Blues

Little Joe McLerran Qua at Bahrain Music Institute

The American blues band, Little Joe McLerran Quartet, visited Bahrain from March 28 to April 3, singing the blues for Bahraini musicians, students, and music aficionados.  During their visit, they gave a public performance at the Cultural Hall for over 250 attendees and conducted educational programs for students.

On the first day of their program, the quartet conducted a 75-minute performance for 600 enthusiastic students from Abdulrahman Kanoo International School.  Many students joined the musicians on stage for a talent competition and several won free harmonicas.  The band also conducted a workshop at the Gifted Students Center in Muharraq.   Approximately 50 music students from various elementary, intermediate, and secondary public schools attended the session. 

The Little Joe McLerran Quartet gave a mini performance followed by master classes for musicians at the Bahrain Music Institute.  The evening concluded with a gig featuring Little Joe McLerran and Bahraini oud player Saad Jawad. 

Additionally, for the first time ever, the Embassy succeeded in bringing together 120 students and academia from various universities and schools in Bahrain for a single performance at the Royal University for Women.  The university students enjoyed the blues music and meeting one another.

Little Joe McLerran Quartet is traveling the region as part of The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad organized by Jazz at Lincoln Center for the Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.