DAVID ORNETTE CHERRY CELEBRATION: “Our Cherry Jam”

UPDATE!

In case any of you are following this, we have some GREAT news!

We can extend $900 to the event video documentarian, Sean, to edit the footage and produce a full version of the "My Cherry Jam" David Ornette Cherry tribute in Portland, AND a short version (7-15 min)!

ALL of this is thanks to our GoFundMe contributors!

Thank you...may the magic of David live on!

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We have met our goal! GREAT GRATITUDE TO ALL OF YOU! And, we are keeping this GoFundMe open by raising the goal just a little, just in case friends are just catching wind of this. Additional donations will go to paying the video editor, Sean Steward, just a little more, and gifts to local nonprofits that center Black community, in David's name.

Continue to donate and trust we'll make good use of your contribution, and you'll have a celebration of David to watch just as soon as that can happen!

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DEEP GRATITUDE to everyone who has donated thus far!

We are so close to now raising the funds to be able to CREATE an artfully produced video from the footage filmed by Sean Steward of "Our Cherry Jam," honoring David!

It was a beautiful celebration of David--with music, dance (and dancing!), and storytelling testimony of who he was as a musician, artist, creative collaborator, and friend. We'd love to be able to share it with family and friends who were not able to attend.

If you can help with that (in any amount), we appreciate it!

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“Our Cherry Jam” is a jazz storytelling happening in the spirit of David Cherry’s Organic Nation Listening Club vision and will feature his compositions, concepts, visual art, and soundtracks as a community celebration of Cherry’s innovative art and creative action.

Organizers are seeking donations in order to pay the musicians and dancers, and offset event production costs. Thank you, in advance, for your contribution to this celebration, in support of the artists who have invested their time and energy to this tribute honoring our friend and collaborator, David.

UPDATE: Two donors have paid for the space rental, and an extraordinary philanthropist has funded the $4,000 goal to pay the artists. We still need $1500 to fund video editing for an archival video + additional production costs. Any amount raised above the goal will go toward a donation in David's memory to Dr. S. Renee Mitchell-founded Soul Restoration Center on Killingsworth, and to our host Alberta House.

This gathering is an opportunity for all of us who loved and admired David to celebrate his gifts of creative expression and his generous presence,” said Susan Banyas, event producer, collaborator, and friend. “He offered encouragement to many—a great legacy. He created new kinds of music, music rooted in culture and spirituality, music happenings, music for dance, and theatre. David was also a painter and poet. We Hear Too Fast—his philosophy in words and paintings, in a booklet form—will be offered to those who gather as part of the evening, so that his thoughts on music and life will be remembered and continue to nourish the creative spirits he touched, and those he will continue to touch.”

DAVID ORNETTE CHERRY CELEBRATION

“Our Cherry Jam”

An Organic Nation Listening Club Tribute

MUSIC • STORYTELLING • VISUAL ART • DANCE

Thursday, April 13 | 7-9pm (doors @ 6pm)

Historic Alberta House, 5131 NE 23rd, Portland, Oregon

Performance, Beverages, Snacks, Desserts, Community Celebration

“OUR CHERRY JAM” FEATURES:

Jazz Ensemble

Gordon Lee, piano

Renato Caranto, saxophone

Shao Way Wu, bass

Tim DuRoche, drums

Israel Annoh, percussion and African drums

Norman Sylvester, guitar

LaRhonda Steele, vocals

Dance/Theatre Ensemble

Gregg Beilemeier

Stephanie Schaaf

Celine Boule

Intisar Abioto

Susan Banyas

Renee Ward

PRODUCTION TEAM

Bill Boese, lighting

Nicole Lane, publicity

Brenda Morgan, documentation

Olivia Sitea Walters, food

Sean Steward, videographer

Susan Banyas, producer

For an amazing deep dive into the life and world of David Ornette Cherry, read this tribute written by his longtime friend and artistic collaborator, Susan Banyas, on Oregon ArtsWatch. HERE