Full disclosure: Linda Nash is not only a local jazz flutist of some renown but mom to former Food Editor and current freelancer Arielle Stevenson. Nash happens to command no small amount of respect from me solely based on the roster of es teemed musicians she’s played with (and likely had some hand in influencing) over the years, including Arielle’s upright bass-playing dad, Glenn Stevenson.
Nash didn’t have health insurance up until this year’s Affordable Health Care Act because she had a pre-existing condition, Hepatitis C, contracted from a blood transfusion giving birth to one of her children more than three decades ago. Unfortunately, it’s the same ol’ story since the ol’ story began: even though she has insurance now, the treatment she needs most and drugs available to cure her (12-16 weeks, four pills a day, $1,000 per pill, totaling roughly $125k) aren’t covered, and her health has deteriorated significantly enough that she can no longer earn a living. So Arielle and the rest of the Stevenson brood are in fundraising mode. They’ve set up an IndieGoGo campaign (visit Hope C: Support Mother and Musician Linda Nash to donate), got the Palladium to contribute its Side Door Cabaret theater for a charity concert, and tapped a rock solid bill of jazz grooving talent to entertain and join Linda and Glenn for some jams: John Lamb, Nate Najar, Ray Biscoglia, La Lucha and Stolen Idols.
Details: Jazz Benefit for Linda Nash witth La Lucha, Stolen Idols, John Lamb, Nate Najar, Ray Biscoglia, Linda Nash and Glenn Stevenson, Mon., August 25, 8 p.m., Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg, $25 suggested donation.
