Sweet sensations
Let scrumptious bites . . . sweet chocolate delights,
and sensational music feed your soul . . .
while you help in the fight against pancreatic cancer.
Featuring WICN jazz host Tyra Penn (right) on vocals,
Jerry Seeco (left) on trumpet and vocals, and Jim Rice on piano (Musician bios below), buffet dinner from Viva Bene, chocolate treats from Something Sweet by Michelle, a silent auction, raffle and more.Thanks to all for your support in making this event a huge success. The goodness of all our sponsors — and particularly the incredibly talented and generous musicians Jerry Seeco, Tyra Penn and Jim Rice — made it happen. Click for pictures from Sweet Sensations, you won't want to miss out next time!
All proceeds benefited the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund at UMass Medical School.
Presenting sponsor
Sponsors
Kurlan Music,
Miles Press,
Something Sweet by Michelle,
Telegram & Gazette,
UMass Memorial Foundation,
Westboro Toyota, and
WICN Radio
About the musicians
New England jazz fans know Tyra Penn as the voice of “A Tasteful Blend” and “Jazz New England” on WICN 90.5 FM. Featured vocalist of the Worcester-based swing and blues band the Red Riders since 2003, she also leads her own band, Tyra Penn and her Army of Snakes, a quintet that blends jazz, folk-rock, and Middle Eastern music. Tyra began her career as a professional vocalist in her early twenties as a regular performer at Gentry on Halsted in Chicago’s hip Boys Town neighborhood. She has performed at such premier Massachusetts jazz clubs as Ryles and the Acton Jazz Cafe, and has played with many outstanding musicians, including pianists Sai Ghose, Mike Valdez, and Molly Flannery; bassists Chuck Gabriel, Dave Zox, and Roger Kimball, and Worcester's favorite oud player, Ed Melikian.Jerry Seeco is an incredibly prolific musician – vocalist, arranger, teacher, and performer on trumpet, flugelhorn, flute and alto flute. He is an Assistant Professor at Berklee College of Music, where he has been on the faculty for more than twenty years. He has appeared at the Boston Globe Jazz Festival with the Ryles Jazz Orchestra and as guest conductor and performer with the Pops Orchestra of Xalapa, Mexico, and the Thayer Symphony. Jerry performs regularly with the Paradise Big Band in Key West, the Worcester Jazz Orchestra, and the Tito Puente Tribute Band. In the pop world, he has played horn with Aretha Franklin, Neil Sedaka, Wayne Newton, Della Reese, and Leslie Gore, and he has shared jazz stages with such renowned artists as Arturo Sandoval, Chick Corea, Slide Hampton, Jon Faddis, Bobby Shew, Gary Burton and Jacki Bayrd.
Worcester native Jim Rice has made a name for himself around the world as an accomplished and diverse music director, arranger, and pianist. He was conductor for the European-Broadway tour of Ken Hill’s “Phantom of the Opera,” pianist for the Broadway production of “Grease” in Zurich, and toured nationally with “Man of La Mancha” and “Camelot.” Other credits include The American Stage Festival (NH), North Shore Music Theatre (MA), Stoneham Theatre (MA), The Tennessee Williams Fine Art Center (FL), Ogunquit Playhouse (ME), and The Westside Arts and Westbank Theatres (NYC). Locally, Jim served as music director for numerous shows at Worcester Foothills Theatre, where his original music and arrangements are featured in an annual production of “A Christmas Carol.” He is creator and music director for the Louis Prima-Keely Smith tribute show, Primavera, and also accompanies, directs, and arranges for many national and local jazz and cabaret artists. His orchestrations for singers have been performed by symphonies around the US.
