A moment for the Springband

Springband, fatal accident
More than 40 years ago a fatal accident occurred with Willem van Manen's Springband. The band played in Baarle-Nassau in November 1983. After the concert, a van with Springband members returned to Amsterdam. The vehicle slipped off the road due to the storm and came to a stop against a tree. Trumpeter Jeff Reynolds and trombonist Joep Maessen died instantly. Tenor saxophonist Maarten van Norden, trumpeter Louis Lanzing and bassist Harry Miller were seriously injured. Van Norden and Lanzing recovered after a long rehabilitation, but Miller succumbed to his injuries in hospital on December 16, 1983. Van Manen was badly affected and decided to disband his Springband.

The Social Fund for Jazz and Improvising Musicians was founded in March 1984 to support musicians from the Spring Band who were in financial need due to the accident.

Purpose of the fund
The Social Fund for Jazz and Improvising Musicians still exists, but the objective has changed over time. Anyone who works as a jazz or improvising musician can call on the Fund in an emergency. This specifically concerns cases that are not covered by insurance and such.
The Fund does not have narrowly defined rules and criteria, but examines the situation on a case-by-case basis and then makes a decision on what assistance can be provided. This usually concerns an interest-free loan, where sometimes a portion can be waived.

Fund in the spotlight
This afternoon the board of the foundation (Anne Koperdraat, Marcel Kranendonk, Corrie van Binsbergen) is organizing a memorial concert for the three musicians of the Springband who died in 1984. The concert is also intended to give a new boost to the fund. Few musicians know of its existence; there have been no loans for years.

Concert
Short solo performances by
Albert van Veenendaal & Zofia Sofinka Imiela (two grand pianos)
Ab Baars & Martin van Duynhoven (tenor saxophone/drums)
Felicity Provan & Ada Rave (cornet/tenor saxophone)
Nora Mulder & Mary Oliver (piano/violin)

After the break All Ellington:
Jodi Gilbert - vocals
Michael Moore - alto saxophone, clarinet
Ab Baars - tenor saxophone, clarinet
Peter van Bergen - bariton saxophone, clarinet
Eric Boeren - cornet
Jimmy Sernesky - trumpet
Joost Buis, Gregor Sperzel & Maarten Combrink - trombone
Oscar Jan Hoogland - piano
Mauro Cottone - bass
Giacomo Camiletti - drums

Tickets €7,50, €10, €15, €25, €50 or €75:
The proceeds from this concert are intended for the performing musicians of this afternoon. And what remains will benefit the Fund and therefore the musicians who will be supported in the (near or not) future.

In case you cannot attend, but still would like to support SFJIM, please transfer an amount to NL90 TRIO 0198 3521 66, Foundation Social Fund for Jazz and Improvising Musicians.