Though Jazz for Peace was sparked by Rick
DellaRatta's desire to foster harmony among
musicians from conflicting cultures, its mission
has evolved to encompass causes of both local
and international scope. In keeping with its
emphasis on jazz's ability to effect positive
change, Jazz for Peace will visit Philadelphia
to help the Visitation Blessed Virgin Mother
Parish to restore handicapped access to its
church. Though Della Ratta is something of a
zealot where his genre of choice is concerned
(he sees jazz as a vehicle for bringing
''enlightenment to our species,'' he lets the
music do his proselytizing for him, often
marshaling the help of special guests like Eddie
Gomez, Lenny White, Paquito D'Rivera and the
London Symphony Orchestra. It's anyone's guess
which musicians may form the back-up band for
his visit to Visitation, but the concert is apt
to expand the cult of this charismatic
singer/pianist, who was recently named to a list
of the 500 greatest jazz vocalists of all time
(in 'Jazz Singers,' a book by Scott Yanow). -- Julia
Clinger(Photo: Rick DellaRatta)
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