The rich musical gumbo of New Orleans jazz and the Appalachian tradition of bluegrass will come together in an American Legacies concert at The Mahaffey Theater Sunday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m.
ST. PETERSBURG - The rich musical gumbo of New Orleans jazz and the Appalachian tradition of bluegrass will come together in an American Legacies concert at The Mahaffey Theater on Sunday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m.
Featuring the Preservation Hall Jazz Band (PHJB) and Del McCoury Band (DMB), music fans will enjoy two masterful and expert artist groups explore the common ground where these two music genres, both with roots in the American South, meet.
The bands released their collaborative American Legacies recording, a no-holds barred tour of songs and sounds that sum up the simultaneous (and often intersecting) histories of two distinctively American musical forms.
Jazz has drawn music lovers from around the world to New Orleans for more than a century; the Appalachian tradition bluegrass was created more than 60 years ago by Del McCoury’s one-time employer, Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys.
The Mahaffey Theater and Ricky P’s Orleans Bistro are offering a pre-concert buffet featuring selections from The Big Easy. The menu includes: Shrimp Monica pasta, mini-muffalettas, Creole cole slaw, vegetarian red beans and rice, roast pork, bread pudding with rum sauce, and soda and water. Tickets for the buffet are $15 per person.
Sunday’s performance by PHJB and DMB will be a mix with each band playing 20 minute sets interspersed with a few songs featuring some members of both bands performing and then a time when both DMB and PHJB play together.
PHJB derives its name from Preservation Hall, the venerable music venue located in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter founded in 1961 by Allan and Sandra Jaffe. Several bands have toured under the name since 1963 and performed with the pioneers who invented jazz in the early 20th century such as Buddy Bolden, Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong and Bunk Johnson.
Today’s members are Ben Jaffe, creative director and tuba, Mark Braud, trumpet and vocals, Charlie Gabriel, clarinet and vocals, Clint Maedgen, saxophone and vocals, Joe Lastie Jr., drums, Freddie Alonzo, trombone and vocals, and Rickie Monie, piano.
Del McCoury started his gig in bluegrass music in early 1963 when he joined Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys, moving from banjo, guitar and then lead singer. He formed his own band, The Dixie Pals, and his then 14-year-old son Ronnie joined as their mandolin player. A move to Nashville, band changes and numerous awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association propelled the Del McCoury Band to the top of the bluegrass world 30 years later. Band members today are Del McCoury, Ronnie McCoury, Rob McCoury, Alan Bartram and Jason Carter.
Tickets are $23.90, $34.60, $48.51 and $59.21. Prices include tax and facility fees. A special $15 student ticket is available with student ID (two-ticket limit) only at The Mahaffey Theater Box Office.
Concert tickets and the $15 buffet tickets may be purchased online at TheMahaffey.com, or charge by phone at 727-893-7832. Tickets may also be purchased at The Mahaffey Theater Box Office, open Monday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., or day of, at least 90 minutes prior to any ticketed event.
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