Need relief from all the crazy? Put on your party dress, lace up your dancing shoes, and join us Thursday night at 8 for GROW’s first Blues Workshop Jam.
It promises to be a lively gathering, headlined by Donald Cesar, who has become a crowd favorite at GROW’s jazz shows.
A Louisiana native who now lives in Orangeburg, Cesar was born into a family whose musical heritage spans generations. His grandfather Alphonse “Bois Sec” Ardoin, was a pioneer of the gumbo that is zydeco, and was so accomplished that he earned a NEA Heritage Fellowship.
Small wonder that Ceasar would become a musician himself, learning to play the drums, keyboard, and harmonica. He has shared the stage with legendary artists, including John Delafose, Fats Domino, The Nevilles, B.B. King , Ruth Brown, Gatemouth Brown, Allen Toussaint, James Brown, The Platters, The Drifters, The Clovers, The Temptations, Tyrone Davis, Prince, and Dion Warwick, among many others. Cesar has performed at Spoleto, at various music festivals, and in venues across the South.
“He’s played with everybody,” said vocalist Sara Williams, a fixture in the local music scene and the original force behind GROW’s jazz workshops. “He brings such joy to his music that you can’t help but dance when he’s on stage. He’s also just a really good guy. I met up with him in DC when he drove Drink Small up there to receive a national award.”
Ceser has deep roots in the Creole tradition, and he plans to weave music history into the shows, making them true workshops.
“Cesar is a natural entertainer,” said Brett Bursey, executive director of the SC Progressive Network, the nonprofit overseeing GROW’s operations. “We are thrilled for the chance to showcase his extraordinary talent and help grow the blues community in Columbia.”
Blues workshops will be held 8–10pm every 2nd and 4th Thursday, will follow the style and spirit of the jazz workshops, which feature a core band, Justus, who are joined by musicians of various backgrounds and abilities each night. Some are regulars; some stop in every now and again. Every night is as different as the players on the stage, which keeps it interesting and fresh. The only constant is the warmth and camaraderie in the room.
“There is a generosity of spirit during these jam sessions that is a balm in these tough times,” said Becci Robbins, the Network’s communications director and GROW’s building manager. “Now I’ve got two more Thursdays each month to help me adjust my attitude. I swear it is the best therapy.”
As Ceasar himself commands, “Come get you some!”
GROW is located at 1340 Elmwood Ave. in the heart of Columbia. Easy parking. Doors open at 7:30. Music begins at 8. No cover, but we rely on donations to help support the artists and keep the lights on at GROW.
Questions? Call 803-808-3384 or email network@scpronet.com.
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Check out one of Cesar’s first performances at GROW, a rendition of Kansas City punctuated with white-hot harmonica.