Fundraiser for George Davidson, Ann Arbor/Ypsi

Drummer George Davidson has some continuing health problems and a second fundraiser for him will be held in Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti on November 11. A prior fundraiser was held in Detroit, his hometown, but since George has many friends around Ann Arbor this would give more people an opportunity to show their appreciation for all he has done for jazz in Southeastern Michigan.

George Davidson has had an impressive career in the jazz and blues/r & b worlds of Detroit since the 1950s playing with Motown greats like The Four Tops and the Supremes, as well as Aretha Franklin and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. For many years he was the house drummer with the Ron Brooks Trio at the Bird of Paradise jazz club in Ann Arbor. In Detroit he worked with a long list of jazz greats like Marcus Belgrave, The Tribe (with Wendell Harrison and Harold McKinney), Kirk Lightsey, Donald Byrd, Geri Allen, and Teddy Edwards.

SEMJA is one of the sponsors of this fundraiser, as is the Michigan Music Hall of Fame and participating venues and musicians.

The program on Saturday, November 11, is as follows:

Fundraiser at the Zal Gaz Grotto
2070 West Stadium Blvd. in Ann Arbor

Noon T Bone Paxton / RJ Spangler Swingtet
12:45 Michael Zaporski solo piano
1:00 Rick Roe, Kurt Krahnke, Sean Dobbins
1:17 Dr. Harvey Reed - Larry Manderville, Ron Brooks, Sean Dobbins
1:34 Ellen Rowe, Paul Keller, Pete Siers
1:52 Andy Adamson solo piano
2:00 Singers Showcase / Scat-off featuring various pianists including Buddy Budson— with Gloria Baker, Joan Belgrave, Ursula Walker, Emma Aboukasm
2:50 Bart Polot solo piano
3:00 Los Gatos — with special guests Dr Alberto Nacif & Paul VornHagen
3:50 Michael Malis solo piano
4:00 GayeLynne McKinney / Ken Kozora Jam Session — with Ralph McKee, Reggie Canty, Tim Flood, Dave Sharp and others

MCs for the event will be RJ Spangler, Michael G Nastos, Jim Gallert

Afterglow at Ziggy’s
206 West Michigan Ave. in Ypsilanti

7:00 Buddog: Peter Stark (guitar/vocals) featuring Richard Smith, electric bass guitar
7:35 Dada (African singer/songwriter/guitarist)
8:30 Ralph McKee & Friends “Blues Tribute To Paul Butterfield”