"Mardi Gras Mambo" Shakes Things Up at the MAC March 6

The Dirty Dozen Band and Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas shake things up New Orleans style when "Mardi Gras Mambo" comes to the McAninch Arts Center at 7 p.m., Sunday, March 6. "The Dirty Dozen Brass Band continues to be a national treasure; steeped in both the past and the present, impossible to categorize and mighty funky,” says The New York Times; and BluesAccess says, “Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas are ready to take the music to the next level.” The festive evening includes Mardi Gras drink specials, beads and more. A free MAC Chat will follow the concert.

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band features Roger Lewis (Baritone Sax/Vocals), Kevin Harris (Tenor Sax/Vocals), Gregory Davis (Trumpet/Vocals), Kirk Joseph (Sousaphone), TJ Norris (Trombone/Vocals), Julian Addison (Drums) and Takeshi Shimmura (Guitar).

The Dirty Dozen Social Aid and Pleasure Club in New Orleans began in 1977 as a traditional Crescent City brass band. It was a joining of a proud tradition of social aids and pleasure clubs dating back over a century to a time when Black southerners could rarely afford life insurance, and the clubs provided proper funeral arrangements. Brass bands, early predecessors of jazz, would often follow the funeral procession playing somber dirges, then once the family of the deceased was out of earshot, burst into jubilant tunes as casual onlookers danced in the streets. By the late '70s, few of these clubs existed and The Dirty Dozen Social Aid and Pleasure Club decided to assemble this group as a house band.

Today, 45 years later, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band is world-famous as the pioneers of the modern New Orleans brass band movement incorporating the traditional foundation of brass band music into a blend of genres including Bebop Jazz, Funk and R&B/Soul. They have toured this unique sound across five continents and more than 30 countries. Additional achievements include 12 studio albums and collaborations with a range of artists from Modest Mouse to Widespread Panic to Norah Jones and The Doobie Brothers.

Growing up in a Creole-speaking home in St. Martinville, La., band founder Nathan Williams sought out the music of Zydeco originators. Later, while recovering from a serious illness, he decided to dedicate himself to learning the accordion. That dedication blossomed into a successful career and, in 1985, he formed The Cha-Chas. Since then, Williams and the band have shared their unique take on regional South Louisiana music around the world and nationally at esteemed venues including New York’s Lincoln Center, Washington’s Kennedy Center and Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry. Nathan’s personal honors include induction into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame and the Zydeco Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Additional band honors include having been voted the top Festival Band in the country and securing the coveted Big Easy award for Best Zydeco Band for several years running. Nathan and his band have been featured in the New York Times, Essence and People magazines, and on the cover of USA Today. They have worked with artists as diverse as Cindy Lauper, Michael Doucet and Buddy Guy.

In addition to Nathan (accordion/vocals), other members of the band include Dennis Paul Williams (lead guitar, backing vocals), Wayne “Blue” Burns (bass), Allen “Cat Roy” Broussard (alto and tenor saxophones), Gerard St. Julien (drums) and Mark Anthony Williams (rubboard).

"Mardi Gras Mambo" featuring the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas comes to McAninch Arts Center, located at 425 Fawell Blvd. on the campus of College of DuPage, 7 p.m. Sunday, March 6. Tickets are $55-$65. For tickets or more information, visit AtTheMAC.org or call the MAC Box Office at 630.942.4000. The Box Office is open Tuesday through Sunday, 12 noon to 6 p.m. and one hour prior to performance.

MAC COVID-19 Policy for Seated Events | Masks that cover both the nose and the mouth and are required as is proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative test (regardless of age). As this guidance is rapidly evolving, so may MAC protocols. Visit AtTheMAC.org or call the MAC Box Office at 630.942.4000 for the most up to date information.