JAM4PEACE!!
A Celebration of What is Possible

NYCNVC HOME

Jam4Peace was our first multicultural music event and fundraiser exploring what is possible when we let go of our ideas of separation and embrace the beauty of our diversity.






From Al Smith of "Blacksmith"

Last Saturday's Jam4Peace concert hosted by We The World and the New York Council for Nonviolent Communication at the Martin Luther King School on 66th street NYC was a blast! Between the meals, auction, speeches, poems and performances this was a unique and unforgettable evening! Initially, I performed solo on acoustic guitar with help from Manny Tuzman on alto sax.  It was great having the audience sing along and clapping their hands to Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On".  The response was so positive that the organizers asked me to perform again. During the 15 minute intermission, I recruited attending artists and formed a band on the spot--horns, three female backup singers, drums, bass, and keys (including organizers Rick Ulfik, Paige Stapleton, Christie Marie, and Paul Sladkus).  I called this handshake assembly (many whom I just met) ”THE PUT-TOGETHER BAND”.  Bravely, we opened the 2nd half of the show with a Tribute to the late Wilson Pickett (he died last week). Thus, we kicked off "In the Midnight Hour" and "Land of 1000 Dances" (the na...na, na, na na song). I played guitar and sung lead vocals.  The band started kicking. . . The horns were pumping. . . the girls were singing and steppin...and i was screamin (true to Wilson Pickett's style...lol). The result was the entire audience jumped out of their theater seats dancing and partying in the isles!  We ROCKED!!! It was a magical and electrifying experience enjoyed by all.-Al Smith

NYCNVC HOME

"I will never have words to express how deeply grateful I am for the outpouring of support from the NYC Community for this event.  These efforts have brought us a step closer to peace.  I am blessed to be involved with every person who took part, in body and spirit, and honored to continue the work." 

-Thom Bond 
NY Council for Nonviolent Communication.
From Rick Ulfik of We, The World

Expressing what I imagine are the sentiments of the other organizers, the audience and the supporters of the New York Council for Nonviolent Communication and We, The World,  I would like to proclaim my tremendous appreciation for all of your efforts! Between the meals, the auction and the performance this was a unique and unforgettable evening! There were so many high points for me Saturday night:
  • The electrifying energy of the Manhattan Samba band - especially in the cafeteria at the start!!!
  • The sacred beauty of Lygia's Welcome Invocation
  • The positive energy of One Voice
  • The high energy of Al Smith both times he performed - and especially playing with him and all the others in that incredible tribute to Wilson Pickett
  • The intricate and addictive rhythms of Raquy and the Cavemen - especially for me when I joined the dancers in front of the stage and wound up helping to start one of those Middle Eastern line dances with Ina.
  • The incomparable grace and beauty of the PURE belly dancers
  • The down-home grooves of Gary Knox and the Streethearts
  • The flowing soulful songs of Jubilee and Chocolate Thai
  • When Andrew Kaen (ReAwakennd Poet) and Christine Mare (Imov Shakti) enriched the evening with their beautiful poetry
  • When Barbara talked about why giving funds to We, The World actually supports so many organizations and movements that We, The World works with and promotes
  • The background Amy Taliaferro gave about the Season for Nonviolence and the Temple of Understanding
  • The indomitable positive and humorous spirit and energy of Master of Ceremonies Paul Sladkus - even when I was pressuring him to get some of the speakers or performers to finish up!
  • And last but not least, the oceanic guitar textures and beautiful sound of Patti Rothberg & Freddie Katz - and especially their patience and generosity of spirit given that they were at the end of a long program.
NYCNVC HOME