, the Gershwins, et al. Steps have been taken: Radiohead and Nick Drake are part of Brad Mehldau’s book, Jason Moran does Afrika Bambaataa, the Bad Plus do Nirvana, and lots of people, including most recently Herbie Hancock, have taken up Joni Mitchell. Pianist Cyrus Chestnut (who plays the massive Dimock Community Health Center “Steppin’ Out” gala benefit on November 3) is no stranger to what Don Byron has called “the weird cover” as the “great act of jazz.” A couple of years ago, he and the saxophonist James Carter were part of a band who took on — of all things — the Pavement songbook, at the bequest of the Brown Brothers label. Under the rubric of Gold Sounds, they put out a CD and even played Newport.

Chestnut’s latest project surprises even him: Cyrus Plays Elvis (Koch). Chestnut probably never would have thought about a recording based on the songs Presley sang (he wasn’t a writer) except that a jazz singer asked him to accompany her on “Love Me Tender.” Something clicked. Chestnut found himself digging into Elvis songbooks, Elvis biographies, and the recordings. One of the raps on contemporary pop is that — with its harmonic simplicity — it doesn’t offer much for improvisers. The challenge of the Elvis material, Chestnut says over the phone from New York, was not to get so abstract and “vague” that the music was unrecognizable, but also “not so specific that it becomes corny.”

It’s an engaging, uneven piano trio album. “Hound Dog” strolls like Mose Allison. “Don’t Be Cruel” conjures countrypolitan pianist Floyd Cramer on the first chorus, but after Dezron Douglas’s bass solo, Chestnut takes off into funny Monk-like minor intervals and off-kilter runs. He makes “Love Me Tender” downright Ellingtonian. One thing Chestnut shares with Elvis is theatrical flamboyance — he likes bold, legible figures and rhythms you can hang onto. “It’s Now or Never” is an up-tempo jazz romp, and “Suspicious Minds” goes Latin.

A highly regarded jazz artist who came up in Betty Carter’s band, Chestnut says he didn’t want Carter “to come out of the grave for me.” When “Heartbreak Hotel” wasn’t working, he returned to the lyrics. “With songs, the lyrics give you more than notes and chords.” The lyrics “I’m so lonesome I could die” led him to arrange it around a bass drone that gives the entire piece a Coltrane/McCoy Tyner feel. “One way my playing has changed is that chords are more like colors now, and lines are like words.”

The one misstep is “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” with synth strings and Mark Gross’s soprano sax. “Some people said, ‘Cyrus is going down the smooth path’ — but I love music that grooves, and that slow dance, the last dance of the night.”

There’s further common ground for Elvis and Cyrus in blues and gospel. When Chestnut plays “How Great Thou Art,” he gets deep into those ancient diatonic harmonies. For that tune, at least, he doesn’t have to fear Ms. Carter.

CYRUS CHESTNUT |“Steppin’ Out,” Westin Waterfront Hotel, 425 Summer St, Boston | November 3 | 8 pm | $200 | 866.468.7619

Picks of the week

By Kevin Lowenthal & Joan Anderman | November 2, 2007

Jazz picks

Tonight: Vibraphonist and jazz/funk pioneer Roy Ayers is at Scullers. Guitar and trumpet duo Tin Bag and fine saxophonist Jeremy Udden are at Brookline T'ai Chi. Tomorrow: Missouri-born, Berklee-trained saxophonist Javon Jackson brings his funky band to Ryles. Dimock Community Health Center presents its annual "Steppin' Out" benefit, featuring George Benson, Cyrus Chestnut (below), Freddie Jackson, Joey DeFrancesco, Rebecca Parris, Tito Puente Jr., Andre Ward, Myanna, and many others at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel. Wednesday: Drummer Ralph Rosen with the Organic Horns, trumpeter Greg Hopkins, saxophonist George Garzone, organist Bruce Katz, and guitarist Jon Damian present an evening of original music at Scullers. Thursday: The marvelous, adventurous, Boston-based big band the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra continues its 35th-anniversary season with its premiere performance at Scullers.

