Blue Note presents Tribute To Miracle Maker with Featured Performers Bill Robinson and Nat Morris and 2006 Miracle Makers ~ Monday, July 17 ~ 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm
Tribute to Miracle Makers, produced and created by Ariel Avissar and Victor Washington, honors and recognizes people – Miracle Makers – who have given their time, energy and talents to establishing projects and creating events that have made a difference in Brooklyn and beyond. In two wonderful shows at the world-famous Blue Note, 131 West Third Street in the Village, on Monday, July 17, the musical and verbal tribute pays homage to Annette Robinson, Assemblywoman from Brooklyn’s 56th District; Norman Davis, Case Coordinator, Treatment Adherence Program at Interfaith Medical Center Primary Care Center and Co-Chair Community Education Committee/Leadership Council Member; The Reverend Alvin Barnett, pastor of West Baptist Church in East New York for 27 years; and Dr. Peter Jampel, music therapist and founder of The Baltic Street Music Therapy Project in 1991.
New York, NY (PRWEB) July 16, 2006
Tribute to Miracle Makers, produced and created by Ariel Avissar and Victor Washington, honors and recognizes people – Miracle Makers – who have given their time, energy and talents to establishing projects and creating events that have made a difference in Brooklyn and beyond. In two wonderful shows at the world-famous Blue Note, 131 West Third Street in the Village, on Monday, July 17, the musical and verbal tribute pays homage to Annette Robinson, Assemblywoman from Brooklyn’s 56th District; Norman Davis, Case Coordinator, Treatment Adherence Program at Interfaith Medical Center Primary Care Center and Co-Chair Community Education Committee/Leadership Council Member; The Reverend Alvin Barnett, pastor of West Baptist Church in East New York for 27 years; and Dr. Peter Jampel, music therapist and founder of The Baltic Street Music Therapy Project in 1991.
Featured performers are Bill Robinson and Nat Morris.
Set times are 8:00 p. m. (sold-out) and 10:30 p. m. Tickets are $20 at tables and $15 at the bar. For reservations and more information, call (212) 475-8592 or visit bluenotejazz. com.
Bill Robinson, who has performed with The Flamingos and many other classic soul and doo-wop acts, is best remembered for his powerful vocals on “I Only Have Eyes for You.” He has become an icon in the Brooklyn community and beyond and frequently uses his gift to support the political and community initiatives of his wife, State Assemblywoman Robinson. Together, they strive to in relieve poverty in Brooklyn and improve the quality of life. Nat Morris is an accomplished vocalist who is best known for his work on Broadway, including the role of Judas in “Jesus Christ Superstar.”
A professional music therapist, Ariel Avissar is musical director of the Baltic Street Music Therapy Program and is dedicated to bridging the worlds of music and human services to use music as a resource for treatment and wellness. Since his duty as intern came to an end in 2001, Ariel has stayed with the Baltic Street Resource and Mental Health Treatment Center working with the Band, individual consumers, and its music technology studio in order to build and grow an independent music therapy program that will one day be self-sufficient. Ariel has also been the music therapist at New York Methodist Hospital in Park Slope, Brooklyn for the past 3 years, and has been helping people with the use of music therapy for over 10 years. As a professional guitarist, electric violinist, and producer Ariel has been dedicated to reaching out to people who are in need of healing with music.
Victor Washington, a gospel music director at several Brooklyn churches, plays keyboards, piano, and organ and inspires listeners across the city with his fiery vocals. As a former employee of Motown Records, Victor gained much experience and recognition as a composer and arranger with several recording and commercial credits to his name. He has been an active supporter and featured performer at Baltic Street for four years and has served as a keyboardist and musical advisor to the Baltic Street Band and Music Therapy Program for the past two years.
“The purpose of making memorable musical tributes is to showcase talents, create opportunities, and communicate a powerful message through music. The spirit behind Tribute to Miracle Makers is one of voices being heard and inspiring music expressed in a live, organic way,” said Avissar. “It is also a concept that is based on the belief that the presence of music in one’s life promotes wellness and quality of living,” added Washington.
