The Jazz Foundation of America was created to bring assistance to musicians needing emergency medical, housing and disaster relief.
Additionally, the organization creates dignified paid work opportunities for artists to perform with free concerts at schools, hospitals, and nursing homes. Each year they produce almost 1,000 concerts in 17 states and reach more than 80,000 listeners from children in public schools to seniors in elder care facilities.
In 2018 JFoA contacted us about commissioning an instrument for a musician to encourage their return to the stage – a fully carved Upton Concord. This Concord double bass build features a flat canted back and a deep dark finish. Sloane Tuners (“Venetian” keys), Rib bumpers, custom fingerboard inlays, a Rev Solo and bow quiver make this contrabass ready for any stage or recording.
Recently this bass was revarnished at the request of the owner, as dark as we could make it! Here are new pics (Feb. ’22):
Original varnish from 2019:
