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Benefit Concert

 

Friends of the Waisman Center 17th Annual Spring Benefit Concert
Sunday, April 22, 2012 at 6:00 p.m.

 

Please join us for this lively and enjoyable evening of music and delectable food featuring the Caravan Gypsy Swing Ensemble followed by a reception with the artists catered by Chez Vous.

 

Tickets are: $35 concert only ticket $75 event ticket (includes concert plus catered reception).

 

ABOUT THIS YEAR'S ARTIST:

Caravan Gypsy Swing Ensemble is an instrumental group based out of Madison, Wisconsin. They are primarily influenced by the legendary Gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt. The ensemble also pulls influences from jazz, swing, traditional Latin, Parisian waltzes, and other vintage-jazz sources. Expect a range of tunes from the "Hot Swing" repertoire, originals and standards done in uniquely arranged styles.

 

 

The idea for Caravan started in early 2002 when Chris Ruppenthal, the group's leader and an aspiring jazz guitarist, first heard recordings of Dutch Gypsy Jazz guitarist Jimmy Rosenberg who played in the Reinhardt style. Chris soon turned away from the American Bebop style of jazz guitar to follow in the long shadow of Django and was inspired to seek out fellow Gypsy Swing enthusiasts.

 

Caravan sprang out of that inspiration as a trio of two guitars, and violin. The trio played a barrage of open mikes and busked at local farmers markets to get their repertoire together. After adding a bassist and clarinetist they began playing coffee houses, clubs, and parties. Soon they were recording, and performing consistently throughout the Midwest.

 

The group released it's first official full length CD "Caravan Gypsy Swing Ensemble" on Hot String Swing Records in 2007. The recording features an expanded band lineup and includes original music, arrangements of Django Reinhardt classics, jazz standards, and Latin tunes. In 2010 the ensemble will release their "Live at The Brink Lounge" CD and a currently untitled studio recording. Caravan's recordings have been prominently featured as a bed soundtrack on ABC 27's "Cooking The Casbah." Their music has also been used in advertisements for RP Pasta and for chocolatier Gail Ambrosius.

 

Caravan has had substantial experience with live performance in a broad range of settings including concert halls, festivals, night clubs, and corporate/private events. They have had a wide variety of live radio experience including numerous appearances on Wisconsin Public Radio's "Higher Ground with Jonathan Overby." Highlights of Caravan's festival and concert experience include performances at Madison's Overture Center, The Sugar Maple Traditional Music Festival, The Isthmus Jazz Festival, Summer Sizzle Festival, and three years in a row at The Midwest Gypsy Swing Festival.

 

Caravan has become an experienced, seasoned group with a unique sound and a diverse repertoire even within the Gypsy Jazz genre. They now perform in lineups that range from a two guitar duo to a six-piece ensemble including clarinet, violin, and drums. Although the music of Django Reinhardt it still at the core of the band they have learned to take Gypsy Swing music in a broad range of directions.

 

ABOUT THE CONCERT:

On April 22, 2012, the Friends will celebrate the 17th year for this event, with proceeds to date netting close to $200,000.

 

Many programs at the Waisman Center have been positively impacted by this benefit. A few examples:

Scholarships for children who attend the Waisman Early Childhood Program, a model laboratory school serving a developmentally diverse population. Stipends that enable families to participate in Waisman Center research projects or educational events. Special projects, such as the remodelling and upgrading of the Waisman Center's clinical space, which serves hundreds of children with disabilities and their families each year.

 

Staged in the Friends of the Waisman Center Auditorium on the UW-Madison campus, the concert hall seats 250 people. A catered reception with the artists moves to the top floor of the Waisman Center complex, with panoramic views of the west area of the UW-Madison campus.

 

Performers in the series are some of the Madison areas most popular artists, including jazz greats Ben and Leo Sidran, distinguished classical pianist Jeffrey Siegel (famous for his "Keyboard Conversations"), and the effervescent Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society. A complete list of previous performers is listed below

 

Major support for this event comes from in-kind donations of printing, wine, piano loan and moving, and host donations at the Silver ($250), Gold ($500) and Platinum ($1,000) levels. In addition, a sponsor for the artists has been identified for 2011, former Chancellor John D. Wiley. An event sponsor option is also available $2,500 "Event Sponsors" at $2,500 each. Our 2012 Event Sponsor is UW Health. All donors are acknowledged in the concert program and additional publicity will be given to the artist and event sponsors.