EARLVILLE – The swinging west coast blues of Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers come to the Earlville Opera House on Saturday at 8 p.m. Classic Pharmaceuticals and WAER Jazz 88 sponsor the performance.

Rod Piazza and his band, The Mighty Flyers, have garnered a reputation as one of the best blues bands in the world today with their catchy West Coast style. From his first recordings as a leader in 1967 fronting The Dirty Blues Band, through his multiple W.C. Handy-award-winning releases with his current band, The Mighty Flyers, to his countless appearances with the most revered names in the blues, Piazza has established himself as one of the most influential living blues harp players. His influences owe a heavy debt to both Little Walter and George “Harmonica” Smith.

The band will include the blistering guitar of Henry Carvajal, the “in the pocket” drumming of David Kida combined with Honey Piazza’s boogie-woogie piano soloing making an apt foil for Rod’s chromatic harp work. Honey Piazza is a remarkable pianist, and rumor has it that she has been known to play the piano with her feet! Guitarist Henry Carvajal brings not only a pretty mean axe to the table but also a most impressive set of pipes that contribute to the smooth vocal harmonies of the band.