The 4th Ward Afro-Klezmer Orchestra
Chef Neville Forsythe
Fresh Mind
The family of Chattanooga chef Neville Forsythe invites the community to “Chef Neville Forsythe: An Eclectic Celebration” at Barking Legs Theater on Saturday, Feb. 1.
Music takes center stage at this event with two bands that have history with Chef Neville and the Forsythe family. Beginning at 7:30 p.m., this evening of "fun and reflection" will feature performances from Fresh Mind and The 4th Ward Afro-Klezmer Orchestra.
Guests will enjoy Chef Neville’s favorite signature cocktail, the Voodoo Rhum Punch served by Tiki enthusiast Evan Lipson, while listening to reggae, rock, jazz and pop throughout the night. Smoked jerk wings will be provided by the River Street Deli and Bruce Weiss, who was an apprentice with Chef Neville.
The event will culminate with a dance party led by DJ Hubbs and will include some of Chef Neville’s favorite music.
Tickets for the event are $20/person and available here. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Neville Osmond Forsythe, Sr. Scholarship in its work to increase opportunities for aspiring culinary students and provide assistance to deserving local Boy Scouts, reflecting two of the passions that drove Chef Neville’s commitment to his community and family. Corporate support for the scholarship fund has been provided by the Scenic City Angels and Townsend Atelier. Community members unable to attend the event who wish to contribute to the scholarship are invited to donate online.
About Chef Neville
A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and Navy veteran, Neville Forsythe brought his growing family to Chattanooga in 1986 to pursue his career at the Fairyland Club. Chef Neville became known throughout the community for his passion for the culinary arts and his kindness and in 1991 started Chef’s Underground, one of the first fine dining restaurants in town and a venue that supported the creative community by hosting performers like Leroy Jenkins, Blast, Quintron, Melted Men and the Gold Sparkle Band.
About the bands
Members of the The 4th Ward Afro-Klezmer Orchestra performed at Chef’s Underground years ago and the eight-piece jazz orchest a will honor Chef Neville by playing original compositions and arrangements that combine West African influenced rhythms with Eastern European Klezmer melodies. Creative Loafing celebrates the Orchestra, saying “that sense of old-world style mixes with humor that’s both classy and rollicking to produce an old-world sound, attitude and direction.”
Fresh Mind, a band that got its start at Mrs. B’s Reggae Café, Chattanooga’s first authentic Jamaican food destination, will have the crowd dancing and rocking away to their genre-mixing sound. With hints of reggae, rock, jazz and blues, their high energy performances leave guests feeling great. Born and raised in Jamaica, their front man James Snider incorporates Jamaican vibes in his music with reggae rhythms and steel pan solos.