Christopher Columbus High School, a boys Catholic school in West Miami-Dade with its 50-year reputation for tough academics, might not be the first place to hear rock-n-roll cranking in the middle of a school day.

But Monday afternoon was a bit different. Oteil Burbridge, the longest-lasting bassist in the Allman Brothers Band's tumultuous 40-year history, jammed with members of the Columbus High School band on two songs.

Save Burbridge, no one on stage was born when the Allman Brothers' made-in-Florida hits like Ramblin' Man, Melissa and Midnight Rider dominated in the 1970s.

``It's pretty crazy considering that these guys were famous before I was even born,'' said drummer Paul Garcia, 18. ``Playing music and jamming with them is fun, it's exciting.''

Burbridge played bass on One Way Out and drums on the fiery jam, Statesboro Blues, staples first explored on the Allman Brothers' landmark At Fillmore East recording in 1971. The album came out two years after Daytona Beach brothers Gregg and Duane Allman formed the band in Jacksonville.

The group proved to be pioneers in Southern rock by blending blues, country and jazz, often in lengthy improvisational jams. But the success brought tragedies. Lead guitarist Duane Allman was killed in 1971 in a motorcycle accident in Macon, Ga. A year later, founding bassist Berry Oakley died in a motorcycle accident just a few blocks from where Allman had his fatal crash.

The group still adds new members and tours to this day. Tuesday, they're performing at Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Casino near Hollywood.

The Columbus gig was an idea between old friends Kirk West, the Allman Brothers' tour manager, and John Lynskey, a 1978 Columbus graduate who returned to the school 26 years ago to teach 12th grade history.

Lynskey, who fell in love with the group after the Fillmore album, publishes Hittin' the Note, a quarterly magazine devoted to the band and similar classic rock and blues musicians. The publication was how his friendship began with West and the band -- and led to the Columbus jam session.

``It was Kirk's idea because they had a day off,'' Lynskey said. ``He said, `Why don't I come down to your school and hang out?' I thought it was a great idea. And Oteil was wonderful enough to agree and here we are.''

The band is involved in the Big House Project in Macon, Ga., a home which is in the process of being converted into a museum and which hosts after-school music programs for underprivileged youth.

``There is no more music in the public schools,'' West said. ``We're teaching kids African drumming at the elementary schools.''

Columbus served as an unexpected test case, West said.

``This is a testing of the validity of our high school program.''

The test, judging by the Columbus band members, was a success.

``For us musicians, this is a life-changing experience,'' said Juan Carlos Fleites, a 17-year-old senior who, like the visiting star, plays bass. ``Oteil's a really great bass player.''

``Ya'all don't need me,'' a clearly pleased Burbridge, 45, beamed as he exited the stage after his two numbers.

``People always ask what's it like playing with Gregg [Allman] and Derek Trucks and . . . this means just as much, if not more, in the grand scheme of things,'' Burbridge said. ``Everything plays an important part but stuff like this is totally motivated by the spiritual and, to me, that's the most rewarding.''