Campbell Brothers & Micahel Gregory Jackson to Play Pettoranello Gardens, 7/18

The Campbell Brothers will bring their Sacred Steel: African-American gospel music on a double bill with acclaimed jazz-fusion guitar wizard Michael Gregory Jackson on Saturday, July 18, 7:00 p.m. Presented by Blue Curtain, this FREE concert takes place at Pettoranello Gardens, Community Park North, Route 206 and Mountain Avenue.

Masters of a little-known American musical tradition, the Campbell Brothers have helped create a unique steel guitar-driven sound called sacred steel: African American gospel with electric steel guitars and soaring vocals. The virtuosic group features Chuck Campbell, a National Heritage Fellow and "the Jimi Hendrix and Django Reinhardt of the steel guitar" (Real Blues), and his brothers Darick and Phil, along with a rhythm section.

The New York Times said, "The Campbell Brothers play music that until recently was heard only in gospel churches, with pedal steel guitar lines swooping skyward like a gospel shouter; two Campbell brothers trade off leads, carrying the songs to peak after peak."

The Campbell Brothers present a compelling, rich variety of material from the African-American Holiness-Pentecostal repertoire with a new twist: the growling, wailing, shouting, singing and swinging voice of the steel guitar, played as you have never heard it played before.

Michael Gregory Jackson is one of the most influential and innovative guitarists to emerge during NYC's avant-garde loft scene in the 70s, has embraced everything from avant-garde, creative music, jazz, blues, rock and electronica soundscapes to harmonically rich and lyrically deep vocal tunes. Jackson has been called "one of the most lyrical musicians working today...singularly personal and arresting and one of contemporary music's few genuine poets" (Down Beat). Jackson paved the way for the Black Rock movement of the 1980s, recorded for Arista and Island and headed the power trio Signal. He has worked with the likes of Carlos Santana and Patti LaBelle.

Concert-goers are encouraged to come early and enjoy the beautiful outdoor setting and amphitheater at Pettoranello Gardens. This concert is presented by Blue Curtain and Princeton Recreation Department.