There comes a time when people question humanity and when others start to wonder if they too should only be out for themselves. Then something so unselfish and charitable happens that it brings reality back into the spotlight. An event of that stature is coming to Edmond Town Hall on Friday, February 6.

When Karl Schwichtenberg, a local blues musician and former member of The Smokey Boys, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, his friends knew that they needed to help. After a suggestion from Schwichtenberg’s wife, Erica, a small group of friends decided to throw a benefit concert in his name. As the friends started piecing Jam for Karl together, the number of volunteers and the number of people willing to help grew. It became apparent very quickly that Schwichtenberg knew a lot of people that truly cared about him.

As Judith Joiner, the concert publicist, started calling around to different newspapers and radio stations, she continually ended up talking to someone who either knows Schwichtenberg or has seen him play before. Everyone she talked to was more than willing to help.

Now a team of 10 people are doing the organizing, numerous people are networking, 20 people will be volunteering at the event itself and many local restaurants and delis are donating food and beverages. A sound system will be provided for the night along with a sound engineer for professional recording. Radio stations WRKI 95.1 and WPKN 89.5 have been doing random public service announcements for publicity.
When it came to booking the musical line up, music coordinator Pete Stewart didn’t have to persuade anybody either.

“Everybody said, ‘absolutely, I’ll help!’” Stewart said. “Everybody got right on board.”
All the musicians playing on the bill are 100% donating their time. These local legends have all either known Schwichtenberg for years, have played with him before or know him from his reputation in the Danbury area.

The main line-up for the night is made up of well-known musicians in Fairfield County. Big Eric & the Budget Crunch, who are popular in the Stamford/Norwalk area, will be playing with Chance Browne, who is the founder of the local group The Twinkies and leads Thursday night open-mic at the Georgetown Saloon. Charlie Karp, who was in Jimi Hendrix’s drummer’s band—The Buddy Mile’s Band—will also be playing. Matt Rae Trio will be performing, younger than the rest of the line-up but holding the same amount of talent as the older guys.
“Matt Rae is one of the younger generation of guitarists and a real phenomenon, one of Karl’s favorite local guitarists. He plays blues, rock, jazz and country equally well!” said Joiner.

Also on the bill are two special guests, Thierry Arpino who works with Jean Luc Ponty and Manny Pavone, guitarist and vocalist for The Drivers. To finish the night off, Schwichtenberg will be coming out to play with his wife and the rest of their band, Spontaneous Combustion. This band has played at popular places such as The Redding Roadhouse, 59 Bank Street in New Milford and the George Washington Tavern in Washington Depot.
Schwichtenburg has been playing guitar for more than 38 years. Before Spontaneous Combustion, he played in the country-rock band The Smokey Boys. Some people might also know him from Danbury’s Kane Music Store, located off of White Street, where he worked for 20 years. Although a modest Schwichtenburg said he felt a little uncomfortable having a concert in his name, he is looking forward to playing.

“There’s a lot of people who are sick. Why do I deserve [a concert]? But I’m thankful and humbled by it,” he said. “I’m always looking forward to playing, especially with the friends and other musicians that are going to be there.”

After Spontaneous Combustion is done playing, all of the musicians on the bill are joining on the stage for one big, amazing jam session.

“It’s been a lot of work,” said Stewart. “In a way it’s a complicated event,but everyone’s been working very well together. Everyone’s been taking a little piece of the puzzle,” said Stewart.

The crew putting Jam for Karl together is really looking forward to raising money in hopes of paying for some of Schwichtenburg’s medical costs and expenses.

“We hope that we will be really successful. We’re pretty optimistic about that,” said Stewart. “At least a big part of the equation or event is to let Karl and Erica know we are behind them and we support them…to let them know their friends are behind them.”

Jam for Karl is taking place Friday, February 6 from 7 to 11pm at Edmond Town Hall on Main Street in Newtown. General admission is $29 per person in advance. Tickets are $33 at the door. For more information about the concert or how to get tickets please visit JamForKarl.com.