GREENWICH VILLAGE — Greenwich House's annual arts benefit will double as an 86th birthday party for musician David Amram this year.
Amram, a Village fixture for decades, is a classical composer and performer who worked with Dizzy Gillespie, Willie Nelson and Jack Kerouac, and will perform at the event with his longtime collaborators Silver City Bound.
Amram was encouraged to pursue his unique blend of jazz, folk and world music in the early 1950s by his mentors, Miles Davis, Aaron Copland and Jackson Pollock, who spent time at Greenwich House Pottery years ago.
Amram continues to practice music to this day as he has for the past half-century, touring the world as a conductor, soloist, bandleader and visiting scholar.
The event is planned for Thursday, Nov. 3, at the Rosenthal Pavilion at NYU's Kimmel Center at 60 Washington Square South and will be hosted by "Law & Order" actress Carey Lowenthal, known for her role as ADA Jamie Ross.
Lowenthal is a student at Greenwich House Pottery along with the event's other guest of honor, ceramacist and Jefferson Market Garden Adopt-a-Pot founder Marianne Yoors.
Yoors, 90, became a ceramicist 25 years ago, after decades of working in tapestry, weaving for her artist husband Jay Yoors. She will be recognized for her commitment to visual arts and the way she forged a relationship between the Jefferson Market Garden and Greenwich House Pottery, bringing the potter community into efforts to beautify the local garden.
Both Yoors and Amram have motivated, inspired and encouraged decades of Village artists, Greenwich House organizers said.
