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| Sweet Night of Broadway |
When my niece Julie Danforth West sings, she reaches way down in her soul to give birth to music that leaves goose bumps on the flesh, smiles on the face, and rhythm in the soul. With a vocal range reaching from second alto to first soprano, she belts out blues, jazz, and Broadway hits as though she had been born with lyrics, written by a heavenly songbird, perched on the tip of her tongue.
When I think of Julie, I think of Mahalia Jackson singing Summertime in the way it was written to be sung: as a lullaby. Julie is as natural on stage, as natural a performer as Mahalia ever was. Her thick dark hair, ivory skin, and full lips carry the scent of music while she performs and all the audience has to do is sit back and let themselves be hypnotized by music, one of the most, if not the most, abstract of all the arts.
Julie is married to my husband’s cousin, Daniel West. Together, they have a beautiful daughter, Anna. Julie has been singing for as long as I can remember. She and Anna often visit local nursing homes to share their talents with the elderly.
When the Ireland cousins were children, Grandpa Ireland would pull out the violin and play while Julie, her sister Haley, my daughter Alyson and all the other Ireland grandchildren danced to the rhythm. Grandpa Ireland passed away before my son Patrick was born, but my son sings jazz too. Music is as important to our family as rain. It bathes us in mystery, and overflows with joy from our souls.
Last year, in order to fill a need for the Turner County Arts Council, Julie slipped her bare feet into her singing shoes and went out scouting for musicians. She was on a mission and nothing would stop her. She had heard the calling of the music.
She found Eric Parker from Cordele, whose fingers never stop aching for the black and white keys, and she convinced him to join the band. When Eric’s fingers collide with the piano, you have no choice but to sit back and let your heart melt and mold and whisper while praying that he won’t stop playing.
Jonathan Perry, Music Minister at First Baptist Church of Ashburn, grew up singing. He has an incredible voice that pulls gospel, jazz and Broadway tunes from his soul. His voice communicates genuine emotion. He will rock your soul this way and that until you find yourself dizzy with the music.
Julie also persuaded Lee Howell from Cordele to join the group. He’s a master on guitar, dobro, and the double bass. Lee is married and has twin boys, future musicians. He’s the Worship and Song Leader at Pope City Baptist Church.
Barry Coffee from Cordele plays the trumpet and violin. We all know him in Tifton for his music store. I know something few people know about him: he also paints. And I’ve seen him playing in the ABAC Jazz Band, too. He’s everywhere! Barry plays nearly any instrument put before him.
Martin Mathis is the drummer. He lives in Cordele and plays several instruments and performs with several other groups, too.
They’ll be performing songs from Phantom of the Opera, My Fair Lady, Les Miserables, Porgy & Bess, and many more. Julie has promised to add some jazz for us jazz lovers who love to hear her silky, satiny, sultry voice.
Delicious, mouthwatering refreshments will be served: Dessert buffet; coffee; candlelight.
Jazz Element is a smooth jazz band that formed quietly last year, coming out of nowhere to become the band everybody wants to hear in southern Georgia.
For $10 a person, you can hear this amazingly talented group on October 13 for A Sweet Night of Broadway. It will be held at Turner County Special Services School Cafeteria at 330 Gilmore Street in Ashburn, Georgia. The event starts at 7 PM.
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