The band, with Susan Earle on jazz vocals, features musicians from Djug Django (Brian Earle, clarinet, Doug Robinson, guitar, and Bernie Upson, bass) and the Hot Foot Club (Molly MacMillan, keyboard, and Michael Wellen, drums). They play vintage jazz standards for swing dancers and toe-tapping listeners.

All tickets sold raise scholarship funds for members of the CSMA Ithaca Children's Choir -Chorale and Young Men - to go on a music tour of Italy this summer. On the tour, the young people will be singing at churches throughout the country in a ten-day period, including during a Sunday mass at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. It should be a great cross-cultural adventure for them and for the audiences who get to hear their unique choral repertoire of African-American gospel hymns, Yiddish songs, and Celtic-American folk songs.

The teenagers of these two choral groups, and their families, have been fund-raising all year to fill a large gap - many in the Chorale and Chorus are unable to pay the full fare - and so all have been selling donuts, washing cars, and giving concerts to raise money for everyone to go.

"My daughter has gotten so much out of singing with the Chorale these past four years. I really wanted to support them on this ambitious tour this summer," said Susan Earle. "The band is donating their time, and CSMA is providing the space, chorale members are baking desserts - it should be a fun evening!"

The ticket price of $10 includes light refreshments - baked goods and punch. Students are admitted for $6 with valid i.d. The music starts at 7 p.m. The space is air-conditioned and has a great dance floor. The 3rd floor performance space of CSMA is located at 328 E. State St., elevator-accessible from parking lot. Call 272-1474 for more information.

Originally published Thursday, June 23, 2005