Murray State's Departments of History and Student Affairs host the “Roots 6” concert tonight (Nov. 17) at 7:30 in Lovett Auditorium. They feature sets from The Gypsy Hombres performing world music and European jazz, international bluegrass artists the Vickie Vaughn Band and Emily Duff & Friends. Admission is free, but a donation of canned goods are requested for Need Line. On Sounds Good, Tracy Ross speaks with Ted Belue about the concert.
The Gypsy Hombres blend authentic gypsy swing/jazz and a Django Reinhardt style, Belue says. Peter Hyrka lives in Nashville and is a symphonic classical guitarist who often traveled to Europe and stayed with gypsies to study their style. Rory Hoffman is a blind left handed guitarist who playes it right handed upside down on his lap. They also play Gershwin and arrangements of classical music.
Ted Belue says he first heard Vickie Vaughn play at the Kentucky Opry when they needed a bass player on bluegrass night and she jumped in, played with all of the bands and sang the harmony parts. She has since moved to Nashville and has played in the Grand Ole Opry, recently finished a European tour with Patty Lovelace. She's a wonderful personality on stage and her band is blazing their own trail, he says.
Also performing tonight is Emily Duff and Friends. Belue says she was in his Roots music class several years ago. She now performs with the MSU Jazz Orchestra. Her friends tonight are Kala Dunn and Ted Belue.