Category Archives: music

Describe legendary musician Taj Mahal in a word or phrase? Impossible. You could call him a singer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, two-time Grammy-winner or world traveler. All accurate titles, yet none convey the soulfulness of Taj’s music. He’s been playing his own distinctive brand of music – folk, jazz, zydeco, gospel, R&B, soul, all layered on top of a solid country blues foundation – for more than 40 years. The show is part of the ASC’s Blues and BBQ fest. Come an hour early for BBQ plates by Dreamland and music by Microwave Dave in the courtyard. The Alys Stephens Center is located on the UAB campus at 1200 10th Ave. South, Birmingham.

Cost: $28-$62, students $10. Food and cash bar extra.

Multi-Grammy winner Keb’ Mo’ may have been born in LA (no, not Lower Alabama) but he sure knows how to play the Mississippi Delta blues. His influences – from Robert Johnson (who Keb’ recently portrayed in a docu-drama) to Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Browne – can easily be seen in his soulful rhythms and laconic storytelling style. Come an hour early for BBQ plates by Dreamland and music by Microwave Dave in the courtyard. The Alys Stephens Center is located on the UAB campus at 1200 10th Ave. South, Birmingham. The Blues and BBQ Fest continues Sunday night with the Taj Mahal Trio.

Cost: $22-$52, students $10. Food and cash bar extra.

If you like jazz, you are familiar with Ellis Marsalis. He is regarded as the premier modern jazz pianist in New Orleans (and beyond) and for good reason. The patriarch of the Marsalis family delivers irresistible performances and conveys a love for all things jazz. Plus, he’s got some talented sons. You can see where they get it from during dad’s concert at the Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Ave. South. As an added bonus, Marsalis will greet fans in the lobby after the show.

Cost: $25-45, students $10. (Buying tickets online? Enter the code ASCPresents for 20 percent discount. We bet if you called to order tickets, you could ask for the same deal.)

Fans of sitarist Ravi Shankar were disappointed when last season’s show was canceled due to injury. But happily, the show was rescheduled for this season. They do expect a sell out so don’t wait too long to get tickets. A few notes on the show from the Alys Stephens Center: “Virtuoso sitarist, composer, and teacher Ravi Shankar is India’s most esteemed musical ambassador. His daughter Anoushka is the only artist in the world to be trained completely by her father.” The ASC is located on the UAB campus at 1200 10th Ave. South.

Cost: $28-$62, students $10