Liberty University alumna Dr. Jeannie Falwell Savas (?86) has been named Chief of Surgery at Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center in Richmond, Va., placing her among only a handful of women in the country to hold this leadership position.

Savas graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Liberty. She earned her medical degree in 1990 from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, where she is an associate professor of surgery.

Savas is the daughter of Liberty founder Dr. Jerry Falwell and sister of current Chancellor and President Jerry Falwell, Jr.

Her specialty is general surgery, mostly laparoscopic abdominal surgery and robotic surgery. The new position places her in charge of all surgical specialties at the hospital, which has served more than 200,000 veterans from 52 cities and counties since 1946 and was the first VA center to perform heart transplants.

Savas said she knew since she was a young child that she?d have a career in medicine.

?My parents told me I always said I?d wanted to be a doctor. Way back then, people would say, ?Oh I hear you?re going to be a nurse? [and I?d tell them] ?No, I?m going to be a doctor.??

Although she has had other interests, from mathematics to competitive water skiing, being a physician has always been her main focus.

?People have asked me what my back-up plan was; I never thought of having one because this is what I was going to do.?

She said when she was 4 and broke her arm, the doctor was explaining how he was going to have to break it all the way to reset it, so he asked her to look in another direction.

?I said, ?Oh, can?t I watch?? He looked at my mom with a dumbfounded look and she said, ?Yes, she?s going to want to watch.? I just sat there and watched because I thought it was really cool.?

When she was in high school, surgeons who were friends of her parents allowed her to view procedures in the operating room, which piqued her interest even more.

She went on to attend Liberty, where she majored in mathematics and biology.

Coming out of Liberty, ?I was completely, 100 percent, prepared for medical school,? she said.

Savas returns to Lynchburg any chance she can get, along with her son Paul, 14. She said they enjoy cheering on the Flames at football and soccer games.

She said recently one of her students asked her why, knowing who her parents were, she didn?t decide to go into ministry herself.

?I said, ?Medicine is a ministry. You?re ministering to the needs of sick people, and dealing with people going through tough times.??

She said she was excited to hear last year that Liberty was starting its own medical school.

?We [Christian physicians] need more of an impact in the medical field, and I think it?s a perfect fit because it is a ministry,? Savas said.

?There are a lot of people who seem to think there?s conflict between science and religion and I really don?t see it that way,? she added. ?God is the author of science, who created an orderly world and scientific laws, and we?re in the process of discovering them all.?

Savas has served as the Interim Chief of Surgery for a year and has been on the faculty since 1995. She has served as a Guest Examiner for the American Board of Surgery, is a Council Member for the Virginia Chapter of the American College of Surgeons, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Association for Surgical Education.

She has volunteered her services at the Crossover Free Clinic, the American Physicians Fellowship for Medicine in Israel, the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross, among other organizations. Savas is an active member of Grove Avenue Baptist Church, where she has been an Awana children?s club leader for the past 10 years.

Liberty University, located in Lynchburg, Va., is the world?s largest Christian university. Nearly 100,000 students attend classes on its 6,800-acre residential campus and study in its thriving online education program.

Ameritas Group, a division of Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., announces a new group Vision Perfect plan that features increasing annual maximums.

The Vision Perfect with Increasing Annual Maximum plan automatically gives members an increased maximum benefit with each year on the plan. The plan includes no deductible, waiting period or late entrant provision.

Ken VanCleave, President of Ameritas Group comments, “This Vision Perfect plan has it all. Members enjoy freedom of choice in selecting any vision care provider and can choose how their benefit dollars are spent. The increasing annual maximum gives members more money to spend on a vision exam and vision care materials each year.”

Members of the Vision Perfect plan also receive additional value.

Plan members may save up to 15% off eyewear frames and lenses purchased at any Walmart Vision Center nationwide. This savings arrangement is available to members at no additional cost to their plan premium. There are more than 2,500 Walmart Vision Centers nationwide; each offers a wide selection of affordable and stylish frames and lenses for the entire family.

Plan members also receive a prescription savings card that can be used at Walmart or Sam’s Club pharmacies. Like the eyewear savings, this prescription savings arrangement is available to members at no additional cost to their plan premium.

