Ethiopia Reads Holiday Party with a Purpose December 12, 2009

Gather with the Bay Area Ethiopian community for Ethiopia Reads holiday fundraiser and dance party. Join us as we welcome the New Year and bring Holiday Cheer for children of Ethiopia. Books will turn them into stars in the most important game of life. "Those who read . . . bloom!"

The new Ethiopian Smooth Jazz 6-piece band, SF Groove Masters featuring Elias Negash and LynAnn King will perform Ethio Smooth Jazz and Ethio Dance favorites, promising a great evening of fun in San Francisco's historic Fillmore jazz district at Rassela's Jazz Club, located on 1534 Fillmore Street.

Elias Negash combines his native Ethiopian rhythms, improvisational jazz and reggae sounds to create the new Ethio Smooth Jazz music. A pioneering figure, Negash brought Reggae and African music to the San Francisco bay area in the 70's.

LynAnn King brings her sultry velvet vocals on the scene for smooth blending with this all star line up of musicians. Her repertoire consists of a rich blend of romantic jazz and rhythmic grooves rounding out the new Ethio Smooth Jazz style.

Ethiopia Reads was founded in 2003 by Yohannes Gebregeorgis, an Ethiopian trained as a librarian in the U.S., who returned to his country to fulfill his dream of building a reading culture there. Yohannes received the Top Ten CNN Heroes award in 2008. The fundraising is led by Jane Kurtz, an award-winning author who spent her childhood in Ethiopia and today resides in the U.S.

Ethiopia Reads now serves nearly 100,000 children and young people every year at its 43 libraries in Addis Ababa, Awassa, and rural areas of central and southern Ethiopia. Ethiopia Reads trains teachers and librarians, publishes books in English, Amharic and other local languages.

Come early for dinner before the dancing. Available authentic Ethiopian cuisine served at Rassela's restaurant in the front restaurant.

Official Website: http://www.ethiopiareads.org