WBZ TV

Sunday with Liz

Sunday, October 28, 2007

N A M E SReady to step out

To listen to George Benson reminisce about his gigs at the Boston clubs of yore, his memories are so detailed you'd think he's reading from a script. "Boston is an essential part of my history," the "Masquerade" singer told us. "Lots of nights logged in Boston. There's Lenny's on the Turnpike, 888 Tremont St., Connolly's, the Jazz Workshop and the one right beside it . . . Paul's Mall - all of them," the guitarist rattled off, hardly pausing to take a breath. The Grammy winner is the headliner for tomorrow night's Steppin' Out at the Emerald Ball to benefit Dimock Community Health Center. (Others performing at the glitzy gala include Cyrus Chestnut, Andre Ward, Rebecca Parris, Freddie Jackson, and Tito Puente Jr.) Benson is one of those musicians who embraces his successes rather than run from big hits that make audiences happy. "It might be 30 years since 'Breezin' ,' but it feels like six months ago to me when I'm playing it," he said. "People can expect from us the things they want to hear. If they're yelling for a song, they're going to get it."

Chestnut’s toasting ElvisBy Bob YoungFriday, November 2, 2007 - Updated 15h ago

There’ll be star power to spare at tomorrow’s Steppin’ Out benefit extravaganza at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel. George Benson, Freddie Jackson, Vivian Green, Chuck Loeb and Tito Puente Jr. all are on tap.

And, thanks to pianist Cyrus Chestnut, one megastar will also be in the house: Elvis Presley. In spirit and music only, of course. The King will get the royal treatment from jazz pianist Chestnut, who’s not exactly someone you’d expect to do an Elvis tribute.

Yet that’s just what the pianist did on his new CD, “Cyrus Plays Elvis,” and what he’ll be reprising with his trio tomorrow at the 20th annual black-tie benefit for Dimock Community Health Center.

Even Chestnut himself, who cut his teeth with Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsalis and Betty Carter, sounds surprised to be digging into “Love Me Tender,” “Hound Dog” and “Suspicious Minds.”

“I confess that I wasn’t an Elvis fan,” said Chestnut, who grew up in Baltimore playing keyboards at the local Baptist church. “At the time he was kickin’ I was a small tyke. There were no Elvis Presley records around the house, but I do remember seeing him on television and thinking, ‘OK, that’s kind of cool.’ ”

On the new all-instrumental album, Chestnut, 44, puts his own improvisational spin on Elvis’ music. A

freewheeling “Don’t Be Cruel” has more than a hint of Thelonious Monk in it. “Hound Dog” gets a funky blues treatment. And “Heartbreak Hotel” get a melanchoy treatment that packs an emotional wallop.

Chestnut says the idea for the album came about after he recorded a rendition of “Love Me Tender” with a Chinese vocalist. He decided to research whether a jazz musician had ever done a full album of Presley tunes. He discovered the field was wide open.

“I thought,” Chestnut said from his home in New York, “that if (Elivs) can interpret some of the songs he heard when he got down to Memphis and started hanging out in the black community, why can’t I revisit them but not necessarily do them in a rock ’n’ roll way?

“The challenge was not to be so space age that nobody would know what I was doing. On the flip side, I had to not be so incredibly corny that I’d lose all integrity. If I did that, Betty Carter would come out of her grave and beat me silly.”

Chestnut also had to deal with a long-held belief, especially in the black community, that Elvis was an exploiter who had done nothing more than rip off African-American artists. He dismissed it as an issue.

“ Over the course of life, people borrow from a lot of different things,” Chestnut said. “At the time, (Elvis) was the accessible face to a large number of people. Over time, I think he did recognize his influences. There’s no copyright on a quarter note or an eighth note. Elvis did the music his way. At the time, Elvis was doing an interpretation of what he heard growing up. I thought, ‘Why can’t I do an interpretation in my time of what I hear and bring it into the camp of Cyrus Chestnut?’ ”

Elvis, no doubt, would approve.

Steppin’ Out, tomorrow at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel. Tickets: $200; 866-468-7619.

Kingdom Come: Pianist Cyrus Chestnut, right, interprets the music of Elvis Presley on his new CD and at a benefit tomorrow.

