TONY DAGRADI: Tribute to Art Blakey

For nearly four decades he has made his home in New Orleans, performing on tenor and soprano saxophone with many of the Crescent City’s most celebrated artists, including Ellis Marsalis Jr, Allen Toussaint, Professor Longhair, James Booker, The Meters, Dr. John, James Black, Johnny Adams and Gatemouth Brown. An accomplished classical performer as well, he’s often called upon to augment the woodwind section of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. His performing past also includes five years as a member of the internationally acclaimed Carla Bley Band and appearances and recordings with Bobby McFerrin, Mose Allison and Nat Adderley.

Dagradi is most well known for his work with Astral Project, an adventurous quartet formed in 1978 made up of top New Orleans players dedicated to playing cutting-edge improvisational music. Over the years the band has performed throughout the world, garnering universal praise as one of the most innovative, compelling jazz bands anywhere, and still active today, over 40 years strong. 

Since 1990, Dagradi has also been a Professor of Saxophone and Jazz Studies at Loyola University New Orleans where he maintains a large saxophone studio, teaches classes in improvisation, and directs various ensembles. 

Tony Dagradi – tenor, soprano saxophones  

Wess Anderson – alto saxophone 

Jamil Sharif – trumpet 

Michael Pellera – piano 

Ed Wise – bass 

Johnny Vidacovich – drums 

Doors at 7:00pm & 9:30pm. 

Restaurant is Open 6pm – 10pm for dinner before or after your showtime. 

Advance Ticket-Holders can also make table reservations for dinner by Emailing info@snugjazz.com after your tickets have been purchased online. All dinner table reservations must be attached to advance concert tickets. Dinner Service without Advance Concert Tickets is first-come, first-served based on availability upon arrival. 

Full Bar is Open 6pm – Midnight for all, on show nights, with or without tickets. 

Kind Reminder:  Snug Harbor does not serve food inside the Music Room. In order to preserve the integrity, quiet and focus of our world class intimate concerts, only cocktails and soft drinks are available for table service inside the Music Room. However, we encourage you to arrive 90 Minutes prior to your showtime in order to enjoy full, relaxing dinner service in the Dining Room right next door, before getting seated in the Music Room for the show. 8pm ticket holders can also enjoy dinner, dessert or appetizers after the show, with Dining Room seating only guaranteed by submitting your table request before 8pm. 

 As announced by the City of New Orleans, as of March 24th, Snug Harbor is no longer requiring valid proof of Covid vaccination or negative test for entry, and while masks are still suggested when not actively eating or drinking indoors, they are now optional for all. We are also now seating at just under our regular audience capacity. 

However, with our intimate venue’s regularly limited seating capacity, advance tickets are still strongly suggested in order to guarantee seats for this show.