By Grant Mudge

The Norfolk Lions Club Ambulance (NLCA) is pleased to have The Joint Chiefs of Salisbury, CT, play a benefit concert at Infinity Hall on Wednesday October 9 at 8 p.m. Known for their “tight harmonies and loose attitude,” The Joint Chiefs play a delightful mix of homespun music and country folk. The benefit concert will serve as kick-off of the Lions Club 2013 Annual Appeal on behalf of the Ambulance, which will run through December.

The Joint Chiefs played a private preview of their repertoire at the NLCA annual picnic in August for members of the ambulance, the Lions Club, and their families. According to Ambulance Chief Marc Tonan, “we just loved their music. We really appreciate that professional musicians are volunteering for the benefit of our volunteer service.”

Three of the chiefs came together in 1995 performing original music with beautiful harmonies and interpreting great songs in an unexpected way. With Eliot Osborne on guitar and keyboards, Louise Lindenmeyr on mandolin and accordion, and George Potts on bass, the band has found its way around the world playing music that, per their webpage, “has an acoustic dynamic with a delivery that rocks.”

In 2010 jazz percussionist Diana Herold was added to the lineup in a critical move, which boosted their music “into the stratosphere.” Herold is a veteran of the New York Jazz scene and was just recently featured with Grisha Alexiev for an evening of jazz vibraphone in Kansas City. She has played percussion for “The Lion King,” as well as many other Broadway productions.

Osborne, who has been known in and around the local music scene in the Northwest corner for many years, is the spokesman for the band. Sometimes characterized as a grumbling singer/songwriter, his first love is music and connecting with people.

Lindenmeyr, also a Family Nurse Practitioner in Amenia NY, and Osborne have traveled “by plane, barge, dugout canoe, bus, car, mule …to play for over 250,000 people” around the world. They continue to promote ways to engage upon new approaches to integrating the “world family.”

In fact, playing benefit concerts for health care service organizations like NLCA is in harmony with the life mission of members of the Joint Chiefs. With Lindenmeyr as Executive Director and Osborne as Founder and Artistic Director, they formed Project Troubador in 1978 for the purpose of sending “musicians, clowns, jugglers, mimes, dancers, etc. to perform in cultural centers, schools, hospitals, orphanages… throughout what is considered the third world.”

Jon Reideman, a Norfolk volunteer EMT, played an important role in bringing the NLCA, The Joint Chiefs, and Infinity Hall together. “These guys are really great to do this,” he said, “and many thanks to Infinity Hall for making it happen.” Riedeman notes that the band has a big following and he hopes for people from near and far to come to Infinity on October 9 to enjoy an evening of fun and community spirit.

According to Darla Lovett, 1st Vice President of the Norfolk Lions Club, “we’re so excited to support the kick-off and create awareness for the Ambulance Annual Appeal at Infinity. The Lions Club has received a donation for a block of tickets for its members. We’ll be there and it’s not too late to join us!”

Both the Chiefs and the NLCA agree that much appreciation goes out to Dan Hincks and Infinity Hall for its endless lineup of amazing talent and its on-going support of our volunteer ambulance.

Tickets can be purchased at the Infinity Hall box office, 860-542-5531. Performance is October 9 at 8 p.m.; tickets are $20.More information on the band can be found at www.projecttroubador.com; for the Ambulance at www.norfolkambulance.com.