Jazz Events

Andre Ward

Steppin' Out at The Emerald Ball“Steppin’ Out at the Emerald Ball,” features Andre Ward, Freddie Jackson, Cyrus Chestnut and 17 other groups. Staged to mimic Boston's legendary and historic jazz clubs of the ‘30s through today, this one-of-a-kind charity music-fest-party attracts over 3,000 glitterati for an evening of music, dancing, food and cocktails.

This year Dimock is celebrating its 20th Anniversary of Steppin' Out. Andre Ward, Vivian Green, Freddie Jackson, Cyrus Chestnut, Joey DeFrancesco Quartet and others

When:Saturday, November 3; 6:30 pm - 2:00 am Where:Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel 425 Summer StreetBoston, MA 02210United States

Tickets:$100, $200, $350; WGBH members receive $25 off ticketsAll Major Credit Cards; $350 Star Tickets available @ Dimock onlyTicketweb 866-468-7619 PresentingOrganization:Dimock Community Health Center 617-442-8800, x1208

URBAN UPDATE

With Vivian Male, Tsuji Daiko and Ruth Ellen Fitch as guests

Divine inspiration pairs Cyrus with Elvis

Jazz interpretations of Presley classics

John Black Entertainment EditorThere have been countless compilation CDs of Elvis Presley music, from the ELV1S 30 #1 Hits which featured the King's original recordings to It's Now or Never - The Tribute to Elvis Presley which had everybody from Tanya Tucker to Tony Bennett recording Presley songs.

None of the previous releases, however, can boast divine revelation as the spark that brought them into being. But that's what jazz

pianist Cyrus Chestnut said inspired him to record Cyrus Plays Elvis.

"I always like to try to find something different, musically speaking, but this really came to me almost in a divine revelation so to speak," Chestnut said. "I was in the studio recording with a young vocalist and she was doing Love Me Tender and it came to me that nobody has done a full jazz representation of the Elvis songbook. I did some research and people have covered his tunes, but not to this degree."

Inspired as he was, Chestnut still had a lot of work to do before he could record his version of Elvis music. First, he had to find which songs he wanted to record - and as he says with a chuckle, 'There are a lot of songs in the Elvis songbook." Then he had to look at each song he picked and find out how he wanted to interpret it.

"The challenge was I couldn't be so space age and difficult that nobody recognize what the song was. On the flipside, I could not make it so corny that it would tear down my integrity," he said. "Some of them came rather easy. Hound Dog was an easy one to interpret, but Heartbreak Hotel took a little bit of work. All the songs on record, though, are songs I connected to on a personal level. I hope that comes through and people will get through the name and the stereotype of someone else covering Elvis. Hopefully the music can tell the story."

Cyrus Chestnut will perform as part of the line-up at Steppin' Out at the Emerald Ball on Saturday, November 3, 8 p.m. - 2 a.m. at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel, 425 Summer Street. For information, call 617-442-8800 x1006

Published on November 1, 2007

NECN - Features - Globe at Home: Pianist Cyrus Chestnut

Nov 02, 2007

Jazz pianist and Berklee graduate Cyrus Chestnut joins NECN's Karen Swensen. Chestnut is on tour promoting his highly acclaimed new CD, "Cyrus Plays Elvis.

Jazz pianist and Berklee graduate Cyrus Chestnut joins NECN's Karen Swensen. Chestnut is on tour promoting his highly acclaimed new CD, "Cyrus Plays Elvis."

Published: Friday November 02, 2007 04:00:00 GMTSeries Link: http://www.NECN.com

Play Here 0:00:02 ... today's -- at home we're joined by jazz pianist and Berkeley grad Cyrus chestnut chestnut . He's on tour promoting his new highly acclaimed CD Cyrus plays -- take -- …

Play Here 0:00:48 ... by any CNN is raising money for Boston's -- community health center. Cyrus joins us now along with living editor. Steve Greenlee -- thank you both for joining us and .

November 8, 2007

Style Spy at the Emerald Ball

More than 1,000 guests braved stormy

weather last weekend to attend Steppin' Out

at the Emerald Ball, the annual black-tie gala

for Dimock Community Health Center at the

Westin Waterfront Hotel in South Boston.

—Carol Beggy

(Aram Boghosian for The Boston Globe)

Jessica

Thompson,

28

Residence:

Quincy

Job: Program

manager for

The Red

Cross

Tell me

about your

dress. I got it

at Nordstrom

in

Washington,

D.C. I don't

go for a specific

designer or label. I saw it and that was it.

