BELLOWS FALLS — A benefit concert for Making the Most of I, featuring Samirah Evans, Charles Neville and Moonlight Davis, will be held Saturday, Aug, 21, from 7:30-9:30 p.m., at the Stone Church Arts at 14 Church St.
Making the Most of I (MMI) is a small nonprofit organization that serves low-income women in transition in Vermont. It provides free ongoing classes for women hoping to make healthy changes in their lives. MMI has served more than 1,200 women in the 12 years of traveling around the state of Vermont.
“We provide a stepping stone, a hand up, to women who may feel they are not moving forward in their lives” said Nancy Clingan, founder and director of the program. “Many women need a little extra help, and we want it to be free and available to all women. That's why we have fundraising concerts, in order to bring people together for a good time, and to raise money to keep our program going.”
Clingan said she wanted an exciting benefit concert, one that would draw a diverse crowd, so she called and invited people she loved as musicians and singers. First on her list was Samirah Evans.
Evans, before transplanting to Brattleboro with her husband after Hurricane Katrina, was a regular fixture in New Orleans and well known for her dynamic voice and repertoire of music, from raunchy blues to smooth jazz classics and originals. She has shared the stage with legendary musicians and appeared at the most well known clubs and festivals worldwide.
Once she was on the lineup as the star performer for the concert, Clingan discovered Evans had played with Charles Neville, renowned sax player for the world-famous New Orleans rhythm & blues band, the Neville Brothers.
A longtime fan of the Neville Brothers, Nancy contacted Charles directly, who said, “I'd love to join Samirah onstage for this benefit.”
Moonlight Davis will bring his powerful, yet dreamy and smooth, voice to renowned renditions of soulful gospel and blues. Davis began singing in church as a boy and has built his artistic and professional life around traditional gospel. He has embellished that with contemporary blues, jazz and original music.
The pièce de résistance is Rebecca Holtz, who will open the show with keyboardist Greg Flower.
Born and bred in the Connecticut River Valley, Holtz has been singing for as long as she could walk and talk. A graduate of Fall Mountain High School, and first-year-to-be at Smith College, she is a veteran of the local performing arts scene. She will pursue theater and jazz voice studies.
Morning Star Chenven will perform a duet with husband Moonlight Davis, as well as perform her fiery and heartfelt original piece of music to honor women with Miro Sprague on the piano, Jason Ennis on the guitar, Jon Fisher on drums, and Alec Derian on bass.
Tickets ($15; $10 for students and seniors) will be on sale at the door only. Anyone unable to pay the full fee can make a donation. Included are complimentary refreshments and door prizes.
Charlie Jarras will videotape the concert for future broadcast on Falls Area Community Television. CDs by the artists will be available for sale at the concert.
For more information about the concert, call Clingan at (802) 869 2456.