Grand Jubilee's "New South," left to right, Scott Leven, Try Wilson, Jason Pritchett and Mark McCauley

What do you get when you take one of the most talented quartets in Branson and combine it with a supporting cast of some of the best musicians in Branson and a multitalented comedian? Well, if you add in accomplished soloists, a master of ceremonies with more pairs of colored boots than Carter’s used to have little liver pills, who also plays straight man to the comedian, produces the show and insures its flow from one extremely entertaining element to the next you have a great show and a grand Branson entertainment experience called the “Grand Jubilee.”

This writer had a chance to see the Grand Jubilee show, appearing at the Grand Country Music Hall in Branson, Missouri, on the evening of January 27. He was absolutely amazed at how fast two hours slipped by and the talent in this show. Not just its lead quartet “New South,” but its musicians, other singers, comedian and even the Master of Ceremonies.

The quartet “New South,” composed of Scott Leven, Tenor; Trey Wilson, Lead Singer; Jason Pritchett, Baritone and Mark McCauley, Bass, is the featured element of the show. As a quartet their beautiful harmonies on a variety of music is a wonderful musical entertainment experience in itself, but combine it with great costuming and production and their performance becomes part of a great entertainment experience.

From a pure singing perspective, among other numbers, New South’s rendition of the J. D. Souther hit, “How Long” and the inspirational “How Great Thou Art” demonstrates why “New South” is billed as “Branson’s best quartet.” However, in addition to the great singing there is production and what this writer refers to as choreography involved with many of their numbers. One example was their performance of “YMCA” as part of the “70’s Medley” in the second half of the show. The costuming and their “extrasinging” performance during the number was outstanding. How does Mark McCauley make all those moves?

The “Grand Band,” composed of Michael Davis, Piano; Wayne Massengale, Fiddle; Larry Allred, Bass Guitar, Robbie Blackwood, Drums and Matt Hanshaw, Lead Guitar, is in a word, “Grand.” Their instrumentality, as demonstrated in virtually every number during the show, their solo performance of a Bluegrass LaLaPaLooza and featured performances in numbers such as “Kentucky River,” is outstanding.

Trey Wilson and Jackie Brown peforming "Every Time Two Fools Collide."

Todd Bradshaw and Jackie Brown do a great job as the shows other feature vocalists. Two of this writer’s favorite numbers were Bradshaw’s performance of the George Jones hit, “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” with Massengale featured on the fiddle and Brown’s duet performance of the Kenny Rogers Dottie West hit “Every Time Two Fools Collide” with New South’s Trey Wilson.

Grand Jubilee’s comedy is provided by comedian “Jim Dandy,” played by Jamie Haage, with the assistance of the Master of Ceremonies and “straight man” Mike Patrick and it’s one funny laugh filled routine after another. One thing is for sure, not only is the audience constantly laughing and having fun watching their antics, but by the end of the night they will know exactly what Jim Dandy did with the hand grenade.

Comedy however, is only the beginning of Haage’s talents. He is an accomplished instrumentalist and sings. His rendition of “Nine to Five” is one of the most unusual and funny this writer has ever seen and heard. It will have you laughing even as his presentations of “Mama Don’t Allow” and “Mama’s Teaching Angels” leave you amazed and reflecting.

The shows Master of Ceremonies, comedy straight man, and producer, is Mike Patrick. From beginning to end he uses the considerable talents of each of the shows individual elements, including his own, to develop a synergy resulting in a show that truly is a “grand” Branson entertainment experience.

For additional information or tickets on the “Grand Jubilee” or any another Branson show, attraction or lodging, please contact the Branson Tourism Center (BTC). It is one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services, sellers of Branson show tickets, attraction tickets and lodging and may be contacted by either calling its toll free number 1-800-785-1550 or through their website www.BransonTourismCenter.com.