SARASOTA, FL: The 39th Sarasota Jazz Festival, “Generations of Jazz,” explodes into town with a full week of music and excitement! In seven days–from Sunday, March 3, through Saturday, March 9–the Jazz Club of Sarasota presents 120+ musicians in 49+ events at the Hyatt Regency and 14 other locations at prices from free to $55, with hotel, VIP and discount packages available. The festival has gotten so large, in fact, that it’s spilled over to Mar. 10 for one event.
Festival week opens with Jazz in the Park, a free outdoor concert with three bands, on Sunday, March 3. During the week the music is wall-to-wall inside the Hyatt and block-to-block during the Pub Crawl by Trolley to ten night clubs. Presentations at the Hyatt include five genres of jazz: straight-ahead on the main stage plus blues, Latin, classic and contemporary jazz on four themed stages.
In the four mainstage concerts, music director Ken Peplowski (“arguably the greatest living jazz clarinetist,” according to BBC2) pairs jazz legends with rising stars. Even younger artists–the top three winners of the Jazz Club’s High School Band Contest–make their mainstage debut. Featured performers are DICK HYMAN, BILL CHARLAP, SHELLY BERG (piano); RANDY BRECKER, RANDY SANDKE, JAMES SUGGS (trumpet);HOUSTON PERSON, ROXY COSS, AARON JOHNSON (saxophone); JOHN LAMB (bass); and MARY STALLINGS and CHARLES TURNER (vocals); UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI FROST CONCERT JAZZ BAND; LA LUCHA (festival house band: ALEJANDRO ARENAS, (bass), MARK FEINMAN (drums) and JOHN O’LEARY (piano).
“Jazz Goes to the Movies” on two mornings as musicians play a live introduction to the classic film “‘Round Midnight” starring Dexter Gordon. This wide-ranging festival also includes a theatrical presentation, the workshop production of a new play with music, Lil & Louis, about the Armstrongs, the “first couple of jazz.” When two performances sold out a third was added on Sunday, March 10.
A brief schedule appears below. For details, visit www.sarasotajazzfestival.org, email admin@jazzclubsarasota.com, or phone 941.366.1552 (Mon.-Fri., 9-5). You won’t want to miss a beat!
SUNDAY, MARCH 3, 12-4 pm: JAZZ IN THE PARK• FREE • Outdoor Concert with three bands.
Phillippi Estate Park, 5500 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34231: Manatee High School Jazz Band, Sarasota Jazz Project Orchestra, The Fabulous Gregg Caputo Quartet. (Food and beveragesavailable for purchase. No coolers, please. Bring folding chairs.)
MONDAY, MARCH 4 & TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 7:30 pm: LIL & LOUIS • Theatrical Event. Sold outbut see added performance below for Sunday, March 10, at 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6
- 9:30 am–12:30 pm: JAZZ GOES TO THE MOVIES • A film with a live jazz introduction.Burns Court Cinema, 506 Burns Court, Sarasota, FL 34236. JEREMY CARTER(saxophone) and JOHN O’LEARY (piano) set the mood for the musical drama ’Round Midnight with live music. Admission: Members, $10; Nonmembers $15 (plus processing fee) or VIP or Combo Ticket
- 5-6:15 pm: VIP BOATHOUSE OPENING RECEPTION. Hyatt Regency Hotel Marina (behind the hotel), 1000 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota, FL 34236. Admission: VIP ticket.
- 6:30-9:30 pm: TWO CONCERTS. Mainstage, Hyatt Regency Hotel Ballroom. HOST: Carlos Pagan, TV producer
- 6:30-7 pm: HIGH SCHOOL WINNING BAND. Pine View Jazz Ensemble, directed by Vic Mongillo; first-place winner of the Jazz Club’s High School Jazz Band Competition. Mainstage, Hyatt Regency Ballroom
- 7:30 PM: KEN PEPLOWSKI PRESENTS GENERATIONS OF JAZZ. Amazing trumpets: Legendary Randy Brecker, rising star James Suggs, special guest Randy Sandke. Also, Houston Person on saxophone, exciting young vocalist, Charles Turner.
Admission to both concerts: Members, $45; Nonmembers $55 (plus fee) or VIP or combo ticket.
- 9:30 pm: VIP “Meet & Greet.” Hyatt Regency Hotel. Admission: VIP ticket.
THURSDAY, MARCH 7
- 9:30 am–12:30 pm: JAZZ GOES TO THE MOVIES • A film with a live jazz introduction.Burns Court Cinema, 506 Burns Court, Sarasota, FL 34236. See description for March 6, 9:30 am, above.
- 22nd ANNUAL JAZZ PUB CRAWL BY TROLLEY • 10 Sarasota venues. 5:30 pm, Trolleys begin boarding at Van Wezel parking lot; 6:00-10 pm, area-based musicians play in 10 clubs. Hop on and off the trolleys to hear ten bands. Admission: by wristband obtained from the Jazz Club office* or at the trolleys. Advance sales, $20; Day of event, $25 (plus processing fees) or VIP or combo ticket.
FRIDAY, MARCH 8
- Noon-5:00 pm: FOUR JAZZ-THEMED STAGES • 1 TICKET • 4 STAGES • 8 BANDS • 16 PERFORMANCES. Hyatt Regency Hotel. Spend a lively afternoon moving among four themed stages. Hear four styles of jazz by national and regional musicians: Blues (SELWYN BIRCHWOOD , LAUREN MITCHELL). Latin (TOM CARABASI, JOE DELANEY). Classic (KATT HEFNER, GENE BERTONCINI). Contemporary (JEREMY CARTER, HIRAM HAZLEY).Admission: Members, $30; Nonmembers $40 (plus processing fee) or VIP or Combo ticket.
