Jazz Beat: Mark Southerland’s Mardi Ra, at Take Five Coffee + Bar

Eclectic. Offbeat. Downright weird. These are some of the words that come to mind when considering Mark Southerland’s jazz. He performs with a sax plus instruments of his own creation, including sax variations that twist and swirl into oddball shapes, sometimes making bleeps and sometimes finding notes that traditional instruments don’t produce. Costuming is integral to the presentation. Already an imposing figure, Southerland may dress in wild multicolored shirts and robes, which add to the outlandishness. This night, he is joined by Bill McKemy on sousaphone, Nick Howell on trumpet, Clarke Wyatt on keyboards and Arny Young on drums for a show best described as Sun Ra meets Mardi Gras. It’s Mardi Ra. Bring your own beads.