NEW YORK, NY (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — The newly restored Church of St. Francis Xavier and the Mary Lou Williams Foundation will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of the First Lady of Jazz with a concert to benefit Xavier Mission outreach programs including the homeless shelter and soup kitchen. WBGO Jazz 88.3FM radio host Rob Crocker will emcee the celebration taking place on Saturday, May 8, 2010 at 7:30pm. The concert will serve as the first of many events marking the church’s recent restoration. The lineup will include: renowned jazz accompanist Aaron Diehl with his trio, including special guest Victor Goines on saxophone and clarinet Yasushi Nakamura on bass and Marion Felder on drums; Laurel Massé, founding member of the vocal group Manhattan Transfer and a 40-voice choir directed by John Uehlein, Music Director at the Church of St. Francis Xavier. Mr. Diehl was hailed by The New York Times as a “revelation” and by the Chicago Tribune as “the most promising discovery that [Wynton] Marsalis has made since Eric Reed.” –by CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
