Great Blues Come to Waltham May 19 for Excellent Cause

The Waltham Land Trust, our community’s primary environmental non-profit group, invites residents to its 14th Annual Green Space Blues Jam on Saturday, May 19th at the Hobbs Brook facility located at 175 Wyman St, Waltham. This year, local blues and jazz guitarist Michael Williams has put together an all-star band featuring vocalists Diane Blue and Darrell Nulisch.

Ms. Blue is a soul-stirring vocalist, skillful harmonica player and a crowd-pleasing entertainer. Voted "Outstanding Female Singer" in The Blues Audience 2015 and 2011 Readers' Polls, Ms. Blue is a soulful and sassy performer with a strong and energetic delivery, serving up her own spin on soul, blues and R&B. Diane has played harmonica and sung with guitarist extraordinaire Ronnie Earl, as well as international performers Luther Guitar Jr. Johnson (former sideman for Muddy Waters), Big Jack Johnson (of Clarksdale, Mississippi) and Irma Thomas (the Soul Queen of New Orleans), among others. Ms. Blue tours in the U.S. and abroad as a featured performer, in addition to her duties with the Broadcasters.

Darrell Nulisch is a blues singer and harmonica player. Prior to his solo career, he was a member of Anson Funderburgh and the Rockets, and is another alumnus of Ronnie Earl’s Broadcasters. Nulisch's repertoire incorporates soul combined with R&B and Chicago blues, redesigned to complement his distinctive vocals.

Michael Williams is a jazz and blues guitarist and Waltham resident. He has recently been performing with Grammy winner James Cotton, and has performed throughout the U.S. and Canada with Michelle Willson and others, including Mighty Sam McClain, David “Fathead” Newman, Sugar Ray Norcia, Tone Cool recording artists The Love Dogs, and blues piano virtuoso David Maxwell.

The night’s food (all you can eat) will be provided by Hobbs Brook Management and will have an Asian theme (see menu), including Thai spring rolls, bao buns, sushi, beef broccoli, teriyaki chicken, and vegetarian Pad Thai. Beer donated by Sam Adams, red and white wine provided by Dion’s, plus nonalcoholic beverages are included in the ticket price, which is $50 for Waltham Land Trust members purchased before May 13. Early bird non-member pricing is $65. Prices go up $5 the week of the event and are $75 at the door.

In addition to dining and dancing, there will be a huge silent auction with items that include activities and dinners in and around Waltham, homemade crafts, photography and useful services. This year we have a pair of tickets to a Boston Red Sox game!

It is not too late to sign on as a sponsor for our Green Space Blues Jam. All money that is raised will go directly to fund the mission of the Land Trust: to create a legacy of land conservation in Waltham by promoting, protecting, restoring and acquiring open space! The Land Trust would to thank the following sponsors: Hobbs Brook, Nelson Companies, Boston Properties, 128 Business Council, the Elinor and Jack Marcou Foundation, Failla and Defrancesco Family Dentistry, RTN, Watertown Savings Bank, East Cambridge Savings Bank, and the Downtown Waltham Partnership. To become a sponsor, contact Sonja at 781.893.3355 or swadman@walthamlandtrust.org.

Purchase tickets online today at www.walthamlandtrust.org!