Mississippi Coast Jazz Society Hopes to Spread a Little Cheer

Have instrument, will travel.

The Mississippi Coast Jazz Society wants to get a message to the public. “We're willing to come perform for the relief workers that are down here and encamped and helping us out," said Louis Zocchi, vice president of the organization. “We'd like to thank them for their efforts by providing them with the playing of Dixieland jazz. And we do a little comedy show during the intermission."

Members of the organization, which numbers about 150, have already performed several “thank you" concerts for relief workers, including an Oct. 8 performance at Bay St. Louis' newly resurrected Second Saturday gathering and a more recent concert at the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport, affectionately known as “the Seabee base."

“We're also looking for a place to hold our monthly affairs. We lost about $10,000 worth of equipment at the Gulfport Elks Club," said Zocchi. “So now we're looking for a place where we can get together about once a month and play Dixieland, second-line and dance."

To contact the Mississippi Coast Jazz Society, call Zocchi at 392-4177 or society president Mike Birtwhistle at 383-3114.