Watch Greensky Bluegrass’ Paul Hoffman & Friends Jump Into Electrifying ‘Leap Year’ On Jam Cruise 19

Jam Cruise 20 runs from February 25 – March 1 aboard the MSC Divina giving extra significance to latest official video rolled out from last year’s trip. The clip features Paul Hoffman‘s performance of “Leap Year” in honor of the musical adventure at sea celebrating February 29, a special day that only comes around once every four years.

Hoffman’s phoff set on February 10, 2023 found the Greensky Bluegrass mandolinist and vocalist accompanied on the main stage by guitarist Jay Cobb Anderson, bassist Jeff Leonard and drummer Tyler Thompson of Fruition as well as The Lil Smokies dobroist Andy Dunnigan and fiddler Jake Simpson. Additionally, The Horn Section (Cool Cool Cool, ex-Turkuaz) joined the core band for the last two songs of the 75-minute performance including the “Leap Year” finale.

The eight-song set came together quickly as Hoffman boarded Jam Cruise 19 mere hours before taking the stage. Despite the limited rehearsal time, the performance was among the highlights of the trip.

Greensky Bluegrass originally released the Hoffman-penned original “Leap Year” on the band’s 2014 album, If Sorrows Swim. The song has been played over 400 times by GSBG since its live debut on July 28, 2012 in Lyons, Colorado during a RockyGrass Festival late-night performance.

Paul Hoffman exchanged his mandolin for an acoustic guitar ahead of the “Leap Year” performance. The Horn Section — comprised of trumpeter Chris Brouwers, tenor saxophonist Greg Sanderson and baritone saxophonist Josh Schwartz — added brass accents at the ideal moments. Andy Dunnigan, Jake Simpson, Jay Cobb Anderson and Greg Sanderson each had a chance to rip solos during the extended version of “Leap Year” that ran nearly 10 minutes.

See official video of Paul Hoffman & Friends’ “Leap Year” captured on Jam Cruise 19 below:

Jam Cruise 20 sets sail from and returns to Miami after port stops in Montego Bay, Jamaica and Grand Cayman. The trip will include performances by moe., Medeski Martin & Porter featuring Aba Diop, Cory Wong, Jerry Harrison & Adrian Belew Remain In Light, Galactic featuring Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph and dozens more.

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