Big Hillbilly Bluegrass Band Delivers 4 Stunning Performances
The Big Hillbilly Bluegrass Band, including band leader Bob Perilla, fiddler Tad Marks, banjo man Mike Munford, vocalist Elizabeth Day and newcomer Merl Johnson on bass and mandolin, departed Tbilisi this morning for Dushanbe, Tajikistan, after completing a brilliant series of four American bluegrass concerts. The group began their tour on Saturday, May 20 in Zugdidi. After a warm welcome by the Governor of Samegrelo, Zaza Gorozia, and a hike in the nearby mountains, the band gave a concert in Zugdidi at the new movie theater “Atrium.” The Zugdidi audience was full of children, who jumped at the chance to dance to the toe-tapping music with beautiful Elizabeth Day.
The next day the bluegrass band crossed the Enguri Bridge into Abkhazia, where they enjoyed a tour of the city of Sukhumi, including the seaside, botanical gardens and historical sites, led by Nugzar Logua and Damir Gulia of the de facto authorities. That evening they performed a historic concert at the State Drama Theater, the first American group ever to perform in Abkhazia. They were joined by the Abkhaz group “Apsne 67.” U.S. Ambassador John Tefft addressed the audience prior to the concert. The American and Abkhaz musicians entertained guests at a post-concert party hosted by Ambassador Tefft, and the bluegrass band finished off the night by playing a few songs for the troops at the United Nations Observer Mission Compound in Sukhumi.
Monday, May 22 Mr. Logua showed the band wonderful Abkhaz hospitality, including a tour of the New Afon Monastery and caves and lunch in a traditional Abkhaz “patskha” (hut). The Americans had such a good time with their Abkhaz hosts that the start of the concert that evening in Senaki was delayed by an hour, but the late start did not seem to dampen the enthusiasm of the many adults and children who clapped, stomped and danced with Elizabeth. No autograph seeker in Senaki went away disappointed, as the group signed autographs for nearly an hour after the performance.
After a well-deserved break, the Big Hillbilly Bluegrass Band got back to work on Wednesday, May 24 with a master class at QSI Tbilisi International School, where they played several songs, demonstrating the instruments and rhythms integral to the bluegrass sound, and played one number with a couple of talented teenage rock guitarists. Later that evening the band entertained guests at the U.S. Ambassador’s residence. This performance included the Tbilisi State Theater and Film University Quartet, who performed several songs alone and then collaborated with the Americans on a couple of unique and exciting numbers. To the delight of all guests who remained at the event after a country dinner hosted by Ambassador Tefft’s spouse, Mariella Tefft, the two musical groups had a long jam session that blended traditional Georgian polyphonic vocals with American bluegrass instrumentals.
|
