A Birmingham jazz trio that is also the house band for a Tuscaloosa burlesque troupe will play a gig at Marty’s in Five Points South Sunday night, and some of the burlesque performers are scheduled to attend the show in costume.
The PBB Jazz Band will play Marty’s on Sunday, Dec. 12, from 8-11 p.m., and the gig is to be enlivened by the presence of several members of the Pink Box Burlesque troupe. Admission is $5.
We are told that there may even be some cameo performances by PBB performers. This is primarily a jazz gig, however, not a regular PBB show.
The jazz group features The Assassin on drums, Phatdaddy on bass and Colonel Booker on guitar (I was asked to use their stage names because one of the cats doesn’t want to get in trouble at his day job due to his affiliation with a burlesque troupe. You might say he needs to maintain what Courtney Love called “credit in the straight world”).
Guest performers for many of the gigs the band does with PBB include a trombonist called Reverend Hambone and singer and guitarist Ham Bagby.
The trio plays mostly original jazz tunes but mixes in some standards, according to an email from Phatdaddy. “Our goal is to play jazz that doesn't make people tired,” he says. “We like to take advantage of the natural rhythmic feel and power that comes with a bass, guitar and drums trio. I would say our songs depend on rhythm more than melody.”
According to an email from PBB leader Mama Dixie, she will attend the show at Marty’s along with Tesla Coil, Tempest Le Blanc, Bella Morte, Lady Jade and Foxy Renard. Also in attendance will be the troupe’s male performers, Rocky, Ragland, Hector, Jack the Stripper, Patsy and Vladimir, as well as “official curtain puller” Phil A. Tio.
Phatdaddy also functions as PB musical director, according to Mama Dixie. “[He is] an amazing bass player,” she says. “He and I are always sending notes about song and act ideas.” The PBB performers regularly attend performances by their house band, according to Mama Dixie. “We support their gigs as often as we can,” she says. “It's a treat to hear them perform and be able to focus completely on them instead of juggling our own role in the show.”
PBB performs regularly in Tuscaloosa but last performed in Birmingham in March 2009 at the now-defunct Greencup Books.
To learn more about Pink Box Burlesque, go to www.pinkboxburlesque.com or visit their Facebook page.
Marty’s is located at 1813 10th Court South. For Marty’s, call (205) 939-0045 or visit www.martysbar.com.
Other articles about Pink Box Burlesque
Pink Box Burlesque offers a vaudeville variety show, Mark Hughes Cobb, Tuscaloosa News, October 2010.
Pink Box Burlesque to show film and some skin, Karissa Bursch, The Crimson White, October 2010.
Get a Clue with Pink Box Burlesque, Bebe Lloyd, theplanetweekly.com, September 2010.
Pink Box to perform at L&N Train Station, Jessica Kelly, The Crimson White, September 2010.
Pink Box Burlesque performs ‘Clue’, Jessica Kelly, The Crimson White, August 2010.
Pink Box Burlesque needs you, ladies, Jesse Chambers, bhamweekly.com, June 2009.
Pink Box Burlesque in Tuscaloosa Saturday, Jesse Chambers, bhamweekly.com, May 2009.
Pink Box Burlesque comes to Birmingham, Jesse Chambers, bhamweekly.com, April 2009.
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