And the shoes? They are a perfect

complement. Nine West.

What brings you out to Steppin' Out? It's a

fun night out. I've only been in Boston for two

years and I had heard about it and knew I wanted

to go.

Any particular act or group that you want

to see? It's a group called Dave from the AME

Church. They go on at 10:30, so we made sure we

had time to get a good spot.

You seem remarkably dry for a very wet

and windy night. It's called valet.

(Aram Boghosian for The Boston Globe)

D.T.

Henry, 28

Residence:

Brighton

Job:

graduate

student

That's a

great suit,

where do

you shop?

You have to

find a tuxedo

shop where

you like their

style. If they

don't have it, they can order it for you.

So you own your tuxes? Yes. I picked it out.

It's more of a European style to go with the

accessories -- and I got those through the same

tuxedo shop.

And it's not just that you have a walking

stick and a hat. What about the shoes? Stacy

Adams. Great collection and designer.

Do you get this dressed up on a regular

basis? This is a very special night out for us, but I

love to wear good clothes. ...I put a lot of effort

into all of this.

When you get to an event, what's your

priority: music, food, catching up with

people? All of it. We'll do all of it. We want to

hear some of the local groups, who go on in about

an hour. That gives us enough time to get settled

and check out what's going on in all these rooms.

(Aram Boghosian for The Boston Globe)

Christina

Liscombe, 23

Residence:

Brighton

Job: Works

for Blue Cross/

Blue Shield

You work for

one of the

sponsors. Is

this a work

night? Not at

all. I heard

about it

through work

and decided we

had to go. We've been planning for awhile.

You've picked something a bit more sedate

than D.T. here. Is that by choice? (Laughs.)

Actually he had me decide what I was going to

wear and then he went and did his thing. I got to

decide what I was comfortable with first.

Tell us about your selection. It's Ann Taylor. I

knew I had pick something that I would be

comfortable in, but would look good.

Do you like to get this dressed up for an

event? I was very excited to have a chance to get

dressed up. It said black tie, so we wanted to come

ready for a black tie crowd.

OK, there's not a speck of rain on either

one of you. Did you bribe the valet? No, we

got a driver. We really wanted to be able to enjoy

ourselves no matter what was going on with the

weather or the traffic or whatever.

Sounds like you're ready to have a good

time. As soon as this interview is over, we will.

(Laughs.)

(Aram Boghosian for The Boston Globe)

Ifeoma

Obiora,

33

Residence: Dorchester

Job: Client adminstrative services for Bank of

America

You're dress is among the most brightly

colored that we've seen. Tell us about it. I

am from Nigeria and we believe that black tie is

formal dress, not dark. The embroidery on the

dress we call Swiss foil, and it's all hand done. I

got my dress from a local woman who also is from

Nigeria. Her name is Mrs. Uko and she's in

Randolph. So I have to say, she's my designer.

And your wrap, is it also traditional? Yes,

it's an ashoke. It's also something we wear in

Nigeria as a wrap, or as a head dress or around

your waist. It's for formal functions. It's made

from traditional cloth.

Were you just waiting for an event like this

so you could wear this dress? I was looking

forward to tonight and I have to say I'm very

comfortable in this dress.

(Aram Boghosian for The Boston Globe)

Ishmail Merritt, 35

Residence: Watertown

Job: Commercial print account executive

All right, most guys see black tie and try to

kick it

down a

notch with

something

more

casual.

You are

the rare

guy who

went a step

up. Yes, it's

white tie. My

wife and I

take any

fundraising

event for

Dimock

seriously

and that the invitation said black tie meant going

all out for us.

Tell us about your choice. It's Armani.

It fits perfectly. You own it? Yes, it's mine. I

have no problem getting dressed up. And I'm

happy to have an event to wear it to.

You have this in your closet waiting for a

night like this? Yes, but for tonight I got a new

Yurman studs. I picked these out new.

What are you most looking forward to

tonight? Now that we're inside and getting

around I want to see George Benson, sure. But

just having a chance to come out for Dimock is

why we're out here tonight. We'd go to any event

for them.

(Aram Boghosian for The Boston Globe)

Marian Mandell

"I never put my age. Say ageless."