About Ameritas Group

Ameritas Group, a division of Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., has served customers since 1959 and today the division and its subsidiaries provide dental, vision and hearing care products and services for nearly 100,000 employer groups, insuring or administering benefits for more than 5.4 million people nationwide. Ameritas has one of the largest PPO dental networks in the country with more than 235,000 access points. Its customer service claims contact center earned BenchmarkPortal’s prestigious Center of Excellence certification for 2011, the fifth consecutive year. In 2011, Ameritas Group was named fourth in BenchmarkPortal’s Top 100 contest. In New York, products are offered through Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. of New York.

For more information, contact:

Ameritas Group Marketing

800-776-9446

Who says there are no guarantees in real estate? Now, with purchase at the River Club in Telluride, Colorado, there is! With fewer than 100 ownership opportunities, Seller Urban River Club, LLC, makes the dream of vacation ownership in Telluride a reality and lifetime of enjoyment. Imagine having three years from the date of contract to sell back for the price paid! Broker associate Mitzi Mallard feels this is an incredible opportunity. ?What other real estate purchase allows for a three year test drive!?

Telluride, a beautiful community located in the San Juan Mountains, is world-renowned for many reasons. First class skiing (top 10 in North America), amazing music festivals (Bluegrass, Jazz, Blues & Brews), and the Telluride Film Festival (which included nine of the films receiving Academy Award nominations and awards this year) name only a few. But Telluride is more than just first class skiing and a summer filled with festivals. It is a community built around history. A visit to the local museum gives visitors a peek into Telluride?s rough and rowdy past filled with mining, bank robberies, and ladies of the night. Fortunately, Telluride has retained its appearance, character and appeal that calls to visitors and keeps them coming back.

As one might imagine, real estate in this majestic community does not come at a small price. While many returning visitors have chosen rental for their accommodation needs, others have sought a more permanent arrangement. As the premier fractional, private residence club in the Town of Telluride, second home owners have found a reprieve from the high costs and care associated with second homeownership and uncertainty that comes with rentals. River Club owners find joy and relaxation from a property with exceptional service, a caring community, financially strong owners association and complimentary ski and golf privileges while in-residence.

Why a three year buyback? Because some buyers remain cautious to invest in real estate during a recovering economy. A three year buyback provides an exit strategy. Additionally, with the River Club?s high ownership satisfaction, Urban River Club, LLC, is confident that new owners will be thrilled with their purchase decision and have no desire to sell back their ownership. ?The River Club is such a wonderful, relaxing environment for us?. Every consideration and kindness seems to come easily to all who host us. I know that this takes considerable planning and effort. Thank you so much for having good people who really do shine at what they do!? Chuck Chambers, Owner since 2009

Purchase prices range from $ 51,250 to $ 341,500, and provide the perfect option for anyone considering second home ownership in Telluride. For additional information, please visit the River Club website. If you?d like an opportunity to stay at the River Club this summer and experience firsthand why owners are so excited about their purchase decision, please call 970-369-5200.

The River Club is a private residence club offering deeded fractional interests in the club to its owners and is classified as a “timeshare plan” under Arizona law. This is not intended to be an offer to sell, or a solicitation of offers to acquire, a unit in the River Club Condominiums development, with respect to residents of Alaska, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, or of any other jurisdiction where prohibited by law. Warning: The California department of real estate has not inspected, examined, or qualified this offering.

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SnapSports? Athletic Surfacing has been selected as the official basketball courts of the Pacific AAU Girls District Championships, dedicated to the memory of Mission Rec Basketball Club Director, Oscar Jimenez, to be held in Reno, Nevada, May 5-6, 2012. Players will be competing on SnapSports high performance basketball courts, engineered specifically for endurance and extended high-performance play, throughout the tournament.

This tournament, now in it?s 11th year, serves as the AAU National Qualifier for the Pacific District. The Pacific District has one of the largest AAU Memberships, and this qualifier, serves as not only a District Qualifier, but also as an opportunity for coaches and players to come together and celebrate girls basketball. All of the games played during this two-day tournament, will be played on SnapSports? multi-patent basketball courts, the preferred flooring of, AAU Jam On It & All Under One Roof Basketball Tournaments as well.

?The flooring is awesome, (the players & coached) love it, the way you install it, the way you clean it, the way we set-it up, the way it performs, it?s second to none and I have tried all the others? ? Matt Williams, Tournament Director, Jam On It ?All Under One Roof Basketball Tournaments

SnapSports? Athletic Surfacing, is the industry leading manufacturer of modular sports flooring. SnapSports patented BounceBack? Surfaces are engineered specifically with safety and performance in mind, and are the clear choice for accommodating aggressive play due to the patented ShockTower? technology, which provides superior shock absorption to ease the impact on players joints.

