An all-star lineup featuring saxophonists Rafael Leafar, Jake Shadik, guitarist Ralph Tope, pianist Rick Roe, bassists Kurt Krahnke and Jeff Pedraz, and drummers Nick Collins, Jesse Kramer, Jonathan Barahal Taylor, and Alex White will be performing at Blue LLama Jazz Club (314 S Main St, Ann Arbor) on Thursday August 25 (7pm – 10:15pm).
This is a concert of music written by local jazz musician Glenn Tucker, who was forced into retirement at 28 in 2018 by severe myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), a harrowing disease the medical field has long neglected.
Two recent studies found that half of Long COVID cases —those experiencing complications following a COVID infection—are actually COVID-onset ME. Another study estimates there are nationally 22 million Long COVID cases and 669,000 in Michigan alone.
This concert, which will include a free live stream, aims to raise awareness for Long COVID and ME, and to raise money for the COVID-19 Longhauler Advocacy Project, which seeks, among other things, to provide financial assistance to Longhaulers struggling financially—for instance, single parents who have yet to be approved for disability—and to advocate for patient-led research.
While Glenn is unable to attend this concert, he has hand-picked musicians with whom he has collaborated extensively and curated a set list of music composed between 2008 and 2016, which includes uplifting music from his albums Determination and Abundances, which he completed in the early years of his illness.
This show has a $20 cover, all of which will go to the COVID-19 Longhauler Advocacy Project. Further donations are encouraged via Venmo @C19LAP, subject “Blue LLama.” Live stream can be watched via this link.
Blue LLama Jazz Club 314 S Main St., Ann Arbor. www.bluellamaclub.com. 734-372-3200.
