Cephas & Wiggins: ‘Ambassadors of the Blues'

| 29 Sep 2011 | 11:29

Hackettstown - NEA Heritage Award winning guitarist “Bowlin’ Green” John Cephas and “Harmonica Phil” Wiggins will bring their classic brand of the Piedmont Blues to the Centenary Performing Arts Guild in Hackettstown, Saturday, Feb. 10 at 8 p.m. The duo plays East Coast Piedmont blues first popularized by artists like Blind Boy Willie McTell , Rev. Gay Davis and Blind Blake. Heard regularly on National Public Radio, Cephas and Wiggins have performed all over the world, including the White House inaugural party for President Clinton in 1997. They present a solid mix of music fueled by Cephas’ gently rolling guitar and vocals and driven by Wiggins’ freight-train chugging harmonica. “People automatically think of sadness and depression when they think of the blues,” said harmonica virtuoso, Phil Wiggins, “but the blues is uplifting music, music to rejuvenate you, to nourish the spirit.” The Washington Post declared, “Cephas and Wiggins are giants, weaving harmonica and voice and guitar together so seamlessly … with remarkable duets that literally pull people out of their seats ... a marvelous and essential journey.” Rhythms, melodies and slide-guitar work combine with harmonica solos to make some of the evening’s most memorable music. A special workshop with the artists will be offered at the Centenary Performing Arts Guild in Hackettstown, on Saturday, Feb. 10, at 4 p.m.. The workshop fee for guitarists and harmonica players will be $10, and participants must reserve in advance by calling 908-979-0900, extension 5. The workshop fee may be deducted from the purchase price of a ticket for the 8 p.m. concert. Tickets for Cephas and Wiggins are $20 for adults, $17.50 for seniors and students and $15 for children under 12, and are available through the Centenary Performing Arts Guild at 908-979-0900, and online at www.centenarystageco.org. Box office hours are 2 to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday and two hours prior to each performance. Performances at the Centenary Performing Arts Guild are made possible by The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the New Jersey State Council for the Arts and Guild members and sponsors.