Enjoy Irish rock from Larry Kirwan on March 15 and jazz from Danilo Perez on March 28
The Times
Bucks County Community College is presenting “Celtic Crushing: Larry Kirwan’s St. Patrick’s Concert” at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 15, as part of the Bucks Live! concert series.
Kirwan, the former bandleader of Black 47 and host of “Celtic Crush” on SiriusXM, returns to Bucks to bring a mix of contemporary Celtic rock and traditional Irish tunes for what’s sure to be a raucous show. Kirwan will be joined by another Black 47 alumnus, piper/fiddler/flautist/vocalist Andrew Sharp, to revisit many of the B-47 songs that have become standards, including “Funky Ceili” and “Livin’ in America.” They’ll add in new music and songs from Kirwan’s musical theatre career, including “Hard Times,” expected to debut on Broadway this fall.
Bucks County’s own Hobnail will perform traditional Irish songs in the theater lobby, free for all, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. After the show, Kirwan will be available for a meet-and-greet in the merchandise sale area for photos and autographs.
The concert takes place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 15 in the Kevin and Sima Zlock Performing Arts Center, located inside the Gateway Center building on the campus at 275 Swamp Road, Newtown, where there is ample free parking. The theater is equipped with audio-loop technology for the hearing impaired.
Tickets are $15 general admission and free for BCCC students with current ID. In addition, a limited number of VIP tickets are available for $30, which includes a pre-concert reception with light hors d’oeuvres and two glasses of wine or beer. VIP ticket holders must be 21 or older.
BCCC will then welcome Danilo Perez’s Global Messengers at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 28.
The show features music that can be described as straight-ahead jazz with a world music vibe. Perez, who got his start playing with Dizzy Gillespie, won a 2019 Grammy with Wayne Shorter’s band for Best Jazz Instrumental Album. He launched his Global Messengers project to advance a mission in which the audience experiences the ancient practice of building community through music.
When discussing the healing properties of music, the Panamanian jazz pianist, humanitarian and educator speaks of “recovering the function of the artist as a tool to redirect humanity in a positive direction.”
The Global Messengers came to fruition through the culture and experiences of its members, hailing from the United States, Palestine, Greece, Jordan, and Panama. Farayi Malek (vocals), Vasilis Kostas (laouto), Layth Al-Rubaye (violin), Naseem Alatrash (cello), Tareq Rantisi (percussion), and Perez use their talents to make an impression through beautiful melodies and strikingly syncopated rhythms.
Perez serves as a UNESCO Artist for Peace, cultural ambassador to the Republic of Panama, founder and artistic director of the Panama Jazz Festival, as well as founder and artistic director of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute in Boston’s Berklee College of Music.
The concert takes place at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 28, in the Zlock Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $25 general admission. In addition, a limited number of VIP tickets are available for $35.
Tickets can be purchased at bucks.edu/tickets or at the door. Discounts are available for Bucks employees, alumni, seniors, active military, and group sales. Call the box office at 215–968–8469 for information.
