Sumatra-The Island of Specialty Coffee
Java 'N Jazz Coffee House located at 24300 Town Center Drive, in Valencia, will host a 10-hour Tsunami Relief Benefit concert for the Island of Sumatra, one of the hardest hit areas in Southeast Asia, hit by the December 26 2004 tsunami which devastated much of Africa and Asia. The concert takes place from the hours of Noon until 10:00 p.m. Concert attendees will pay a $5.00 charge to attend the concert and in exchange for their nominal donation, they will receive a package of Sumatra Coffee and the opportunity to hear non-stop music for the day. In addition to each $5.00 donation, the proceeds of the day from Java N Jazz sales, will be donated to the relief efforts as well.

One of the hardest hit areas is Indonesia, in Southeast Asia. Indonesia consists of 5 main islands: Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, Kalimantan, and Irian Jay, said Kyle McMullen co-owner of Java N Jazz and the Newhall Coffee Roasting Company. Indonesia's greatest export is the famous gourmet coffee beans, which are used as part of the roasting mix in Newhall Coffee Roasting Company's coffee. Sumatra was devastated by the tsunami and relief efforts have been hampered by the region's monsoon season, and a 6.5 aftershock. We feel compelled to help.

It's the middle of the rainy season in Indonesia and the pounding downpours could further complicate a relief effort already hamstrung by damaged infrastructure, including roads and bridges washed away, said Mitch McMullen. Aid officials said they may have to feed as many as 2 million survivors a day for six months. That is precisely the need that Newhall Coffee Roasting Company and Java N Jazz will address on January 23rd, during its Sumatra Tsunami Relief Concert.

According to the staff of Java N Jazz, a number of bands will rock the house down at Sunday's Concert. There are three outstanding musical groups who will pay for the day offering a wide range of jazz and blues, acoustic guitar rock 'n roll, and songs from yesteryear like the music of Ella Fitzgerald.

The day starts with Fat Danny Bennett and the Hard Tymz Band who will play from Noon - 3:00 p.m. The Hard Tymz Band promises to take listeners on an unparalleled blues adventure. According to the McMullen Brothers, it's blues as it ought to be with every song telling a story.

Guitar Town will play from 3:00 - 6:30 p.m. John Lawrence and Steve Williams have played every kind of gig imaginable from local clubs to back up music on Saturday Night Live. Along the road, they have collected a grab bag of blues, funk, folk, country and rock n roll that includes artists like Ray Charles, T-Bone Walker, Curtis Mayfield, the Beatles and the Bryds.

With Song Amy will perform from 6:30 - 10:00 p.m. closing the Tsunami Relief Concert. Amy and her band perform a wide array of jazz and Any sings to remember her idol Ella Fitzgerald.

"We are thankful to each of our bands", said Kyle McMullen. They are giving their time and talents free this Sunday to help raise much needed funds.

As we sip our morning coffee or enjoy that afternoon espresso, most of us don't think about where coffee comes from. Literally millions of people around the world dedicate their lives to growing coffee.

Unfortunately, the blessings of coffee don't always filter down to the people who grow it. Coffee farmers earn as little as a penny-a-pound for their harvest, even during the years when crops do well and prices are high; coffee growers and their families go without much that we take for granted. It's at a time like this after a disaster, when there are millions in need, we all need to step up to the plate and help raise much needed funds for their food and shelter so they can continue to rebuild their lives.