The Last Waltz Ensemble has announced that it will perform two nights in late November as a benefit for the Ricky Keller Foundation. The group will be joined by special guests for these performances which will take place at Smith’s Olde Bar in Atlanta on November 24 and 25. The Last Waltz Ensemble, named after the Martin Scorsese documentary, celebrates the vibe, energy and music of The Band.

Ricky Keller, who passed away in 2003, was a longtime Bruce Hampton collaborator, as well as the conductor of the Zambiland Orchestra and a co-founder of Project Z with Jimmy Herring and Jeff Sipe. The Rickey Keller Foundation seeks to couple funding with established organizations that work with special needs children. The Foundation operates with the mission to secure one-on-one lessons for children who show musical aptitude but who are facing financial difficulty. The Ricky Keller Foundation will allow Ricky’s presence as a spirited teacher and motivator to be perpetuated by those most in need of the transformational power and magic of music in their lives.