All That Jazz for a Neighbor in Need

Some of the finest jazz around was coming from the Los Angeles Music Academy last weekend at the second annual “Evening for the Station” to benefit Union Station Foundation, the nonprofit agency for the homeless and poor in the western San Gabriel Valley.

Sergio Mendes opened the show followed by Jeff Goldblum on piano, Jimmy Haslip of the Yellowjackets on bass guitar, Michael Shapiro on drums, jazz pianist Frank McComb’s group, actor/percussionist Hector Elizondo on conga drums, and vocalist/songsmith Kevyn Lettau.

“We’re just a block away from the station” in Pasadena, said Shapiro, the music academy’s educational director. “When we opened the academy less than five years ago, we’d pass by the shelter and eventually we got to know these people because they’re our neighbors.

“Last year Union Station board member Gerry Puhara [her husband is jazz pianist Russ Ferrante] suggested we collaborate on a benefit. Coincidentally, Marv Gross, the station’s executive director, takes guitar lessons here. At first, we were scared and didn’t know what to expect, but I called Gerry and said, ‘Let’s do it!’ And now, we’re really into it. Our [music] students even prepare a monthly meal for the folks at the station ....Our specialty is baked chicken and hot fudge sundaes.”

Getting the artists together required some fine-tuning of schedules, Shapiro said.

“Hector and Jeff have been on a nonstop press junket for their new films [Elizondo for ‘The Princess Diaries’ and the soon-to-be-released ‘Tortilla Soup’ and Goldblum for ‘Cats & Dogs’]. Sergio Mendes and his wife, Gracinha, just back from Europe 48 hours ago, are jet-lagged. But they felt this was a priority, because the station serves people like you and me--men, women and families who are down on their luck. Jimmy Haslip has even produced a compilation CD titled “Junction” to be released in September with 100% of the proceeds earmarked for Union Station.” Other performers included Hussain Jiffry, Roberto Montero, Meia Noite, Jerry Watts Jr. and Mike Miller.

The hall, capacity 175, was filled for the event, which included a reception in the courtyard featuring specialties from several Pasadena restaurants. The event raised $65,000, all of which goes to Union Station.

Founded in 1973, Union Station is the San Gabriel Valley’s largest private agency serving the poor. More than 70% of the clients have stabilized their lives after their stay there.

Among them, Mario Hutson, 36, a Union Station alumnus, who was seated in the front row. “While in recovery, I was there every morning, the doors were always open,” he said. “There’s no judgment there. I owe my life to Union Station.”