On Saturday, Aug. 8, the former members of the local jazz band, Utah Jazz Quintet, are coming together for the first time in nearly 15 years for a benefit concert for the Roene B. DiFiore Center for Arts and Education in St. George. The DiFiore Center recently experienced a waterline break which put them in need of financial support to repair the damage and keep the Center operational. While the Utah Jazz Quintet hasn’t played together in several years, former member Carlyle Potter said he is particularly excited to play with two musicians who are familiar to the southern Utah music scene: Mami Hope Dalton and Sam Payne.
The DiFiore Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization, is a hub for St. George community arts and events. The DiFiore Center is home to various organizations and is also a gathering place for numerous community arts groups. Additionally, they often host community meetings, classes, workshops, and other events, including concerts, weddings, receptions, and theatrical performances.
On July 7, a main waterline break put the DiFiore center in a serious bind. The burst revealed the piping was made of old galvanized pipes and had to be replaced from the mainline at the meter to the house and throughout the interior. Sidewalks had to be jackhammered to get to the pipes, as well as walls torn apart inside the home. The new waterline, sidewalks, repaired walls, and landscaping is estimated to bring a repair bill of $15,000.
An unexpected bill of this magnitude can be a dagger to any operation. For a nonprofit, it can mean closure of operations.
Ernie Doose, director of the Roene B. DiFiore Center, has said that so far they have raised approximately $9,000 dollars through community donations.
“The community support has been overwhelming to say the least,” Doose said. “We have never experienced anything like it before. Literally, we have had tears of joy daily here and feel like the luckiest people on earth.”
With the DiFiore Center still needing $6000 to become whole, Carlyle Potter, currently of the West Coast Jazz, stepped up to the plate. Serving as the coordinator for the fundraising event, Potter has assembled a powerhouse of performers to help raise the additional funds for the DiFiore Center. Although the Utah Jazz Quintet has not played together in a decade and a half, each of the seasoned players has continued in different projects throughout the region. On Saturday, Aug. 8, they come together to provide a terrific evening of jazz standards from the ‘50s and ‘60s. These five incredibly gifted and talented musicians will entertain with stellar live music.
For attendees, one of the highlights of the entertainment will be seeing Mami Hope Dalton perform. As a child music prodigy, Dalton began music studies in Japan at age three. She trained in both classical and jazz. Even at a young age, she was already winning numerous piano competitions, awards, and scholarships in Japan and the United States. Dalton’s extensive experience has allowed her to perform professionally in various bands and musical theaters for over 20 years in Japan, Canada, and the United States. She has also appeared as a solo artist at music festivals and various other events, including Mitt Romney’s Presidential Campaign Gala. In addition, she has many credits on numerous jazz and classical CD recordings of local and international artists.
“We are all excited to play once again with Mami Hope Dalton,” Potter said. “It’s been a decade since we had the pleasure of performing with Mami. There is no doubt in my mind that everyone who comes to the DiFiore Center is in for a real treat.”
Another popular musician attendees to the DiFiore Center flood damage fundraiser can expect to see is Sam Payne. No stranger to southern Utah, Payne’s return to join the Utah Jazz Quintet is highly anticipated and will offer a real treat for the evening. Payne’s abilities as a musician have had him playing from coast to coast in the United States, north of the border to Canada, and across the globe to Japan and Bulgaria.
“Sam is known for folk singing and historical story telling,” Potter said. “But I can honestly say, I have never heard a better scat singer – professional or otherwise. He is truly a gifted jazz singer, whose vocal improvisational skills will move your soul.”
In addition to the music, there will also be a silent auction featuring work from local artists. The DiFiore Center has received a number of stunning art pieces to be auctioned off for the fundraiser. Doose said they have about 25 pieces of art. One of the many art pieces available is a signed print of Roland Lee’s beautiful painting of the DiFiore Center.
The DiFiore Center flood damage fundraising event takes place Saturday, Aug. 8 at 8 p.m. VIP tickets for the event are sold out. However, general admission tickets are still available. Tickets are $8.88 and can be purchased by contacting The DiFiore Center at 307 N. Main, calling (435) 673-4206, or visiting http://www.difiorecenter.org/. Donations can also be made to the DiFiore Center at the following link: http://www.gofundme.com/z2fxhw.
Click photo gallery images to enlarge, including samples of art to be auctioned off at the event.
