North Jersey Blues Society celebrates Ma Rainey with this unique musical journey. This program frames Gertrude Pritchett—a.k.a. Ma Rainey—known as a "Mother of the Blues" as a trail-blazing American composer and band leader. We shine a light on the woman as a powerful blues musician, mentor, and collaborator to several musicians who in turn became innovators in their own careers: pianist Thomas Dorsey, guitarist Tampa Red, and saxophonist Coleman Hawkins.

The concert features Madame Pat Tandy, vocals, Beareather Reddy, vocals, Charlie Apicella, guitar, tenor banjo, Avery Sharpe, bass, and Steve Johns, drums who will perform a set of Rainey’s classics and discuss the musical, historical, and cultural impact of her work. Includes Q&A and audience participation. Selections start with Rainey’s works and progress into examples of call and response, R&B, swing, gospel, and soul.

Funding has been made possible by The Puffin Foundation