A LIFE OF MUSIC Recently, local musician and conductor, Dan Bassett was named by the Miami Herald as one of twenty local artists under the age of forty who are already making an impact in the arts in South Florida. Only four of the artists chosen were musicians and Bassett was the only gay-affiliated artist.

Bassett has been the conductor of the South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble, based in Fort Lauderdale, for five years. Recently I caught up with Bassett to talk about their upcoming 25th anniversary concert. The band’s concert will be held on November 6 and is titled “The Classics” and will also feature a holiday concert on December 15 with the Pride Jazz Ensemble and the Fort Lauderdale Women’s Chorus.

In Bassett’s words “expect to be incredibly entertained with some of the most challenging music we’ve performed. I am so proud of the Wind Ensemble … prepare for a fantastic evening.” The event will once again be held at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.

In addition to the wind ensemble, Bassett also conducts the South Florida Pride Jazz Ensemble and Marching Band.

Among Bassett’s biggest accomplishments was a national conference of gay and lesbian bands in New Orleans in the fall of 2009. As artistic director he conducted a 180 piece concert band and coordinated the first Lesbian Gay Band Association (LGBA) Honor Jazz Ensemble with sixtime Grammy Award-winner, Gary Burton as guest soloist and John Mahoney of Loyola University as conductor.

In addition to conducting, Bassett is also an accomplished trumpeter. He has been a featured soloist with the Singing Sons Boychoir, Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus, MCC Sunshine Cathedral and South Florida Wind Ensemble. As church musician, he spent fourteen years at the MCC Sunshine Cathedral as trumpeter and instrumental coordinator.

South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble

CONCERT FOR BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

The Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School Lightning Singers will combine efforts with the South Florida Lambda Chorale to present “Sing for the Cure: A Proclamation of Hope,” in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Susan B. Komen for the Cure South Florida. The concert will take place on Thursday, October 28, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. in the Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School Auditorium, 1410 County Line Road, Miami.

Tickets for this one-night concert are $15 and available from the Lambda Chorale members and the students beginning Monday, October 11 or at the door.

For more information contact Gary Keating Lambdagary@aol.com or (954) 650-0143.

COME JOIN A LONG-AGO ERA

Slick back your hair or put on an amazing flapper dress because the Poverello Center is transporting you back to the ‘20s — a time before the Great Depression when modernization, economic growth as well as social progression seemed all encompassing and radio became prolific and with that the sweet jazz music and the Charleston.

Part of that transformation happens as you walk into the Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum where 35 beautifully restored Packards, which were considered the Rolls Royce automobiles from America in their day, along with literally a plethora of early automotive memorabilia will be on display to further your “Roaring 20’s” experience. Not only that, our very own jazz songtress, Kimona with be performing jazz standards from Cole Porter, Fred Astaire, Ella Fitzgerald and Shirley Bassey for your dancing and listening pleasure.

But it doesn’t stop there. The Great Gatsby Gala is pulling out all the stops with an open bar (no Prohibition here) and delicious cuisine provided by Fort Lauderdale’s own Chef Ron Kerr. The menu consists of such items as Miso Glazed Scallops, Stuffed Risotto Croquettes, Braised Short Ribs and ending with such things as Double-Dipped Chocolate Truffle Lollipops.

Finally, Poverello presents a live, as well as a silent auction with items as varied as a sightseeing helicopter ride to Miami and back, lunch with the Wilton Manors Mayor Gary Resnick, and an authentic guitar signed by the famed rock band, Styxx. There is much, much more offered and for a complete listing please go to www.poverello.org

FLORIDA AGENDA TOY DRIVE EXPANDING

A few weeks ago I announced that Florida Agenda would be sponsoring a Holiday Toy Drive kicking off on November 1st. I am very happy to announce our first drop off site: Island City Health and Fitness in the Shoppes of Wilton Manors! In addition to toys, we are also expanding the toy drive to include items for the Broward County Humane Society. Items can be droppedoff during regular business hours. We will also have brightly decorated drop boxes available and any business who would like to help with the collection, we’ll be happy to bring a box to their location. We will periodically pick up the deposited items and bring them to our central collection area. Please contact me at dalemadison1@aol.com or call my cell at (954) 478-2415.

Have an event you’d like to see in this column?

Please email me at dalemadison1@ aol.com

]]>

TUESDAY’S ANGELS KICK-OFF DINNER Join the members and friends of Tuesday’s Angels on Tuesday, October 5 at Primavera Restaurant at 830 E. Oakland Park Boulevard in Oakland Park. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. with dinner served at 7:15 p.m. This new season of dinners to benefit Tuesday’s Angels will feature a new full bar a Primavera. Reservations must be made by this Sunday, October 3. The charge for dinner is $20 and includes all food items. Reservations can be made simply by emailing blakemored@bellsouth.net or by calling Dan at (954) 463-7345. Cocktails and wine are $5, beer is $3 and soft drinks are $1.

SUNSERVE RECEIVES GENEROUS GIFT This week, SunServe announced a gift from long-time volunteer therapist and board member, Steven Schwabish. The gift will underwrite the Medical Director for SunServe’s mental health services allowing SunServe to become a Medicaid provider. With this d e s i g n a t i o n , SunServe will be able to serve more clients and will have enhanced revenue opportunities. Schwabish is making this gift in honor of his mother, Shirley Schwabish Margolies. Mrs. Margolies’ work in health care most of her life. This gift, to assist in mental health care, would make her smile. Schabish has volunteered for SunServe for the past four years. He received his undergraduate degree and masters at Tulane University. For more information about SunServe, please call (954) 764-5150.

“THAT ‘70S PARTY” Do you have your tickets yet for “That ‘70s Party” slated for Thursday, October 7 at the Manor Entertainment Complex in Wilton Manors? It’s to benefit Team 995 for this year’s Smart Ride. The Smart Ride is a 165-mile ride from Miami to Key West and will take place November 19 and 20 with proceeds going to six HIV/AIDS charities in South Florida. “That ‘70s Party”will feature internationally known deejay, Robbie Leslie who is well-known for his time at Studio 54 and The Saint in New York. Also featured will be gold and platinum-album award-winning Styxx’s co-founder and bass guitarist, Chuck Panozzo. Tickets for the party are available at Juiceblendz and The Manor with general admission tickets$ 20 and VIP tickets.

SHORT TAKE Introducing Radio Red Hispana, WHIV. Log on to redhispanaFl.org for news, interviews, event information, music and much more. Red Hispana Florida is dedicated to those living in South Florida with free oral HIV testing, referrals and counseling to the HIV community. For more information, call (954) 462-8889. That’s it for this week. Do you have an event you’d like to promote here?

Send details to Dalemadison1@aol.com