?SnapSports is pleased to continue our long-standing support of the AAU and Jam On It basketball tournaments. We enjoy the opportunity to deliver these young athletes the high-quality, high-performance sports surfacing they need for aggressive tournament play.? ? Jorgen Moller, SnapSports.

This year?s event will also feature some special events aimed at getting the youth involved with their coaches and community, they will feature games and shoot out matches for players, coaches and parents to participate.

Based in Salt Lake City, Utah – The team at SnapSports, Inc., have been engineering, manufacturing and providing the world’s leading outdoor multi-courts, basketball courts and indoor modular sport surfaces for nearly four decades! As the pioneers of the modular sports surfacing industry you play on today, the SnapSports team continues to develop the most advanced, multi-patented, modular sport surfacing and outdoor multi-courts for top athletes the world over. With unparalleled experience and a high performance product line, SnapSports is the industry?s undisputed champion. SnapSports manufactures 24 x 7, in a 100,000 square foot ISO 9001:2008 Certified facility in Salt Lake City, UT, and is supported by an authorized global network.

SnapSports is the official sport surface provider for the United States Futsal Federation, AAU Basketball Jam on It, Volleyball Festival, Special Olympics, the 2011 World Police & Fire Games, AAU Basketball All Under One Roof and USA Team Handball. In addition, SnapSports is an approved FIBA Associate Manufacturer and SnapSports athletic surfaces have been tested and comply with the European Union EN-14094 standard.

Related Clubs Press Releases

Experts at StudyDog say that creating a summer reading program or participating in a community program outside of school is one of the best ways for children to gain reading skills.

?Reading programs can help motivate children to work toward reading goals through a variety of incentives,? said Deme Clainos, a spokesman for StudyDog, an online reading system for pre-kindergarten through third grade.

Click here to see how StudyDog’s website shows parents ways to motivate kids to read when they are outside the classroom.

Here are five ideas to help parents encourage children to read this summer.

1.????Family or Neighborhood Book Club

Create a family book club or even extend it beyond the home to other parents and kids in the neighborhood. A book group with kids of all ages can be a great confidence booster for some children. Kids may ask questions, share their opinion and discuss their ideas. The book club should be fun and something they can look forward to attending throughout the month.

2.????Reward System

Positive reinforcement through a variety of rewards is one way to help jumpstart an interest in reading. This can be as simple as adding a sticker to a chart for every completed book. Beyond books, reading magazine articles or spending time using an online reading program like StudyDog should also be rewarded. Letting children select their own books and reading materials helps spark their interest and encourage them to reach their reading goals. According to Scholastic, 91 percent of kids are more likely to finish books they select themselves.

3.????Reading Contest

Build reading skills and some healthy competition among siblings or other kids by creating a reading contest. The child who spends the most time reading or finishes the most books or pages wins the grand prize. Points can be awarded in a variety of ways and tracked on a chart, reading log or through another system. Bonus points may be awarded for leading a discussion about what was read over dinner or another time when the family is together. Prizes could be presented weekly, monthly or over a longer period of time.

4.????Library Programs and Book Stores

Outside of the home many libraries offer reading programs during the summer months. The library will generally set a goal with the kids that sign up to read a certain number of books, with different rewards for completing them.

Book stores may also offer reading programs with different incentives. For example, Barnes & Noble offers a summer reading program where kids are awarded a free book when they read eight books.

5.????Online Resources

There are a variety of online reading programs that can also be followed by parents and children. PBS Kids Summer Reading Community and Scholastic both offer free summer reading challenges.

?Although many of these programs offer some kind of tangible reward, one of the best rewards is simply having a parent or other important adult in a child?s life cheering them on as they work toward their reading goals,? Clainos said.

About StudyDog

StudyDog is a proven leader in helping children quickly learn to read and has helped more than 2 million kids master the basics. The company creates interactive reading programs specially designed for early readers pre-kindergarten through first grade. What sets StudyDog apart from other learning programs is how StudyDog engages future readers as young as three years old. Similar reading software is able to engage older students who already know how to read. But StudyDog uses games and other features to connect with younger children who haven?t learned to read yet. StudyDog?s Adventures in Reading series is used in more than 3,000 schools nationwide. The lessons were designed to meet state early learning standards and the guidelines of the National Reading Panel. Founded in 2002, StudyDog programs have been used in schools for the past six years. For more information, visit http://www.studydog.com or call 1-866-643-4449.

