Miners Foundry begins Mardi Gras with legendary saxophonist Karl Denson

The Miners Foundry Cultural Center kicks off Mardi Gras weekend in Nevada County on Friday, February 13 with the heavy grooves, high-energy, shake-your-tail-feather music of Karl Denson’s Tiny
Universe featuring celebrated steel guitarist Roosevelt Collier.

For nearly three decades, legendary saxophonist Karl Denson has been getting crowds around the world out on the dance floor. Approaching iconic status, Denson has moved bodies and minds dating back to his earliest years with Lenny Kravitz’s band through his ongoing tenure as a founding member of seminal boogaloo revivalists The Greyboy Allstars and his current roll as a member of San Diego dub rockers Slightly Stoopid. Nowhere, however, is this more apparent than with his band, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe. Touring relentlessly for the past 15 years and leaving a massive audience in his wake, fans know that when KDTU is in town a dance party will ensue.

Denson and his band are back on the road for a multi-city tour in support of their latest studio album, New Ammo, an infectious 13-track collection, and Denson’s debut release on Slightly Stoopid’s record
label, Stoopid Records. Alongside Denson originals like the title track and “Everybody Knows That,” which have become fan favorites from his live sets, KDTU offers up searing versions of “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes, “Hang Me Up To Dry” by Cold War Kids and “Sure Shot” by The Beastie Boys. The first single “My Baby,” features Nicki Bluhm on vocals.

Joining Denson in KDTU is bassist Chris Stillwell, Chris Littlefield on trumpet, guitarist D.J. Williams, David Veith on keyboards and Max MacVeety on drums. For this upcoming run of club shows and festival appearances, acclaimed sacred steel guitarist Roosevelt Collier will make a special appearance in KDTU.

Soft-spoken by nature, South Florida-bred Collier does his hollering on the pedal steel guitar. Brought up in the “sacred steel” tradition of the House of God Church, Roosevelt built his reputation alongside
his uncles and cousins in The Lee Boys, known for their spirited, soul-shaking live performances. Seated front and center, “The Dr.” leaves an indelible mark on listeners, flooring audiences with his
lightning-fast slide work on the pedal steel. At festivals, he is a regular “Artist at Large,” performing alongside many of music’s most prestigious acts, from the Allman Brothers, to Los Lobos to the Del
McCoury Band. No matter what the context, when Roosevelt takes the stage the ear-to-ear grins can’t help but be contagious.

“Roosevelt Collier is the next up-and-coming gunslinger guitar player and I’m really happy that I got to know about him before he blows up,” says Denson. “My music has been moving more and more toward the blues. So this is a push in that direction.”

For more information about Mardi Gras in Nevada City visit here.

-Jesse Locks for Miners Foundry Cultural Center

Speak Your Mind

Tell us what you're thinking...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • Follow us on PinterestFollow us on Pinterest