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July 13, 2006

Justice Music Project Benefit CD Release Jams

Equip for Equality is proud to work with Goose Island in Wrigleyville to present the first Justice Music Project Benefit CD Release Party - this Friday, July 14, 9pm at 3535 N Clark Street in Chicago.

To help unveil the first JMP benefit CD, three bands selected for the Project plus one guest band will perform live this Friday at Goose Island in Wrigleyville. We hope you will attend this very special evening emcee'd by Equip for Equality's advocate extraordinaire, Kevin Irvine. Tickets are only $8 and all proceeds support Equip for Equality's disability rights advocacy services.

The acts: El Esqueleto, a hidden soon-to-be- discovered gem in the mines of Chicago's diverse folk community, is a singer/songwriter whose very first public performance was at EFE's 2006 Open House. His Dylanesque set of originals with some acoustic guitar/harmonica covers of such bands as Pink Floyd, is a study in edgy understatement. We are sure to see great things from this emerging young artist.
Annie Higgins - who is also a social worker assisting people with traumatic brain injuries - recorded her most recent solo album with Bjorn Thorsrud, producer of the Smashing Pumpkins. Annie - whose influences include Nina Simon, Joni Mitchell and Imogen Heap - will sing and perform on piano with cello accompaniment.

Ash in Pensacola is a hip, quirky chamber-pop quartet with a recently released debut album entitled "When We First Met." Kenneth Pritchard, on guitar, has been performing in groups since age fifteen; Seth Gruenwald, a classically trained cellist and composer, serves as both the bassist and string arranger; Matt Roan, a prolific rock drummer in the music community, joined the group after being recruited to fill in for a single performance; and Melinda (Mindi) Maneck, whose melodious voice enjoys perfect pitch, claims influences from Aretha Franklin to Kelly Clarkson.

The evening cranks up about ten notches with finale guest band Phistine Verona, formed in the Spring of 2001 when singer/guitarist, Ed Shafer, formerly of Foo, met ex-Room 19 drummer, Jim Nagrant. Next to join was Mike Greaney, former guitar player of the Dyslexic Apaches. The final piece was put into place when Duke Dice, formerly of St. Louis experimental noise rockers Ant Man Bee joined the band to share bass, keyboard, and guitar duties. Phistine Verona has since performed throughout the midwest and the east coast. Venues include: The Metro and The Double Door in Chicago, The High Dive and The Cowboy Monkey in Champaign, The Patio in Indianapolis, The Rhythm Room and The Hi Fi Club in Cleveland, and CBGB's, Arlene's Grocery, and The Continental in New York. Ranging in influences from punk to pop to new wave, Phistine Verona is simply, music to be heard.

For anyone unable to attend this Friday or for those who just want more JMP in their lives - one of Chicago's premiere indie music venues, Martyrs' , is hosting JMP's 2nd CD Release Concert on July 20th, featuring Helicopters, The Foster-Walker Complex, Stanley Ross, and Skybox. See our website at www.equipforequality.org/jmp for more details on this concert and on how to order the JMP Benefit CD online!

Posted by Lisa Di Lorenzo