Pasadena Star News
The jazz was cool and the gumbo was steaming hot for An Evening for the Station, the seventh annual dinner and concert to benefit Pasadena’s Union Station, the largest social service agency assisting the poor and homeless in the western San Gabriel Valley.
The always sold-out event attracts some of the best musicians in the business for the yearly jam session staged at the L.A. Music Academy on South Fair Oaks Avenue. This year’s talent-all donated-included Adam Arkin, who emceed and also sat in on the drums; singers Jean Baylor and Kevyn Lettau; saxophonist Eric Marienthal; drummer Michael Shapiro; bassist Jerry Watts Jr.; guitarist Robben Ford; and the incredible Yellow Jackets-Russell Ferrante, Jimmy Haslip and Marcus Baylor.
Caterer Barbara West provided the soul food and Emma’s Bakery of Pasadena created the array of desserts. An Evening for the Station has quickly become a collaborative passion for everyone involved, from the station volunteers and committee to the musicians, faculty and students at the academy. Co-chairmen Jennifer Essen and Sherry Kircheimer report that the event netted more than $120,000, which will assist 2,300 needy local people with meals, shelter and supportive services at no cost. The station will serve more than 155,000 meals and provide 31,000 nights of shelter this year.