Jazz up your day on Saturday, April 7

Notice of this really creative and fun event, from the Medfield Music Association –

As part of the “Dollars for Duke” campaign to send the Medfield High School Jazz Band to the Essentially Ellington competition at Lincoln Center, May 4 to 6, Jazz Band members will be taking part in “Jazz ‘Round Town” on Saturday, April 7.

Members of the band will be giving public performances at various locations around Medfield on April 7, kicking off with a 9:30 to 11 a.m. performance at Blue Moon. They will also be playing in front of Needham Bank from 10 to 11:30 a.m., and at Lovell’s from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The last performance of the day will be at the Gazebo from Noon to 1:30 p.m. All performances are rain or shine.

In keeping with the campaign theme, Jazz Band members will be using top hats to collect both cash and check donations at each “Jazz ‘Round Town” site. (Checks should be made payable to Medfield Music Association.)

To date, the association’s “Dollars for Duke” campaign has raised more than $3,000 toward its $12,000 goal to cover the Jazz Band’s trip to the Essentially Ellington competition. (The estimated cost of the trip has increased due to the need for an additional day of lodging and travel.)

In addition to the funds raised for Essentially Ellington through the “Dollars for Duke” campaign, a portion of the proceeds from corporate sponsorships for the annual Jazz Night at Medfield High School on May 30 will also help to fund the trip.

The Medfield High School Jazz Band is only one of 15 high school bands chosen from across the U.S. and Canada to compete in Essentially Ellington, judged by jazz great Wynton Marsalis.

This is the second major competition for the jazz band in just a matter of months. It also earned a spot in the Charles Mingus High School Competition in New York in February, with senior Paul Wagenseller taking home an outstanding soloist award.

Donation checks for the jazz band can also be mailed to Medfield Music Association, P.O. Box 115, Medfield, MA 02052. “Dollars for Duke” should be noted on the check.

For more information about “Dollars for Duke” and the Medfield Music Association, go to www.medfieldmusicassociation.com.