JE suis philanthropy

A Trilogy of Music for 2007

13.07.2007

LAfter a surprising amount of angst we have finally chosen our three performances for the 2007 season of fine, inspiring, cutting edge, music. The angst rose out of the fact that we were negotiating to get Coco’s Lunch, an a capella group who are currently taking Melbourne by storm, but they proved to be just tooooo expensive. No matter how we did the sums, and how optimistic we were about what people would pay for tickets, we couldn’t see anything but a nasty loss ahead of us, and no matter how altruistic we both are, a loss is a loss is a loss!!

That was disappointing but we recovered rapidly. Believe me! Read on!

This is our fifth year of JE Suis Philanthropy Concerts at Bungalook, in the Jakobi’s beautiful straw bale studio. and we felt it called for a celebration. The two of us will, by the end of this year, have staged 15+ concerts and paid over $2000 to various charitable causes. We have stuck to our original concept of only putting on music we have heard live and liked so much that we wanted to hear it again and share it with our friends and community. We wanted it to be THE BEST! It had to be inspiring or heart-warming, or technically brilliant or something......…..to have some quality that made you catch your breath. On the whole we think we have achieved this, though as I commented last year, sometimes things go a tad pear shaped and we catch our breath in a different way and wonder what our audience is thinking! That is what is so special about live music……. something unexpected can happen.

One of our other aims was to always serve real coffee, tea from tea pots, and real home made cakes for supper and with the help of generous friends we’ve done that too. Our thanks to Rosemary Kavadis, and Penny Kerr for the many cakes and scones, and to Dennis Pitt of Arrandene Coffee for the coffee.! And our exceptional husbands Rick and Brian have been with us all the way…..so thanks to you two too.

Most of the decisions we make are either by emails or over lunches in town. The lunches in particular are the driving force, the engine of energy, that keeps JE Suis alive and kicking and fun. Over one such lunch this year we decided that to mark the 5th year we should show case fine local music... Up to now our musicians have always come from elsewhere: Victoria, NSW, Queensland and this year from WA, but not once have we invited anyone local. We both believe, fundamentally, in supporting the Arts locally and we both feel that a community that does not nurture its artists is a thin, wishy washy affair and deserves to lose them! So our decision for this year and hereafter is that we will try to always show case the best of local music. If you to stop to think about it, where can you see our local musicians?

So, to the program:-

On Saturday August 18th at 7.30pm we have asked “Doris” to be our guests. They are a popular female duo from WA who sing thought provoking lyrics with touches of wry humour. They write the original melodies and then work-shop the soaring harmonies to go with them. Jane Cornes and Margie Hanley accompany themselves on guitar. They are articulate, honest and highly entertaining....….a duo for the noughties! Pithy, succinct, stylish………and musically sparkling. You’ll love ‘em!!

On Saturday October 6th at 7.30pm we are asking 3 local musicians who have impressed us to take the stage for 30 minutes each. First will be Julie Lockhart from Walpa. She will play classical piano…..our first foray into classical music. When I was first told about Julie someone said that she could have been a concert pianist had she chosen to be, and I have to say I took it with a grain of salt. but when I finally heard her I had to agree. She is an outstanding pianist and we are most fortunate to have her in our community. If you have an interest in fine music, played with great technical assurance and perfect emotional warmth, you could not do better than Julie!

At the time of completing this newsletter we are still in negotiation with the second musician./singer……..all will be revealed via the newspapers in due course.

Third will be Phillippe Grauer, playing blues on piano and harmonica. I’ve heard him play in his tin shed and even there, in that “blokey” place, it was heart warming, fullsome stuff! He will show case some of his own compositions and also play in fine Gypsy/Indian/Tango style on the piano accordion Phillippe is an unusual and unique musician whose music has been influenced, amongst other things, by his long and fruitful wanderings through India. Don’t miss him!

Our third and final night is on Saturday 24th November when we have asked Nicole Murray and John Thompson of Cloudstreet from Queensland to return for another show. Some shows are just special. And have to be heard again! Those of you who have been with us for a while will remember that we asked the Stiletto Sisters/ Cosmo Cosmolina to come back for a return season because we thought they were special too. Cloudstreet has won the day for all sorts of reasons. The blend of their voices is really exceptional, the flute playing is lovely, we love their choice of music in the English, Irish and Australian folk tradition, their exquisite harmonies, and the music and lyrics they write themselves are outstanding. They are also very, very nice people and they liked us and loved the venue……….all of which helps no end!! They have been touring in the UK and in NZ this year and are coming to Victoria specially for us. If you want an evening to lift your soul, warm your heart and give you a laugh, ready for the Christmas season, I can think of no one better than Cloudstreet.

All the tickets cost $25, which includes supper. Children 14 and under, accompanied by an adult, are free. The tickets are available from Soundwaves in Lakes Entrance 5155 2662 and The Nichol;son St Gallery in Bairnsdale 5153 1988 and will be available 4 weeks before each show. Bungalook Studio is at 252 Colquhuon Rd Lakes Entrance.

We hope to see you there!

Josephine Jakobi 5155 2464

Elizabeth Blakeman 5155 7383

JE Suis Philanthropy