Annette Robinson, the wife and partner of the evening’s featured vocalist Bill Robinson. She was elected to the 56th Assembly District in 2002 with 96% of the vote. She is well known in her community for having a deep concern for the well being of New York’s families and a strong commitment to economic development and community service. She has been equally effective in her political efforts, working to lift New Yorkers out of poverty, as she has been in her personal life. She has devoted most of her adult life to public service and community affairs. She has served in areas such as Juvenile Justice, Youth Services, Higher Education, Consumer Affairs, Cultural Affairs, Civil Service, and more. Most notably she led a number of lobbying efforts to Albany, City Hall, and Washington, DC. Also, she fought to open Woodhull Hospital and the Interfaith Medical Center, which provide much-needed medical services. Assemblywoman Robinson is currently working in the NYS Assembly in the Children, Families, and Housing and Small Business Committees. A grandmother, alumni of New Hampshire College, and highly active in her church, Annette Robinson is a Miracle Maker.
Norman Davis has represented Interfaith Medical Center as an HIV Health Coordinator since 1997. In June of 2003, he was named a Project officer of the JAM Clinic (Just Adolescents Medical Clinic) and is in charge of HIV Women and Adolescents Service, the Case Coordinator of the (TAP) Treatment Adherence Program and is the Co-Chair of the Community Education Committee of the BSCHCCRP. He is very active in the Brooklyn community and offers presentations to local schools, groups and city agencies. Prior to joining the Interfaith team, Davis was a senior liaison worker at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx. For six years Mr. Davis developed and coordinated educational and recreational programs for school-age children throughout New York City in his capacity of administrative assistant for St. Margaret’s Church/BYM and at St. and Clemont’s Church. A creative and very talented singer, Norman has been singing since he was 10 years old and started his musical career as a solo artist working in Brooklyn are. A dynamic community leader and performer, Norman Davis is a Miracle Maker.
The Reverend Alvin Barnett is pastor of West Baptist Church in the East New York community of Brooklyn, where he has led the congregation for 27 years. He has served as the CFO for the Eastern Baptist Association and is also a former president of Evangelical Ministries. His current work includes serving as the president of the International Prison Ministries, providing education, mentorship, support, and spiritual guidance to many prison populations throughout the East coast. Pastor Barnett leads an effort in Brooklyn to merge political organizations with spiritually-based groups towards bringing about positive changes in the community. He worked with the civil rights movement in the 1960’s under the direction of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He is a singer and was one of the original members of the classic soul group the Marvells, who later became the internationally acclaimed R&B legends now known as The Isley Brothers. Sharing his personal motto – Wherever you go, make a friend! – Rev. Alvin Barnett is a Miracle Maker.
The Baltic Street Music Therapy Project was founded in 1991 by music therapist Peter Jampel, and a dedicated cadre of Baltic Street Resource and Mental Health Treatment Center consumers. For 15 years, the Baltic Street band has evolved tremendously under the inspiring direction of Dr. Jampel. The band has traveled across the East coast and has inspired other people who suffer from mental illness to spread the message that music and the arts are potent ways of reaching out towards mental health recovery. Dr. Jampel has played an integral role in promoting music as a statement of wellness and an outlet of self expression and turning it into a fully integrated therapeutic experience and treatment model. In 2002, the Baltic Street Music Therapy Project opened a music technology and recording studio at Baltic Street Center offering, a wide new array of therapeutic possibilities for consumers working with music as a means of promoting wellness and healing. Employed as a South Beach Psychiatric clinician, he recently retired after more than 32 years of dedicated service. Dr. Jampel continues to advise, supervise, and consult students and professionals on healing in the arts as well as music and wellness. As research director of the Baltic Street Music Therapy and a proponent to stimulate growth in the community, Dr. Peter Jampel is a Miracle Maker..
The Tribute to Miracle Makers has been assembled to raise awareness and funding for ongoing traditions that have already enriched the lives of many who have been fortunate enough to benefit from their unique qualities. For more information, call (301) 928-9494 or visit www. tributetomiraclemakers. com.
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