Family jazz band featured at ‘Music as Medicine’ concert

From left: Lars Erickson, his son, Adam, wife Lisa and son, Alek, will perform today during the “Music as Medicine” concert in the Durham Outpatient Center’s West Atrium. The show starts at noon and is sponsored by the UNMC College of Nursing.

Omaha’s Burt St. Boys and Daughters will be featured during Thursday’s “Music as Medicine” concert.

The show, which is sponsored by the College of Nursing, starts at noon in the Durham Outpatient Center’s West Atrium.

The band is a six-piece jazz ensemble featuring the Erickson family. Father Lars plays piano and mother Lisa plays flute. The couple’s four children also play with Alek on bass, Adam behind the drums, Emma on cello and Helen on clarinet.

From left: Emma and Helen Erickson will make their “Music as Medicine” concert series debuts today when they perform with their family’s band, The Burt St. Boys and Daughters. This is the band’s third year performing during the “Music as Medicine” series.

The band covers a wide swath of musical ground during its performances, which may include music from J.S. Bach and jazz great Herbie Hancock in the same set. The band also plays several original tunes by Lars Erickson.

“Over the many years of my career, there have been moments when a magical force begins to take over,” Lars Erickson said. “It transcends the music and connects with something deep within the spirit. For me, it does not happen often enough, but when it does, I try to define it better so that I might be able to get closer the next time. It is elusive. It is the groove.”

This is the third year the band will play during the “Music as Medicine” series. It will be the first year daughters Emma and Helen will play with the band.

The next concert in the “Music and Medicine” series will be held March 15 and will feature jazz vocalist, Heidi Joy.