B.B. KING, AL GREEN, THE DIRTY DOZEN TO CLIMAX JAZZFEST'S KIEFER UNO LAKEFRONT ARENA CONCERTS
The 1995 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival's major-venue evening concert schedule will climax on Saturday, May 6 at 9:00 P.M. when three long-time Jazzfest favorites--B.B. King, Al Green, and the Dirty Dozen--share the bill at the Kiefer UNO Lakefront Arena, one of four concerts at that site. This exciting roster typifies the Jazzfest's celebration of regional culture by presenting three closely connected genres of African-American roots music. Born and raised in the blues-rich Mississippi Delta, Riley King hitch-hiked up to Memphis in 1947 with only $2.50 in his pocket. A year later he was performing live on a radio program hosted by harmonica ace Sonny Boy Williamson. Increasing radio work prompted King to adopt the stage name "Beale Street Blues Boy," in honor of the Memphis blues scene's main drag, and this monicker was shortened to "B.B.," as King's career began taking off. By the mid-'60s B.B. King had expanded his following to young, white audiences on the heels of the cross-over hit "The Thrill Is Gone." He is also regarded as a mentor to many of that generation's guitar heroes, including Eric Clapton and Johnny Winter. After literally thousands of shows, B.B. King still performs with undiminished energy and total enthusiasm. Al Green demonstrates a comparable level of energetic enthusiasm when he takes the stage. Green first graced America's airwaves in 1971 with the soulful ballad "Tired of Being Alone," which was followed by such hits as "Let's Stay Together" and "I'm Still In Love With You." Green's tastefully sensual delivery blended elements of blues, the Memphis soul sound of his producer Willie Mitchell and the spiritual fervor of gospel music. Such religious leanings prompted Green to abandon secular music for a time, but he still "got happy," and his brilliant gospel set at the '83 Jazzfest is legendary. Today Al Green performs both secular and religious material, and recently won a Grammy for his collaboration with Lyle Lovett on the historic album "Rhythm, Country & Blues." High energy and the Afro-Caribbean heritage of New Orleans' second-line parades converge in every performance by the Dirty Dozen. Back in the late '70s this innovative group expanded New Orleans' century-old brass-band tradition with new material, new soloing concepts and supercharged rhythms. Such changes offended some purists, but caught the interest of young people within the city's black community, thus launching a brass-band renaissance and dance craze which continues today. During the '80s and early '90s, The Dirty Dozen's classic cuts included "Feets Don't Fail Me Now," a brass-band treatment of "The Flintstones" theme-song, and a tribute album to Jelly Roll Morton which also featured some priceless recitations by the late Danny Barker. Today the group has added guitar and piano--unusual for a brass-band, but right in line with the Dirty Dozen's adventurous spirit. In addition to this concert, other 1995 Jazzfest evening events at the Kiefer UNO Lakefront Arena include R&B legend Gladys Knight, Booker T & the MG's, and the Charmaine Neville Band on Friday, April 28; the funky and eclectic Ray Charles, the "funky physician" Dr. John, and blues-guitar madman Snooks Eaglin, appearing together on Saturday, April 29; and soulful songsmith James Taylor, plus the unique folk-soul sound of the subdudes, on Friday, May 5--all at 9:00 p.m. These concerts are all part of the 6 WDSU/Burger King Evening Concert Series. Tickets to all New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival paid events can be purchased at any Ticketmaster ticket center. For more information or to charge by phone, call 504/522-5555 or 800/488-5252 outside Louisiana. NOTE: Headline Acts at the UNO Lakefront Arena concerts may not appear before midnight. Paid transportation services will be available after arena concerts. For information, call +1.800.380.3378. Tickets are available at all TicketMaster outlets or by calling: +1.504.522.5555.
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