Show Of Hands : Giovanni Hidalgo Benefit Concert

by [email protected] in London, England, United Kingdom

We did it
On 26th September 2017 we successfully raised £6,725 with 68 supporters in 35 days

Our aim is to raise £8000 to produce a fund raising concert, for the legendary Puerto Rican percussionist Giovanni Hidalgo.

by [email protected] in London, England, United Kingdom

We  encourage you to support us in our efforts to finance and produce a benefit concert at the Jazz Cafe on the 4th October 2017, featuring the legendary Puerto Rican percussionist, Giovanni Hidalgo.

Giovanni Hidalgo

Born in Puerto Rico, San Juan, Giovanni is widely regarded as the greatest conguero (conga player) of his generation. Giovanni has played with artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, McCoy Tyner, Art Blakey, Paul Simon and Carlos Santana to name but a few. Technically flawless, musically peerless, Giovanni has relentlessly pushed the boundaries of what is possible as a percussionist. This is an artist who has changed the way we think about percussion ; he has established a new language in the conga playing tradition.

Why are we crowdfunding?

Giovanni was recently diagnosed with type two diabetes. This has caused him to have to adapt his playing style, and he now faces a future of expensive medical costs. This is why we are producing a benefit concert in Giovanni's honour, as your donations and the proceeds from the concert will go directly towards producing the concert and his medical bills in America. 

The first time I heard about Giovanni’s condition was in March 2017. I was stunned. My thoughts were drawn to how Giovanni and his family were coping with this new condition. Speaking to Giovanni, I learned that with an open mind and heart, and utilising the Sabar (Senegalese) drumming technique of hand and stick, he has been able to take this set back beautifully in his stride.

I was moved to show my support for Giovanni and later heard about a team of top Latin Jazz musicians coming together to organise a fund raising concert for Giovanni in the Bronx in New York, at the Lehman College of Performing Arts. This inspired me to  pick up the baton in the UK, galvanising the UK and European community of drummers, with support and sponsorship from the world renowned instrument-making companies LP (Latin Percussion), DW Drums, GEWA and Protection Racket, who have all kindly donated some of the pledge rewards.

Sola Akingbola

I am Sola Akingbola - percussionist and band member of Jamiroquai for the past 22 years. Jamiroquai are one of the few bands that still regard percussion as an integral part of their musical framework. I have recorded several studio albums and embarked upon numerous world tours. Jamiroquai are currently on a summer and European tour - Automaton - that will reach its climax in South America at the end of the year.

London's Jazz Cafe

I and my team are honoured to be working with this incredible artist. By bringing Giovanni to the UK, and producing this benefit concert at the Jazz Cafe in London on the 4th October 2017 -  we offer a rare opportunity to percussionists, drummers, musicians and the general public, to experience the phenomenon that is Giovanni Hidalgo. This will be a night of explosive Afro-Latin jazz-funk. 

Where the funds will go

Join us in our efforts and commitment to supporting  Giovanni through this difficult period. All donations received here will help with Giovanni's medical bills and contribute to the cost of producing the fund-raising concert at the Jazz Cafe. Production costs include:

. REHEARSAL SPACE

. MUSICIANS

. VENUE HIRE

. BACKLINE CREW

. FOOD

. TRANSPORTATION

. MARKETING

. FILMING AND PHOTOGRAPHY

THANK YOU

Be my guest, and join me on this journey, maybe I will even see you backstage! Let's have a #ShowofHands for Giovanni Hidalgo.  

Thank you,

Sola Akingbola

Rewards

This project offers rewards in return for your donation. Please select a reward below.

£15 or more

4 of 75 claimed

£15 Reward

NEW REWARD - Tickets to the Jazz Cafe benefit concert on 4th October 2017. You will find your name on the Crowd funder guest-list for the night. Thank you for your contribution and we look forward to seeing there!

£25 or more

6 of 10 claimed

£25 Reward

Drumheads signed by Giovanni Hidalgo.

£30 or more

4 of 75 claimed

£30 Reward

NEW REWARD - Tickets for you and a friend to join us at the Jazz Cafe benefit concert on 4th October 2017 . Pledge here and we will add your name to the Crowd Funder guest list with a plus 1. Thank you for your contribution and we look forward to seeing you there.

£75 or more

4 of 10 claimed

£75 Reward

Exclusive opportunity to attend private rehearsals for two hours, with Giovanni and the band at a studio in London on the 2nd or 3rd October 2017. Email [email protected] to reserve your date of choice. First come first served. Pledger must be over 18 and able to make their own way to the venue.

£200 or more

0 of 3 claimed

£200 Reward

3 signed by the Jamiroquai band members limited edition vinyl Automaton albums.

£250 or more

4 of 32 claimed

£250 Reward

JAMIROQUAI ARENA GIG TICKETS 2 tickets & after show passes, meet & greet with Sola at European date of your choice. *LIMITED AVAILABILITY Before pledging you must have confirmation email from Sola that you have secured the tickets for your chosen city. Choose City here: www.solaakingbola.com/choose-your-city/ EMAIL [email protected] to place your request. If tickets are available, Sola will confirm. *Full refund in event of cancellation.

£50 or more

10 of 10 claimed

£50 Reward

Jamiroquai CD - Automaton - Signed by the band.

£75 or more

5 of 5 claimed

£75 Reward

One-to-One percussion lesson with Sola Akingbola. Pledger must be over 18 and be able to make your own way to the studio location.

£150 or more

1 of 1 claimed

£150 Reward

Signed by Giovanni Hidalgo Latin Percussion (LP) Giovanni Galaxy Bongos

£175 or more

1 of 1 claimed

£175 Reward

LP Pack of Percussion Toys: Black Beauty Cowbell; Cowbell Prestige; Jam Block Orange; Jam Block Red; 3 x Soft Shakers

£200 or more

2 of 1 claimed

£200 Reward

Full set of Protection Racket Conga Cases, Bongo Bag and Stick Bag.

£200 or more

1 of 1 claimed

£200 Reward

Signed, LP, Giovanni Wood Djembe. Shipment cost from outside the US or Europe, will be at the pledgers expense.

£250 or more

5 of 4 claimed

£250 Reward

Exclusive 1 hour lesson with Giovanni Hidalgo at a private studio in London. Pledger must be over 18 and make his or her own way to the studio.

£250 or more

1 of 1 claimed

£250 Reward

Jamiroquai Funk Odyssey Platinum disc signed by Sola Akingbola and the band .

£500 or more

1 of 1 claimed

£500 Reward

Jamiroquai Platinum Disc signed by Sola Akingbola and the band, celebrating more than a million sales of 1997 album Travelling Without Moving. The breakthrough album.

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