Pianist to jazz up Port Townsend fundraiser
Published 12:01 am Thursday, February 21, 2013
PORT TOWNSEND — Just back from Buenos Aires International Jazz Festival, pianist Johnny Z will arrive — with vocalist Sylvia Heins — at The Upstage this Friday night.
Showtime is 5:30 p.m. Admission is $15, and proceeds will benefit the Centrum foundation.
Johnny Z, a self-taught player who doesn’t read music, is known for his renditions of Cole Porter, George Gershwin and Antonio Carlos Jobim’s tunes of the 1920s through the ’50s.
He has performed in Paris, San Francisco, Amsterdam, New York City and Como, Italy, among other locales around the world — and directed his dance band at the 7 Cedars Casino for 10 years.
On Friday night, Heins and Johnny Z will have drummer Tim Sheffal beside them at The Upstage, 923 Washington St.
The trio plans to play a three-hour show.
Funds will support Centrum’s annual workshops and festivals focusing on jazz, blues, bluegrass and other musical genres.
Upstage chef Erin Whittington will offer a special dinner menu for this benefit.
To find out more, phone The Upstage at 360-385-2216 or visit www.UpstageRestaurant.com.
