Media contact: Allen Bush, Berklee Media Relations, 617-747-2658.

The Boston Foundation Partners with Berklee College of Music to Revitalize Live Music in Uphams Corner with a Free Jazz and Caribbean Concert at the Strand Theater BOSTON, July 2, 2013 The Boston Foundation is partnering with the Berklee College of Music Office of Community Affairs and Campus Engagement to help revitalize arts and ethnic culture in Dorchesters Uphams Corner. Among the activities produced by Berklee will be a concert of jazz and Caribbean music on Friday, July 26, at 7:30 p.m. at the historic Strand Theater, 543 Columbia Road. The concert is free. Jazz Fest, with a Taste of the Caribbean showcases three Berklee groups featuring students from all over the world, including Brazil, Korea, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the United States. Ron Savage, Ensemble Department Chair, and a renowned jazz drummer, is the concerts producer. Performing will be New Voices in Jazz 2, directed Savage, and offering cutting-edge originals and well-known jazz standards. The Caribbean Jazz Fusion Ensemble, directed by Sean Skeete, assistant chair of ensembles, brings a fusion of traditional and modern Caribbean rhythms mixed with jazz improvisation. The Music of the Dominican Republic Ensemble, led by Ricardo Monzon, associate professor of percussion, plays Merengue and Bachata music from Juan Luis Guerra, Milly Quezada, La India, Olga Tan, and others. The concert is made possible by funds from a $480,000 grant received by the Boston Foundation from ArtPlace America. Berklees Office of Community Affairs and Campus Engagement, and other city and arts groups, received portions of that grant from the Boston Foundation to produce cultural activities around the historic Strand Theater and the Uphams Corner MBTA commuter rail station. More Berklee activities are planned for Uphams Corner. The Music Education Department will present KidsJam sessions, while the Music Therapy Department will work with patients in the dementia unit at Uphams Corner Elder Services. The Professional Music Department will dispatch students from the Jazz Revelation Records label to perform at other events.

Allen Bush Director of Media Relations Desk 617 747 2658 Cell 617 529 7303 @BerkleeNews