Wayne Horvitz is best known as a composer and keyboard player, mentor to young musicians, “downtown” New York jazzbo and part owner of The Royal Room, the Columbia City neighborhood’s great music venue. What you might not know is that Horvitz is also an amazingly generous man, a fellow who freely gives of his personal talent and the resources at his disposal to help others.
Solid Ground first partnered with Wayne in 2003 when we produced Songs for Shelter: Seattle Musicians Helping Homeless Families. Horvitz and his partner Robin Holcomb’s haunting take on the classic I’ve Been All Around This World set the tone as the project’s first track. (It’s also the only track he has released with his own vocals!) More than just contributing the track, Horvitz’s involvement helped bring other performers into the project and raised the visibility of the disc and our CD release concert. Songs for Shelter raised over $20,000 to fund our Broadview program for woman and children exiting domestic violence and homelessness.
See below for an opportunity to support this supporter!
In 2014, Horvitz was the host and music director for A Heart Needs a Home — a Richard Thompson tribute concert featuring guitar legend Bill Frisell — that benefited our housing for formerly homeless families. The Royal Room hosted the show, one of a long series of benefits that it has supported for a variety of community causes.
On May 19, The Royal Room continues its support of efforts to address homelessness by hosting Mi casa es tu casa, a benefit concert for the Seattle-King County Coalition on Homelessness. Horvitz and his team brought together a fantastic lineup of local Latin performers for an evening of high-energy music. I’m a member of the coalition’s Board of Directors. When I suggested the show to Horvitz, he immediately jumped on board and offered to use his contacts and the club to create what I’m sure will be a magical night. The performers he invited were thrilled to participate, in part because they know if Horvitz is invested in the project, it is worthwhile.
Horvitz’s credentials as a composer and performer are unprecendented. Many of his creative endeavors mine the vein of progressive politics through our nation’s history, including signature works about Joe Hill, the Everett Massacre and others. Read on to learn about an opportunity to honor Horvitz’ work by helping his new project become a reality.
You Can Help Support the Supporter!
Wayne Horvitz is now uncharacteristically asking for a little help. He recently completed a major composition called Those Who Remain (For Orchestra & Improvising Soloist) and is using the crowd-source platform Hatchfund to raise the money needed to create a professional recording of the piece.
In the spirit of supporting those who have been there, time and again, to support our community, I personally ask you to join me in supporting Wayne Horvitz and this project. Please look at the posting on Hatchfund and consider pitching in. As we build community toward a better world for us all, it’s important to honor and support those who support our work! Thanks.
And when you are done at Hatchfund, head on over to buy a ticket for Mi casa es tu casa! You’ll be glad you did!
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