Evening of Jazz to Benefit July Festival

A benefit to help fund the New Rochelle Jazz Festival will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

The New Rochelle Sister City Committee will present pianist and composer Bob Baldwin in Concert at the Top of the Roc, and will feature Regan Whiteside and Porter Carroll. There will also be a guest performance by the Brian Carter Trio with Thiago Phinero JAZZ.

The funds raised will go toward paying artists and travel expenses for the festival, which will be held July 8-10, Carter said.

He said the Sister City Committee is dedicated to continuing a relationship with La Rochelle, France.

"We have been doing that musically," Carter said, "by sending artists to go over there and come back."

Many of the musicians in the July festival will be from the area. "They live in New Rochelle, Mamaroneck, Larchmont, Mount Vernon," he said. "It just gives us a chance to play."

Downtown restaurants will have kick-off bands playing July 8 and there will be free jazz concerts July 9 and 10, Carter said.

The benefit Saturday will be at the Top of the Roc, 255 Huguenot St. in New Rochelle. For ticket information and to make reservations, visit the New Rochelle Downtown Business Improvement District.