Three local bands to play benefit concert for the Kim and Tim Donnelly Music Scholarship | Press Releases

Hot funk and cool jazz are on tap on Saturday, April 8, when Prophets of Funk, the Eric Donnelly Trio and Brian Torff's Bass Roots Quartet play two benefit concerts for the Kim and Tim Donnelly Music Scholarship at the Acoustic Café, 2926 Fairfield Avenue, Bridgeport. The evening includes two separate but identical performances at 7 and 9 p.m. and 70 percent of all proceeds will go to the Fairfield University-based scholarship.

The scholarship was created to honor the memory of the Donnellys, who were killed in their Fairfield Center jewelry store in February 2005. Funds donated assist Fairfield University music students. The Donnellys' two children are both University alumni and their son, Eric Donnelly, teaches music at the University, where his mother once worked in the finance office.

"The Donnellys were close to all of us and their love for music is what drives us to continue these events in their name, and towards helping future music students at Fairfield University," said Brian Torff, director of Fairfield's Jazz and Popular Music Program.

Popular for their local hit "Sorry Lennie," Prophets of Funk is a group of musicians from Fairfield College Preparatory School and Fairfield Warde and Fairfield Ludlowe high schools. The band, which played at the first Donnelly benefit concert last year, will open this year's event.

The Eric Donnelly Trio is up next with a few selections, including Torff's "Hoe-Down" and "Momentum." Torff, an accomplished bassist and composer, will take the stage with his Bass Roots Quartet, performing a few of his original compositions and Joe Zawinul's "In a Silent Way." The quartet includes Torff's son, Fairfield Warde student Jarryd Torff, on tenor sax, and Fairfield University students Chuck Woodcock, on percussion, and Kurt Leon, on drums.

Tickets to the either performance are $15, $10 for students. For tickets, call the Acoustic Café at (203) 335-3655. For more information, visit www.acousticcafe.com.

Those who cannot attend are also invited to donate to the scholarship fund. For more information, contact Dr. Laura Nash, (203) 254-4000 ext. 2638 or LNash@mail.fairfield.edu . To make a donation to the fund, which is fully tax-deductible, please mail a check to Development Office, Fairfield University, 1073 North Benson Rd., Fairfield, CT 06824.