- 6:30-9:30 pm: TWO CONCERTS. Mainstage, Hyatt Regency Hotel Ballroom. HOST: MIKE CORNETTE, director of jazz & on-air host, WUSF 89.7 FM, University of South Florida, Tampa
- 6:30-7 pm: HIGH SCHOOL WINNING BAND. Sarasota High Admirals under director Chuck Alfrey; third-place winner in the Jazz Club’s High School Jazz Band Competition
- 7:30 PM: KEN PEPLOWSKI PRESENTS GENERATIONS OF JAZZ. Showcase of younger reed stars Roxy Coss and Aaron Johnson, joined by veterans Houston Person and Peplowski. Also, renowned lady of song Mary Stallings, La Lucha rhythm section, pianist Shelly Berg and vocalist Charles Turner.
Admission: Members, $45; Nonmembers $55 (plus processing fee) or VIP or Combo ticket.
- 9:30 pm: VIP “MEET & GREET.” Hyatt Regency Hotel. Admission: VIP ticket.
SATURDAY, MARCH 9
- Noon-2:20 pm: FOUR JAZZ-THEMED STAGES: 1 TICKET • 4 STAGES • 4 BANDS • 8 PERFORMANCES & TWO BONUS CONCERTS. Hyatt Regency Hotel. Spend a lively afternoon moving among four themed stages. Hear four styles of jazz by national and regional musicians: Blues (BETTY FOX). Latin (FRANKIE PINEIRO). Classic (ALLAN VACHÉ). Contemporary (MARLON BOONE).
- Noon-2:20 pm: TWO SPECIAL BONUS CONCERTS, ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF JAZZ. Patriarch Joe Bruno, 91 (trumpet), son Joe Bruno Jr. (bass) and grandson Nick Bruno (drums) present two concerts demonstrating the endurance of their musical dynasty. Hyatt Regency. Admission: Members, $15; Nonmembers $20 (plus processing fee) or VIP or Combo ticket.
- 3-5 pm: KEN PEPLOWSKI PRESENTS GENERATIONS OF JAZZ. Mainstage, Hyatt Regency Ballroom. HOST: KAYONNE RILEY, director of WUCF FM 89.9, University of Central Florida, Orlando. Concert features Shelly Berg and the University of Miami Big Band joined by festival performers Houston Person, Roxy Coss, Mary Stallings, John Lamb, Randy Sandke and a few surprises—plus La Lucha Trio (Mark Feinman, John O’Leary and Alejandro Arenas.
Admission: Members, $45; Nonmembers $55 (plus processing fee) or VIP or Combo ticket.
SATURDAY, MARCH 9
- 6:30–9:30 pm: TWO CONCERTS. Mainstage, Hyatt Regency Ballroom. HOST: BOB SEYMOUR, Retired director of jazz and on-air host, WUSF 89.7 FM, Tampa.
- 6:30-7 pm: HIGH SCHOOL WINNING BAND. Director Owen Bradley and the North Port High School Jazz One present their take on the jazz of tomorrow; second-place winner in the Jazz Club’s High School Jazz Band Competition
- 7:30 PM: KEN PEPLOWSKI PRESENTS GENERATIONS OF JAZZ. The Saturday night closing show centers on two generations of great pianists, Bill Charlap and Dick Hyman, performing solo and in combinations including Houston Person, Randy Sandke, John Lamb, Peplowski and La Lucha.
- PRESENTATION OF SATCHMO AWARD: Presentation of the Jazz Club’s highest honor, the Satchmo Award, for “unique and enduring contribution to the living history of jazz.” Sponsored by the Harold and Evelyn R. Davis Foundation in honor of Jazz Club founder Hal Davis.
Admission: Members, $45; Nonmembers $55 (plus processing fee) or VIP ticket or combo ticket.
SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 7 pm: LIL & LOUIS* • Theatrical Event. St. Paul Lutheran Church, 2256 Bahia Vista St. Jazz and theater history come alive as this new play with music unfolds in its final step (script in hand) before a full production. Step into the Roaring ’20s and the world of Lil Hardin Armstrong and her husband Louis, “the first couple of jazz. Pianist/composer/arranger Lil—”the Hot Miss Lil”—was starmaker for Louis and a sadly forgotten star in her own right. It’s a unique love story by Jo Morello, directed by Chuck Smith. Prerecorded music by Randy Sandke (trumpet), Mike Moran (piano), Mike Treni (trombone). Contains mature themes. Admission: $25 (plus $1.50 fees), not included in Festival VIP or Combo Tickets. ● LIMITED SEATING ● Tickets: 941.366.1505 or westcoastblacktheatre.org (Performances-Current Season).
*JAZZ CLUB OF SARASOTA contact information: To learn more visit sarasotajazzfestival.org or
http://jazzclubsarasota.org/, e-mail admin@JazzClubSarasota.com, or phone 941.366.1552(Mon.-Fri., 9-5).
The Jazz Club of Sarasota, founded in 1980, is dedicated to preserving, promoting and presenting jazz, America’s original musical art form. The Club has provided over 50 jazz-related events each year for over 38 years. Chief among them is the highly respected Sarasota Jazz Festival, presented every March. In addition to producing numerous jazz events, over the years the Club has granted over $200,000 to aspiring young jazz musicians. To learn more, visit www.jazzclubsarasota.org.
