Top Artists Sign Collector's Edition Piano to Benefit Jazz Education
BUENA PARK, Calif. In summer 2006, if you were backstage at the JVC Jazz Festival in New York, the Playboy Jazz Festival in Los Angeles, or California's Monterey Jazz Festival, you may have noticed a Yamaha piano lid grabbing the spotlight.
The International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE) partnered with Yamaha to create a Collector's Edition Yamaha C2 Conservatory Grand Piano with signatures from the world's top jazz artists and personalities. The C2's lid was stripped of its black lacquer finish and gold and silver signatures were inscribed directly into the wood. Each signer wore white gloves to keep the oils within their hands from staining the surface. Yamaha then refinished the surface to make the signatures permanent.
Thirty-eight signatures are featured on the Yamaha C2, including those of Yamaha artists Tony Bennett, Dr. John and Danilo Perez. Other signers included George Benson, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Dave Brubeck, Kenny Burrell, Harry Connick Jr., Jack DeJohnette, Kevin Eubanks, Jimmy Heath, Dave Holland, Boney James, Dave Koz, Joe Lovano, Branford Marsalis, Pat Metheny, Joshua Redman, Sonny Rollins and Dr. Billy Taylor, as well as Clint Eastwood and Hugh Hefner.
IAJE executive producer Steve Baker handled the signings and shipping arrangements, and produced a leather-bound provenance book featuring photos of the artists and letters of authenticity from the three festivals. "This was an incredible partnership effort," says Baker, "and a great experience for everyone. We produced a beautiful one-of-a-kind piano," that was auctioned on e-Bay in partnership with the GRAMMY® Charity Online Auctions in February and sold for $14,600. The winning bidder also received the leather bound book affixed with a personalized name plaque.
All proceeds from the auction of this distinctive piece of jazz history will benefit programs in support of young jazz musicians. "The programs offer young artists extraordinary performance opportunities," Baker says, "such as performing at a reception for all the nominees prior to the GRAMMY® Awards television broadcast."
For more information, visit www.iaje.org or www.grammyfoundation.org.
 Dave Brubeck signs the collector's edition C2 lid. |
Thirty-eight signatures are featured on the Yamaha C2, including those of Yamaha artists Tony Bennett, Dr. John and Danilo Perez. Other signers included George Benson, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Dave Brubeck, Kenny Burrell, Harry Connick Jr., Jack DeJohnette, Kevin Eubanks, Jimmy Heath, Dave Holland, Boney James, Dave Koz, Joe Lovano, Branford Marsalis, Pat Metheny, Joshua Redman, Sonny Rollins and Dr. Billy Taylor, as well as Clint Eastwood and Hugh Hefner.
 Pat Metheny adds his signature. |
All proceeds from the auction of this distinctive piece of jazz history will benefit programs in support of young jazz musicians. "The programs offer young artists extraordinary performance opportunities," Baker says, "such as performing at a reception for all the nominees prior to the GRAMMY® Awards television broadcast."
For more information, visit www.iaje.org or www.grammyfoundation.org.