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Buff Sales, an independent manufacturers representative based in Northville, recently disclosed its plans to begin selling a new jewelry line in late summer, early fall.

Buff Sales was first established by Ron Buff in 1979 and has been in business for 33 years. Buff Sales provides widespread marketing consulting services and represents manufacturers from all industries.

?Buff Sales is excited to launch the new jewelry collection. The designer who created the collection is a first-time client and we are looking forward to her debut,? said Ron Buff, founder of Buff Sales. ?Buff Sales is very versatile, our clients include designers, furniture makers, artists and many others.?

The jewelry line features basic jewelry pieces, including earrings, bracelets and necklaces. The pieces were crafted through traditional jewelry making techniques. The line also includes creations that will appeal to lovers of simplicity. The jewelry collection is scheduled to be released in the coming months, and Buff Sales hopes the items will debut in stores such as Wal Mart, K-Mart, Sam?s Club and others.

In addition, Buff Sales recently debuted three new products: cameras, cell phones and electronic tablets. The products are available in leading retailer stores nationwide, such as Wal Mart, Sam?s Club and others.

?Buff Sales is committed to representing its customers in the best possible way and ensuring their products are sold at leading stores nationwide,? Ron Buff said.

More About Buff Sales

Buff Sales, based in Northville, Michigan, was first established by Ron Buff in 1979. Thirty three years later, the manufacturers representatives and consulting firm has grown to sell to the nation?s leading retail stores, including Goodyear, K-Mart, Sam?s Club, Wal Mart, and many others. Buff Sales represents products from around the world and sells these items to the largest retail accounts in the United States. Buff Sales assists its customers in preparing, selling and merchandising their products. Buff Sales represents large multi-national corporations to start-up inventors in various product lines, such as electronics, appliances, home furnishings pet supplies, HBA and many more.

Private Trade Winds is actively revamping its portfolio by hand-selecting villas that appeal to those seeking a culturally rich and diverse travel experience. Last week the company surprised its clients with two new offerings in Italy; a 9,000 square foot 7-bedroom villa on Lake Como and a charming 9-bedroom classic villa in Tuscany. The inclusion of the Lake Como villa adds a new destination to its previous portfolio.

Coming in right on schedule this week is the release of their 8-bedroom, 9,600 square foot, seaside villa on the Arcachon Bay just a short drive from the coveted wine region of Bordeaux. This villa, which provides the Company with a brand new destination in France, was graciously donated by the Owner as a live auction item for the Juvenile Diabetes gala that took place in March. It was the highlight of the evening?s travel collection with a value of $ 28,000 for the week donation.

The second villa announced this week is a newly remodeled 7-bedroom estate overlooking the sparkling waters of the Amalfi Coast in Italy. The gourmet kitchen and wine cellar will no doubt appeal to clients who crave an authentic Italian culinary experience, while the historic nature of the region will delight historians of classic European art and heritage.

The launch of the new portfolio was prompted by the Company’s landmark 5-year anniversary, and Irene Aviles? commitment to keeping ahead of the curve for their dedicated clients. ?Hotels and Resorts are wonderful, and they provide the typical vacation that we have all known and loved since childhood. Villa travel elevates that same vacation to a whole new level, which tends to be much more experiential in nature.? Said Aviles, the Owner and Founder of Private Trade Winds. The Company is also a full service licensed travel agency and Concierge service which allows a convenient one-stop-shop for booking and itinerary planning. Those interested in exploring the hybrid club concept further should contact Judy Sweetland at jsweetland(at)privatetradewinds(dot)(com) or call 866-789-4589 Ext. 804.

Private Trade Winds is located in Newport Beach, California and is an innovator in the Travel Industry, positioned as the low cost alternative to high priced destination clubs. With a global portfolio of villas, both Classic and Modern, discerning travelers have embraced the ‘hybrid club concept’ and are traveling more frequently due to the significant savings of 20-50% off market price, as well as exceptional service and value. The Company continues to grow in membership, and is credited within the travel industry as defining villa travel for both Travel Agents as well as Consumers.

