Experience Diverse Musical Traditions with Eric Ramsey and Sean Gaskell
Two upcoming performances in Utah promise to immerse audiences in the rich traditions of Blues and African music. Eric Ramsey and Sean Gaskell, renowned for their mastery in their respective musical genres, will each hold a performance showcasing their unique talents and musical heritage.
Eric Ramsey: Blues Guitar Showcase, January 11, 2024, at 7 PM in the Rockville Community Center, 43 E Main, Rockville, UT. Tickets are available at www.zarts.org and cost $15 each.
Eric Ramsey, acclaimed for his blues guitar prowess, will be performing at the Rockville Community Center. A recipient of the International Blues Challenge and Memphis Cigar Box Guitar Award, Ramsey is celebrated for his skillful guitar work in the Solo/Duo category. His accomplishments include multiple championships at the Phoenix Blues Society’s Blues Showdown and finals at the Telluride Blues Challenge. Ramsey’s songwriting, deeply rooted in personal experiences and human emotions, spans a range of styles from delicate fingerpicking to vibrant bottleneck slide guitar. His performances, renowned on the Folk and Blues festival circuits, are as much a testament to his musical ingenuity as they are to his engaging stage presence.
Sean Gaskell: African Kora Performance and Demonstration, February 13, 2024, at 7 PM in the Canyon Community Center, 126 Lion Blvd, Springdale, Utah. Tickets are available on Eventbrite and at the door for $15 per person.
Sean Gaskell will present an educational performance on the kora, a 21-stringed West African harp, at the Canyon Community Center. Gaskell’s journey with the kora began in 2006, inspired by a performance by Kane Mathis. This experience led him to West Africa, where he studied under Moriba Kuyateh and the late Malamini Jobarteh in Brikama, Gambia. The kora, traditionally played by Griots (oral historians), features songs that encapsulate Mande society’s history, encompassing themes of war, love, and societal fabric. Gaskell’s extensive experience includes over 350 presentations across North America, where he has shared the kora’s history and music with diverse audiences.
Both events, presented by the Zion Canyon Arts & Humanities Council (Z-Arts), offer unique opportunities to delve into the world of American Blues and traditional African Kora music. Fans of diverse musical traditions should not miss these captivating performances by two distinguished artists.
