This is a shout out to everyone at Merrimack Repertory Theatre who brought audiences an outstanding production of The Devil’s Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith, featuring Miche Braden in the lead role. A hot three-piece band made up of Jim Hankins on bass, Aaron Graves on piano, and Anthony F. Nelson on sax accompanied the powerful singing of Miche  Braden. Kudos to the set artists, also, for creating the richly textured context for the story. My wife, Rosemary, and I attended this past week on UMass Lowell Night, along with a contingent of about 50 people from the university.

Web photo courtesy of Merrimack Repertory Theatre