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This year, Velas Resorts in Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit are featuring golf and spa hotel packages to celebrate Mother?s Day and Father?s Day.

As part of the Golf Package at Casa Velas and Velas Vallarta, golf lovers enjoy multiple rounds at championship golf courses, green fees, a partner finder program, organized weekly tournaments, suite upgrades, airport transportation and more. Included in the package at both resorts are two rounds of golf per person per stay at Marina Vallarta Golf Club, an 18-hole course with palm lined fairways and rolling greens, or Vista Vallarta Golf Club, designed by Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf, which features high elevations of grassy hills as well as low jungle terrain. Guests at Casa Velas receive unlimited use of the hydrotherapy areas at the Spa, guaranteed upgrade to Grand Class Plus Suite, and a $ 100 USD Spa credit per suite per stay in addition. At Velas Vallarta, golfers are upgraded to One-Bedroom Suite (subject to availability). Valid through December 18th, rates for the Golf Package start at $ 205 US per person, per night, based on double occupancy (Velas Vallarta).

For those looking for pampering, Grand Velas Resorts in Riviera Maya and Riviera Nayarit offer Spa Packages that include specialty treatments at their award winning spas, a private dinner on the suite?s terrace and VIP Airport Pickup Service (Airport-Hotel). At Grand Velas Riviera Maya, the package features the Velas Fish Therapy treatment?a 50-minute special doctor fish foot exfoliation and healing experience. Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit features the Exotic Sea Shell Massage where guests are treated to the harmony of aquatic sounds and the warm, soothing properties of marine shells. One 60 minute Grand Velas Hydrotherapy Circuit per person per stay, complimentary stay for up to two children under 12 years old, and 50% discount applied to children age 13 – 16 years are also included at Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit. Rates for the Spa Package start at $ 320 US (Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit), and $ 375 US (Grand Velas Riviera Maya), per person, per night, based on double occupancy. The package is available from May 5th to June 30th at Grand Velas Riviera Maya and from April 18th to December 18th at Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit.

Both the golf and spa packages include suite accommodations, a la carte gourmet meals at a choice of specialty restaurants, premium branded beverages, 24 hour in-suite food and beverage service, fitness center, kids? club, activities for adults and children, taxes and gratuities and more. Package offerings and minimum night-stay requirements vary by resort. For more information and reservations, please call Velas Resorts at 1-888-323-2776 in the U.S. or Canada or visit http://www.velasresorts.com.

The Grand Velas Riviera Maya and Riviera Nayarit as well as Velas Vallarta, feature a complimentary kids club for children ages 5 to 12 with activities ranging from planting trees and flowers and learning about the environment to beading in the style of the Huichol Indians and baking with the pastry chef. Kids also can enjoy water sports included in the rate, such as sea kayaks, water polo and snorkeling. Kids? spa treatments are also offered at Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit, while Grand Velas Riviera Maya recently started offering clay modeling classes and yoga lessons for parents and children together. Evenings bring quality entertainment, perfect for family bonding which can include Mexican folkloric night with live music and native arts and crafts and magic and clown shows.

About Velas Resorts:

Offering unparalleled all-inclusive experiences, Velas Resorts in Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit have earned 26 AAA Diamonds, including the prestigious Five Diamond Award. Other esteemed international awards for their services and facilities are Virtuoso?s ?Best Spa?, Conde Nast Johansens? ?Most Excellent Resort? and ?Most Excellent Spa Hotel? and the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences? 5 Star Diamond Award. Casa Velas, a boutique adults-only hotel and ocean club located on the Marina Vallarta Golf Course, and Velas Vallarta a family-friendly suite resort & convention center located on the Banderas Bay, are in Puerto Vallarta. The only family-friendly all-inclusives in North America to receive the AAA Five Diamond are Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit and Grand Velas Riviera Maya, the latest and most sophisticated iteration of the ultra-luxury, all-inclusive resort experience in the Caribbean with jungle and beach settings. Velas Resorts offer spacious luxury accommodations, world-class spas, a la carte gourmet cuisine at a selection of specialty restaurants, and an indefinable hospitality experience. Join our Social Networks!

