The UGA Performing Arts Center presents Hotlanta Dixieland Jazz, at left, on Feb. 9 at 8 p.m. in Hodgson Concert Hall. Tickets are $20 and $15 (half-price for UGA students).
Based in Atlanta, this world-renowned ensemble takes audiences back to New Orleans during the early decades of the 20th century, sharing the joy, energy and humor of the early American jazz known as Dixieland. Hotlanta’s concerts feature songs from composers such as Fats Waller, Hoagy Carmichael, Louis Armstrong and Jelly Roll Morton as well as audience requests.
Founded by Don Erdman in 1990, Hotlanta Dixieland Jazz has performed extensively throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia, in clubs and festivals from Spain to Singapore to Saudi Arabia. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution commented, “Jazz fans are passionate over Hotlanta when they show off their revved-up renditions of everything from prewar New Orleans chestnuts to postwar Duke Ellington standards.”
Hotlanta’s recordings include “Happy Feet,” “Live In Concert,” “Strictly Instrumental,” “There Ain’t No Jazz Like Dixieland,” “Our Greatest Hits,” “Blue Skies, “Keepin’ Out Of Mischief” and “Basin Street Blues.”
The members of Hotlanta Dixieland Jazz are Don Erdman (clarinet/saxophone), Bill Rutan (banjo/vocals), Hal Johnson (tuba), UGA alumnus Greg McLean (cornet/arranger/composer), Neal McElroy (trombone) and Ray Trant (drums).