Green Jazz at the Herberger Theater with Dominic Amato
Green Jazz series concert concludes with saxophonist Dominic Amato: All proceeds go to the Green Revival Initiative Low Income Energy Conservation Program
PHOENIX – (April 15, 2009) One of jazz’s rising stars will blaze across a Downtown Phoenix venue and conclude a popular concert series that blends music and sustainability.
International recording artist and Phoenix resident Dominic Amato will headline ASU’s Green Jazz Series concert, which takes place at 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 27 at the Herberger Theater, 222 E. Monroe St., Phoenix. Admission is $20 for general admission and $40 for VIP seating. Jade Alexis Johnson, a junior at Xavier College Preparatory, will open for Amato.
The series, which started in September 2008, is sponsored by Arizona State University Online, the Herberger Theater Center, Brotha Love Productions and Southwest Green Magazine.
“We’re hopeful the concert series has helped shift awareness and promoted the culture of green living while helping low-income households,” says Mernoy E. Harrison, Jr. ASU Online and Extended Campus vice president and executive vice provost. “The premise is that jazz is the bridge between music and sustainability.”
Proceeds from the concert series will support the Green Revival Initiative (GSI), a Phoenix-based sustainability project. Through the use of cost-effective green technologies such as compact fluorescent lights, low-flow shower heads and water heater blankets, GSI seeks to mitigate increasing energy costs for approximately 1,000 low- and fixed-income households in the Phoenix metropolitan area.
The initiative will help low-income families make the conversion to a sustainable lifestyle.
“The GRI recognizes that there is a cost to convert to a green lifestyle and those who need it the most might not be able to make that conversion,” says George Brooks, publisher of Southwest Green Magazine, an event sponsor. “We believe that once these conversions are made, each household could save anywhere from $300 to $500 annually.”
A green business networking event that includes informational booths and promotional giveaways starts at 5:30 p.m. and will precede the 6:45 p.m. fashion show and concert. For more information or to reserve a booth, call (602) 363-1677 or e-mail Publisher@sw-green.com.
Amato, who has lived in the Valley since 1990, is one of the Valley’s best known names in smooth jazz. The saxophonist, whose influences include Miles Davis, John Coltrane, David Sanborn and Chick Corea, ascended into the national spotlight as a member of group Turning Point. Their 2005 recording of Matador was a blending of instrumental rock and blues with edgy world beat textures.
“Turning Point was a valuable experience for me because it boosted my confidence as a musician,” Amato said. “All of a sudden I went from playing jazz in local venues to performing in front of an international audience. You can’t help but grow as an artist from that kind of experience.” Four years later Amato made the transition from sideman to bandleader with the 2009 release of his new CD, Fresh From The Groove. The work is highly energetic and expertly mastered thanks to Grammy award producer Michael Broening, who has collaborated with the likes of George Benson, Marion Meadows, Althea Rene and Wayman Tisdale.
Amato said he’s excited to be an instrument for the concert series. “I have been a longtime advocate of sustainability and practice it almost every day in our household,” says Amato. “I’m not over the top or an extremist but we all need to do our part to keep our environment clean and safe.”
What: The Green Jazz Series concert featuring Dominic Amato
Where: Herberger Theater, 222 E. Monroe St., Phoenix
When: 5:30 p.m., green networking event; 6:45 p.m. fashion show, 7 p.m. concert.
Tickets: $20 for general admission; $40 for VIP seats; $10 for ASU students with valid ID. Call the Herberger Theater box office at (602) 254-7399 or visit http://www.HerbergerTheater.org.
Contact:
Marshall Terrill
Information Specialist
ASU Office of Public Affairs
(602) 496-1005
ASU Green Jazz
Monday April 27, 2009
FILM CLIP
Dominic Amato with Althea Rene at Green Jazz 1. Sept 1, 2008
