By Kaitlyn Rigdon
Staff Writer
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band will be ringing in the New Year at the Murphy Arts District, as part of the district’s New Year’s Eve event.
The New Orleans-based brass band has been making music for over 40 years and is known for their blend of genres including bebop jazz, funk and soul.
Baritone sax and vocalist for the band Roger Lewis said he is excited to play in El Dorado on New Year’s Eve.
“I’m looking forward to playing there and ringing in the new year,” Lewis said. “We’ve got music for your mind, body and soul. Whatever your taste of music is, we’ve got it. We’ve got it all.”
The band was founded in 1977 in New Orleans and has been a major influence on the majority of New Orleans brass bands ever since.
They have played on five continents and in more than 30 countries, and were in France earlier this year, Lewis said.
Lewis is one of the band’s original members.
“We play all kinds of music,” Lewis said. “We kind of cover the whole spectrum of music, even classical. Our band is pretty well versed and we’ve collaborated with a lot of groups over the years.”
They have collaborated with musicians and bands such as Modest Mouse, Widespread Panic and Norah Jones.
The band currently consists of seven members, including Lewis, Kevin Harris, tenor sax/vocals, Gregory Davis, trumpet/vocals, Kirk Joseph, sousaphone, TJ Norris, trombone, Julian Addison, drums/vocals and Takeshi Shimmura, guitar.
Lewis said people attending the New Year’s Eve show at MAD should “bring their dancing shoes.”
“You’re going to have a fantastic time,” he said. “Put your party shoes on, come on out and have a good time. We’re going to bring in 2019 the way it’s supposed to be brought in.”
For tickets, MAD is offering two options: a dinner and party combo or party only tickets. The combo ticket includes a dinner at the Griffin Restaurant, with seating options at 5:30 p.m. or 8:30 p.m.
Both ticket options include entertainment by the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and DJ Drewster, who will be opening for the band.
There will also be a complimentary champagne toast at midnight, a live feed of the ball drop at Times Square, a photo booth, party favors and entry into the diamond ring giveaway.
Before Dec. 31, dinner and party combo tickets are $100 and party only tickets are $30. On the day of the event, tickets for the combo are $110 and party only tickets are $40.
Attendees must be 18-years or older to purchase a ticket for the event.
Kaitlyn Rigdon can be reached at 870-862-6611 or [email protected].