Residence: Newton

Job: Fundraiser

You're wearing a hat, which seems like a

brave choice for an event in Boston. I got it

from an

estate sale

in Palm

Beach. So

you can

say it's

imported.

(Laughs.)

People

wear hats

all the time

in Palm

Beach.

And your

other

wardrobe

selections this evening? The jacket was my

mother's. I don't know if it has a label. It's

hundreds and hundreds of years old. The dress

my late husband picked it out for me some years

ago in Florida. It's Yves Saint Laurent. And my

shoes? They just arrived from France. They're

Rive Gauche.

You risked new shoes from Paris by going

out during a nor'easter? A big umbrella and

good doorman is all you need. And this event is

worth the risk.

(Aram Boghosian for The Boston Globe)

Devin Horton, 26

Residence: Medford

Job:

Graduate

student

That dress

really

stands out

-- the

color

particularly. I got it at Macy's. I got it because

it's red. I love red. So in a way it sort of picked me

out.

Did you get it for this event? I got bombarded

by a friend to go shopping. I didn't want to, but I

knew I needed a great dress for this event.

And the rest of it? I got the clutch at Target this

afternoon.

What is it about this event that seems to

bring out the best in people's style? "People

of color" isn't just a description of us, it's also a

description of our culture and our style. ...It's part

of our heritage to dress colorfully. Look around

and see it's not just any one color or style, there

are a lot of people who are just waiting for a

reason to really go all out.

(Aram Boghosian for The Boston Globe)

Kirk Jackson, 52

Residence: Milton

Job: Lawyer

The guys

tonight

seem to

have a

range from

suits to

tuxes with

tails. Why

did you

pick a suit?

Because I

hate wearing

a tux.

For some

events,

guys don't

have that

leeway. Do

you own a

tux? I have three. I just don't like wearing them.

Tell us about your choice. I want to take the

formal nature of the event seriously. People have

always dressed up and beyond for Steppin' Out.

I've only missed coming twice. I want to fit in,

sure, but I don't like wearing tuxes and even the

guys in tuxes tonight are doing something extra.

No one's here in just a straight rented tux _ not

that I can see. ...To answer your question directly,

I'm wearing a Vicci Uomo suit. It's Italian, which I

didn't know until I just looked at the label. I like

wearing this suit.

What's the best part about coming to

Steppin' Out? All of it. You get to support a

great cause. There's great music _ I'm looking

forward to hearing Freddie Jackson. There's great

food. People are all happy _ look around. What's

not to like about this event?

(Aram Boghosian for The Boston Globe)

Jazz with Eric in the Evening

Mon-Thu, 8pm, WGBH 89.7

Host Eric Jackson, an influential member of New England's jazz

community, brings you the region's best-known jazz program. Eric's

Monday Night Spotlight features a particular artist or theme. On Tuesdays,

Eric features live interviews and performances from the WGBH studios.

Thursday, November 2, 2007, 9 pmGuests: Cyrus Chestnut and Ruth

Ellen Fitch

television’s view behind the VIP

lines

Steppin' Out 20th Emerald Ball

Nov. 3 in Boston

Thousands of guests attended

the Steppin' Out 20th Emerald

Ball at the Westin Waterfront

Hotel. Here, Lenny and Carol

Lee of Dorchester.

(Bill Brett / Globe Staff)

From left, Angelina Pena and Will Morales, both of

Hyde Park. (Bill Brett / Globe Staff)

From left, Nicole Beckward, Pat Damico, Talia

Damico, and Alisha Damico, all of Brockton.

(Bill Brett / Globe Staff)

Shino Ito and Kevin Johnson, both of Dorchester.

(Bill Brett / Globe Staff)

From left, Elizabeth Rose and Bernice Osbore, both of

Dorchester.

(Bill Brett / Globe Staff)

From left, Yvonne Tang of Malden, Kate Wilson of

Roxbury, Deb Doherty of Winchester, and Wendy

Maguire of North Andover.

(Bill Brett / Globe Staff)

From left, Ayanna Pressley of Boston, Cherie

Nelson of Brockton, Maxine Batiste of Boston, and

Andrea Baptiste of Franklin.

(Bill Brett / Globe Staff)