This outdoor concert will take place on the lawn of the First Baptist Church in JP, and will feature the Fred Woodard Collective. We will be raising funds for the Black Umbrella Project. The musicians are paid by the hosts of the concert; this concert is hosted by New England Jazz Connections in partnership with JP Centre/South Main Streets.

100% of your donation goes to the Black Umbrella Project.

About Fred Woodard :

Hailed as "....an innovative guitarist who executes in a clear, lyrical way..." by Cadence magazine, Woodard leads the Boston-based Fred Woodard Collective. Woodard describes the band's music as, "...straight-ahead jazz spiced with sounds from other styles. These sounds are then adapted to a jazz format." Woodard has performed at events such as The Discover Jazz Festival, The Providence Jazz and Blues Festival, The Kingfield Jazz and Blues Festival and The Iowa City Jazz Festival. In 2002, Woodard was named "Best New Jazz Artist of the Year" by GBOS Magazine. Woodard was also listed in the 2003 edition of Marquis Who's who in America and in the 2004 edition of Marquis Who's Who in the World. In 2006, The Fred Woodard Trio was named "Best Band Jazz" at the 1st annual New England Urban Music Awards. Woodard shares the love of his craft as a teacher at the Roland Hayes School of Music in Roxbury, MA. He says, "It gives me the opportunity to re-think my approach to my instrument. I also get a chance to reach people who wouldn't otherwise get a chance to learn how to play an instrument."

About the Black Umbrella Project:

The mission of the Black Umbrella Project is to propel a shift in the socio-economic narrative by promoting social equity, economic development, and community advocacy through empowering and educating the BI-POC community (Black, Indigenous, and People of color). One of the goals of the Black Umbrella Project is to create visibility for local BIPOC owned businesses by supporting and promoting their products and services.

Your donations will support:

• Black Umbrella Project activities, events and developing programming.
• Ongoing Free vending opportunities for local BIPOC entrepreneurs- Many local pop-up shops and vendor fairs require entrepreneurs to pay to participate. A part of our goal is to continue hosting free vending opportunities throughout Boston.

THANK YOU for your participation and support.