BLUES FOR THE CAUSE...GARY CLARK JR.

LIVE AT

KENNY DORHAM'S BACKYARD
with Matthew Robinson and the Central East Band, and special guest, touring jazz trumpeter Russell Gunn

Austin Blues Masters Series•Friday Sept 4, 2009•gates@8pm•reserved seating avail
Grilled Soul Food • Cash Bar • Outside under the stars

DiverseArts is happy to announce that Gary Clark Jr has offered to come to our aid and headline an exclusive fundraising show at Kenny Dorham's Backyard this Friday, September 4. One of our Blues Masters events, this Friday’s show brings together two generations of Austin homegrown blues guitar talent as the youthful Clark is joined on the bill by Matthew Robinson and the Central East Band, one of Austin’s hottest veteran guitarist and blues-shouters---an East Side Blues standard-bearer. The surprise-featured guest for the evening is touring jazz trumpeter Russell Gunn. In town for his Tribute to Kenny Dorham concert on Saturday at St. James, Russell will make an appearance at KDs Backyard and give us a sample of why he is creating such buzz and garnering Grammy nominations for his fiery trumpet work.

Round out the evening with some good food from Clifford Gillard’s grill (from the Victory Grill Café), some ice cold beverages, and a cool breeze and you’ve got a perfect night for some live blues---and a good night to help raise some funds for a good cause!

DiverseArts is, and has been for years, the most prolific nonprofit producer of cultural programs along East Austin's 11th Street District. The organization now finds itself very much in need of public support in order to continue its programming mission. This event, like other DiverseArts programs at Kenny Dorham's Backyard, is meant to not only raise funds, but also to emphasize the importance of the organization's work to preserve, present, and document the African American cultural legacy of the newly designated East Austin Cultural Heritage District. The goal of the fundraiser is to spur interest in and boost the fundraising efforts of DiverseArts during the current period of economic recession and provide immediate support for the organization's fall season of programs and ongoing engagement in East Side cultural preservation.

Recognizing the need, and wanting to do something to help bring attention to the Cultural Heritage District and the work of DiverseArts, Austin's most prominent rising star on the international blues scene, Gary Clark, Jr, has offered up his talent and time for the event.

Gary Clark Jr. began his blues music career at the age of 13. He plays a variety of instruments; guitar, harmonica, bass, and drums. Gary has opened for various acts such as Gatemouth Brown, Bobby Blue Bland, Texas Johnny Brown, Jimmie Vaughn, and Joe Ely. During his career Gary has released two CD's; "Worry No More" (2002) and "110" (2004).
www.garyclarkjr.com

Matthew Robinson’s guitar playing and style of blues-shout singing sets him apart from most of Austin’s bluesmen. A hometown product of East Austin, Matthew has been an active and key player in the progression---and preservation---of East Side Blues since he was a teenager. Honing his chops as a youngster in onstage with T.D. Bell, W.C. Clark, Major Burkes, James Polk and others, Matthew finds himself in the position of being one of the remaining elders of that scene. Now with several international tours and a few critically acclaimed records (on Dailtone) to his credit, Matthew has earned the status but does not get the attention he deserves here in River City. Though a young 62, his style and stage presence is exciting and anything but predictable. Get ready for a sweat-soaked, high energy set!

Russell Gunn, a modern day jazz legend, infuses elements of Cuban, Brazilian, African, "Go Go", and Hip Hop music in his original jazz works. He has performed with a variety of artists ranging from Wynton Marsalis, Cee-Low of the hip hop group the Goodie Mob, and neo soul artist, Maxwell. During his career, he has released two CD's; "Young Gunn" (1994) and Grammy nominated "Ethnomusicology, Vol. 1" (2000).
www.russellgunn.com

Come join us!
www.diversearts.org

Media Sponsor•Austin Chronicle