Tickets are now on sale for a special opportunity to experience two world-class musical acts. Prestigious jazz magazine Downbeat named Eric Bibb’s latest album Blues Album of the Year for 2010, and Bibb performs Wed., Jan. 19, 7:30pm, at the Adams State College Theatre near the corner of Edgemont Ave. and Main St. in Alamosa. Tickets are now available at the Narrow Gauge Newsstand (on the corner of State Ave. and Main St. in Alamosa) and the Adams State College Music Dept., $15 for ALMA members, $17 for the general public.
West African drumming and dance ensemble Bernard Woma and Saakumu plays earlier on Jan. 19 at 6pm in Leon Memorial Hall at Richardson Ave. and 2nd St., sponsored by the ASC Music Dept., ASC Student Life and Recreation, the Grizzly Activity Board, and the Office of Student Engagement and Success, in collaboration with ALMA. Admission for this show is $5, but free with paid admission to the Eric Bibb show. Audience members will be able to walk a few yards between Leon and the ASC theatre to enjoy both amazing shows.
“Eric is one of the new, young singers that has appeared on the scene that, much to my delight, has a great voice, is an excellent performer and has a great knowledge about the roots of this music,” according to keeper of the blues flame Taj Mahal. Bibb’s musical career has taken him into the studio and on stage with Ray Charles, Robert Cray, Taj Mahal, Pops and Mavis Staples, Guy Davis and Odetta, among others. An appearance at the London Blues Festival in 1996 saw Bibb share a stage with similar singer-songwriters Corey Harris and Keb’ Mo’. Bibb has been nominated for a Grammy Award and four W.C. Handy Blues Awards.
Harmonica master Grant Dermody is accompanying Bibb on this tour. Dermody has performed with legends such as John Cephas, Honeyboy Edwards, Louisiana Red, Robert Lowery, Big Joe Duskin and John Dee Holeman. A dedicated mentor of the instrument, Grant has taught in venues including the Augusta Heritage Center in Elkins, W. Va., the Country Blues Workshop in Port Townsend, Wash., the Telluride Acoustic Blues Camp in Telluride and the University of Northampton in England.
Bernard Woma has shared the performance stage with renowned artists such as Maya Angelou, Yo Yo Ma, and Glen Velez. He has performed for dignitaries such as U. S. President Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela and Queen Elizabeth II. He was recently honored as the cultural resource person for President Barack Obama’s family when they visited Ghana. Saakumu is one of the leading traditional/contemporary dance and music groups in Ghana. Their music and dance is joyful, expressive and highly participatory. Woma and Saakumu will also be conducting a dance and drumming workshop from 1:30pm until 3pm Jan. 19.
