Award-winning bassist Marcus Miller is due to host a special concert in New York City to benefit the victims of the Japanese Tsunami.

Miller, who has a strong fan-base in Japan and often releases material there first, is said to have been moved after being personally contacted by a group of Japanese fans after the disaster. Determined to help in any way he can, Miller quickly found support for the cause in his musical friends and contemporaries and began planning “Marcus Miller Presents: A Concert for Japanese Tsunami Relief”.

For the concert, Miller has assembled a plethora of the leading Jazz and R&B artists to come together and play for Japan. Guests performing in the event, which takes place at the Highline Ballroom on May 15th, include soul singer Raheem DeVaughn, progressive pianist Robert Glasper, jazz trumpeter Sean Jones, African vocal superstar Angélique Kidjo, saxophonist and Berklee graduate Alex Han, keyboard wizard Federico Gonzalez Peña, drummer Louis Cato, hip hop/jazz pioneer Q-Tip, trumpeter Wallace Roney, drummer Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Taiko drummer/bamboo flautist Kaoru Watanabe, and Swiss harmonica master Grégoire Maret.

In announcing the event, Miller said: “My heart goes out to the people of Japan who are suffering through the effects of the earthquake and tsunami… So many musicians like me have enjoyed the love and support of Japanese music lovers over the years. We’re putting this show together to try to return some of that love and support in their time of need.”

Net proceeds from the concert will be donated to the Japanese Relief Recovery Fund. Tickets are available from the Highline Ballroom Website.