Doors at 8:30 pm; Show at 9:00 pm

Tickets are $12

World Beatnix makes its Ashkenaz debut with a global dance party where no passport is needed. With an array of electric and acoustic instruments the group creates its own celebratory music based on traditional rhythms and vocals from Afro-beat to Egyptian to the Cajun bayou, from Colombia and Brazil to Celtic Europe, combined with elements of jazz, funk and psychedelic music.

The band started as an outgrowth the music education program started in 1990 by Michael DiMartino, who had been primary musician for the University of California at Santa Cruz’s dance department. Focusing on world dance music, he created World Beatnix as a cultural education program using all-ages percussion and rhythm workshops and performances for everything from self-empowerment to community building.

The World Beatnix band is DiMartino on percussion, ethnic wind instruments and vocals; bassist Ajeet Campbell; drummer Kit Bailey; guitarist Todd Gardener; keyboardist Jim Wendt; and Jim Trefathen on various horns. The group will release its second CD of original music this spring.