Student-operated arts publication V Magazine, student radio station WXTJ Radio and the newly-opened Ginkgo Bookshop — a non-profit used bookstore run by three University students — came together to host a jazz night Thursday, full of upbeat music and fundraising for the Legal Aid Justice Center. Three student bands — 4E Combo, Vacuum Decay and Loose Champagne — all played exciting selections of jazz music that had the crowd swaying to saxophonic melodies.
The evening was a hit, with students filling up the nooks and crannies of the bookstore and many people donating in celebration of community and collaboration. Rachel Mulvaney, V Mag co-editor-in-chief and fourth-year Batten and College student, said she hopes the show promoted Ginkgo Bookshop and its goals for becoming a staple in the Charlottesville community.
“Ginkgo Books is a great third space, a place U.Va. deeply needed. It is warm, indoors and intimate, so the ideal spot for jazz music,” Mulvaney said. “We also saw this as an opportunity to help spread word among students about the existence of Ginkgo … What better way to introduce people to a space than through a jazz show?”
The show collected donations for the Legal Aid Justice Center — a Charlottesville-based non-profit that partners with clients in Virginia to fight for racial, social and economic equality, primarily through providing pro bono legal representation to low-income communities and immigrants. All donations collected at Thursday’s event went to the organization, with the show raising $620, which Mulvaney said she hopes will help in an especially tumultuous political climate.
“We knew we wanted to choose an organization that serves the immigrant community in Charlottesville,” Mulvaney said. “[The Legal Aid Justice Center] is an incredible organization that does so much important work, and they are particularly overwhelmed right now.”
Doors opened at 7:45 p.m., and the first band began playing around 8:30 p.m., with each band playing for about an hour. The bookstore was packed, with people squeezing in to get a view of the musicians as they played. Students danced, bopped their heads along to the music and enjoyed the cozy atmosphere the bookshop created as they listened to the jazz instruments. Some students were even browsing for books while the bands were playing, soaking in the ambiance of the store.
Isabel Xiao, WXTJ Student Radio president, bassist for Loose Champagne and fourth-year College student was both an event planner and performer at the benefits show. Working alongside Mulvaney and V Mag co-editor-in-chief and third-year Commerce and College student Kieran Warner — who planned the logistics and promotional aspects of the event — Xiao gathered musicians from the University music and jazz community and played bass with all three performing groups. She said she was excited to be raising money for a good cause while doing something she enjoys.
“Things like this can really bring jazz to an audience that maybe doesn’t listen to it as much,” Xiao said. “[Fundraising] can really make an impact when people are all contributing to something together, you know, even if it’s just a little bit.”
The sizable audience brought in by V Mag and WXTJ Student Radio’s following attracted many new students to the bookshop, including V Mag Social Media Director and second-year Commerce student Vivian Nam. Nam explained how both the venue and selection of music made for a memorable experience on the Corner.
“I came tonight just because, you know, I feel like there’s not a lot of jazz events on Grounds,” Nam said. “This is my first time [in the bookshop] and I can’t believe it’s my first time, because it’s actually so beautiful.”
Third-year College student Cody Scarce, another attendee of the event, said he enjoyed how the show brought more attention to the bookstore and the efforts of the Legal Aid Justice Center.
“I love that [the three host organizations are] just coming together. I think that, in general, this is a good way to … kick off a student owned business … I think it’s also a really good chance to contribute to any kind of fundraiser,” Scarce said. “Everyone should come and support the store, support the bands.”
The night was a testament to the communal impact student efforts and organizations can have through the arts, as a mellow night of jazz brought audiences together in support of a greater cause.