The floods resulting from Hurricane Katrina left the jazz music industry of New Orleans in bad shape.

Music is a big aspect in the lives of the Sigma Alpha Iota fraternity and they hope to keep it alive.

“Jazz is a huge part of the culture and foundation of New Orleans,” said Betsy Seymour, president of SAI. “By raising money we are helping to bring that foundation back.”

A charity concert featuring Upon the Eighth Night and Bad With Names will benefit Musicians’ Village and Habitat for Humanity. The EIU Jazz Combo, directed by Paul Johnston, will also perform at the beginning of the concert. The concert will be at 7 tonight in the south auditorium at McAfee Gym.

Musicians’ Village raises money to help re-build New Orleans.

Adam Schneider, member of Upon the Eighth Night, said the event is important to musicians and people everywhere.

“We’re all into music and support the arts and think it’s really important to help these people,” he said. “Many New Orleans musicians have founded the only original American style of music, which is jazz.”

Seymour said this is a great chance to enjoy live performances and hang out with a diverse group of people.

She said charity is something people tend to take for granted, but this event is a good opportunity for everyone to enjoy the company of the community.

“We have wanted to hold this event for a long time, and we have worked very hard to get it going,” Seymour said.

Lindsay Herza, SAI social committee member, said her fraternity is involved in this event because they enjoy being active in the community and donating to the cause is important to keeping jazz alive.

“Jazz is so important to the EIU music department and it was born in New Orleans,” Herza said. “We don’t want (jazz) to die because of the disaster; we want to keep it alive.”

This benefit is a great way to show that, although we are college students in Illinois, we can give back to New Orleans, and give back in a big way, Seymour said.

“Music is near and dear to our hearts and touches everyone on some level,” she said.

Herza said it will be a night of good music, but the main reason for raising the money is to show their admiration and appreciation for jazz and where it came from.

She said she has heard the bands perform and they are both talented and get immersed into their performances.

“It is obvious that they truly like what they are doing,” Herza said.

“New Orleans needs our support, so listening to good music and watching talented musicians is an appropriate way to show that support,” Schneider said.

Tables will be set up at the concert with more information about the Musicians’ Village Program.

All donations will go directly into the Musicians’ Village fund.

For more information about the event and donations, e-mail Lindsay Herza at [email protected].

Admission is $3 at the door and there will be tables set up for those who wish to contribute more.