Corporate Sponsorship Still Available—

Dee Dee Bridgewater Announced As Command Performance Season Opener

DANBURY — Command Performance, a Danbury based all volunteer, non-profit performing arts organization, has finalized negotiations with jazz singer and Broadway entertainer Dee Dee Bridgewater for an October 4 concert to be staged at Charles Ives Concert Hall at Western Connecticut State University.

Also appearing at Charles Ives Hall this season will be trumpet virtuoso and accomplished jazz entertainer Arturo Sandoval, scheduled for a November 15 concert.

The City of Danbury awarded Command performance a $5,000 grant in July based on its mission to advance the performing arts in Danbury. Mayor Mark Boughton and the Common Council said they were pleased with the willingness of Command Performance to aggressively seek corporate sponsorships to help subsidize concerts, ensuring quality entertainment at affordable prices for all citizens. The mayor is dedicated to Danbury becoming a focal point for the performing arts in this part of the state.

The grant provides funds to help Command Performance continue to offer the community acclaimed international artists such as Ms Bridgewater and Mr Sandoval. Local corporate sponsorships are still necessary to cover production and promotion costs, however, as well as underwrite the artist fee for non-profit events.

“When you are dealing with world renowned jazz performers who are the best at what they do, you are also dealing with the fees top artists command at a performance,” says Steven Pichiarallo, president of the organization. Mr Pichiarallo also noted that jazz, America’s musical gift to the world, is played, studied and more popular today in Europe, Japan, and other places than in America where it originated.

 “But in all honesty, these concerts cannot continue if the local business community will not step up to the plate, or step up to the “stage” rather, and build on the public grant we received from the city,” added Mr Pichiarallo. In 2001, Command Performance received a $30,000 grant from the State of Connecticut. During the last two years, corporate sponsors such as Western Connecticut Federal Credit Union, The Inn at Ethan Allen, Phoenix Insurance, Fleet Bank, Amica Insurance and Duracell, along with individual sponsors William Garbarino of Morgan Stanley made outstanding concerts possible. Diane Schuur, Slide Hampton, Sherry Winston, Jon Faddis, Dave Valentine, Cyrus Chestnut, The Tito Puente Orchestra, Dizzy Gillespie All Stars, The Canadian Brass, Tokyo String Quartet, Empire Brass and the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet have all been presented by Command Performance.

The generous support of corporate sponsors is greatly needed to bring these two outstanding jazz artists to Danbury, as well as other classical and Broadway artists.

The board of directors is committed to raising funds to support these programs. Sponsorships will be used to underwrite the artist fee and for marketing and promotion. This will keep ticket admissions affordable, encouraging people to attend. Command Performance is an all-volunteer organization so 100 percent of all money raised by sponsorships goes directly toward staging events.

Command Performance is a 501c(3) non-profit public benefit corporation that was organized in the summer of 2000 by Danbury area residents for the purpose of presenting preeminent jazz, classical, Broadway and other special cultural artists in Danbury. There is a 17 member board of directors that oversees all decisions regarding operations and programming and a 40 member committee that helps organize and stage each event.

Mr Pichiarallo noted: “The arts raise our spirits and enrich our lives … not to mention the economic well-being of the area is enhanced by a vibrant arts and cultural network. Besides, live music performed by great jazz, classical and Broadway artists is a whole lot more fun enjoyed with your neighbors and friends.”

For more information on Ms Bridgewater’s concert or corporate sponsorship call 203-825-3131, send email to CPerformance@snet.net or visit www.CPerformance.org.