Related Clubs Press Releases

Hungary was one of the countries recently imposing a smoking ban, with bans being implemented across all public transport, hospitals, airports, public and federal buildings in 2010. A further nationwide smoke-free law covering all public spaces including workplaces, clubs, pubs, restaurants, underpasses and public bus stops were placed in effect from January 2012. According to the World Health Organisation, the government expects the ban to cut the number of people treated in hospitals or dying from heart attacks and coronary illnesses by 10-15% within a year.

Furthermore, according to the Prague Post the Czech Republic being one of the minorities of European Union countries not to have such restrictions have also considered implementing a smoking ban with 115,000 people signing a petition demanding a ban on smoking in restaurants, disapproving the country?s high cancer rate and poor rating concerning tobacco control. The government have initiated a new proposal with a gradual phasing-in of changes, with the first step being a law preventing children under the age of 18 from entering places where smoking is allowed, with a full ban taking effect in 2014.

With these laws coming into place, it has forced many people to look for other alternatives to smoking tobacco cigarettes, the electronic cigarette becoming the number one choice. Regardless of the cheap prices of tobacco cigarettes in the Czech Republic, averaging at 2 euros a pack, UK based brand SKYCIG have reported to have quadrupled their sales in the first quarter of 2012. Not only are the benefits regarding health pushing product sales for electronic cigarettes, with the product not containing all the harmful chemicals regular tobacco cigarettes have, but also the accessibility of smoking an e-cigarette as they can virtually be used anywhere.

As The Guardian stated last week, the tobacco industry is not only losing out on sales through new law legislations, issues regarding branding may also affect the industry with Australia becoming the first to initiate unbranded cigarette packs. Australia have introduced health warnings, graphic photos and no brand logos, only company names in small, standard font will be permitted on packages, an issue which is being closely watched around the world, including Britain, where the government began talks over unbranded packaging this week.

More and more people are turning to electronic cigarettes with the growing opinion of e-cigarettes having the potential to save thousands of lives; however, it does not come without its share of controversy.

Big Fun(k) Live is a mosaic of different musical influences and styles led by tenor saxophone all-star Don Braden and internationally-known percussionist Karl Latham. Having worked with legends such as Wynton Marsalis, Johnny Winter, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Haynes, Tony Williams and Bill Cosby, both Braden and Latham are masters at creatively and passionately expressing themselves in any genre they choose. In fact, Braden is known primarily in the modern Jazz world, but revisits his roots (he cut his teeth playing in funk and rock bands in the 1970?s) on this outing. With Gary Foote (Blood, Sweat and Tears) assisting Latham in the groove section, Big Fun(k) Live has a strong musical backbone, perfect for Braden and keyboardist Nick Rolfe (Lizz Wright, Nona Hendryx) to weave their sparkling melodies, intriguing harmonies and dazzling improvisations. This all-star cast of musicians brings a wide variety of influences together and creates a genre-traversing album that will have something for everyone.

Big Fun(k) Live?s first track, ?High Rise,? fuses elements mainly of Funk and Contemporary Jazz. It begins with a heavy slap bass that is soon joined by Braden?s soaring saxophone, which fits into the rhythm seamlessly and leads into a powerful extended jam. The track ends with Latham accompanied by the group in an impressive drum solo. ?A Foote in the Door,” the third track on Big Fun(k) Live, dons a more groove-oriented theme, which contrasts perfectly with the smooth periodic Jazz breakdowns. The soloists reveal remarkable improvisational skill while still maintaining a hard groove throughout. A surprising rendition of the Beatles? ?Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” arguably the album?s most appealing track, uses the familiar melody but blends styles that may seem foreign to most Beatles fans. Most notable for its Jazz and Soul/Gospel approach, ?Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds? also includes jam sections dominated by Funk elements.

Big Fun(k) is Don Braden (Tenor Saxophone & Alto Flute), Karl Latham (Drums), Nick Rolfe (Keyboards), and Gary Foote (Bass). The album was recorded live at Cecil?s Jazz Club in West Orange, New Jersey with Christopher Coleman and Don Braden as the Live Engineers.

Catch them live:

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Trumpets Jazz Club

6 Depot Square

Montclair , NJ 07042

8:00pm – All Ages

Performing with the band at Trumpets: Xavier Davis on keys and Calvin Jones on bass.

You can learn more about the band and see their latest show dates on their website at http://www.bigfun-k.com

For any further information/interviews/exclusives please contact Melissa Zeigler(at)Powderfingerpromo(dot)com.