Email from Wendy Oxenhorn, Jazz Foundation of America:

Dearest John,

My name is Wendy Oxenhorn, I'm the director of the Jazz Foundation and Eleanor has just sent your email to me. I cannot tell you how much we appreciate what you are doing for this effort.

We are working harder and harder and the days are never-ending. I took off half a day yesterday and it was my first time off in nearly 6 weeks, but it was like this before Katrina too. I am so impressed with your beautiful hearts and all your hard work. So thank you, from my heart, on behalf of all we are helping.

Hanging out after distributing the new instruments...

I received a call this morning from one of my agents in Louisiana and she told me of a place on the Bayou where there are so many real deal New Orleans Cajun musicians who lost everything. A club that used to employ them, the owner is still having gigs to try to get them to have some money from their music to keep them alive and happy. As you know musicians without gigs is like losing one's soul, so I am sending them $5000 to allow them to continue to be employed so there will be music every weekend for all those on the Bayou who are now suffering from all they lost!

We have now generated nearly $100,000 in donated instruments to the musicians of New Orleans as well as housed those who are coming to us each day by providing rent money for them to move or pay their rent with.

So the more we make, the more gigs we can fund.

New Orleans musicians, you know, we already had 35 a week of the real elderly legends who are in great need as well, as we keep them from eviction and homelessness in their sickness and pay their rent too, and get them food and caring as well! (Gatemouth Brown was one of our people, to give you an idea of the sort of folks we have helped, and Freddie Hubbard when he had his heart condition and Frank Foster have both come out publicly and said how we saved their lives. (Normally I do not say who we help, but when they speak publicly, then I can say!)

I hope to be able to thank you in person one day. Maybe if we get you free tickets to our big Apollo "Great Night In Harlem," benefit concert, you can make it over (May 4th).

With much love and so much appreciation for all you are doing...

Wendy