Welcome

The 2024 St. Petersburg Jazz Festival will take place at three venues this year. They include St. Petersburg College, Palladium Theater Side Door and the Museum of Fine Arts & American Stage. Our festival artists are:

 

2024 St. Petersburg Jazz Festival
 

Jazz Vocalist Workshop with Alexis Cole - FREE!
Monday, April 1
12:30 – 1:30 in HS 109 at St. Petersburg College located at 6605 5th Ave. North in St. Petersburg
 

Alexis Cole & Helios Jazz Orchestra
Tuesday, April 2 at 7:30 PM
Palladium Side Door

“We’ve been waiting for the next great singer to come along, and finally…Alexis” –Swing Journal Japan

Called “one of the great voices of today,” Alexis Cole has been compared to classic jazz singers such as Sarah Vaughan and Anita O’Day. Her luxurious voice and innovative interpretations make her an instant favorite with audiences of all ages. Cole is the recipient of a Swing Journal Gold Disk award and was a winner of the NY Jazzmobile and Montreux Jazz Festival vocal competitions, and a finalist of the Sarah Vaughan Competition. She records for Motéma Music, NY, Chesky Records, NY and Venus Records, Japan. Her eleven recordings, which feature musical luminaries such as Fred Hersch, Eric Alexander, Matt Wilson, Harry Pickens, Don Braden and Pat LaBarbara, have received high praise in the jazz press and are spun on radio world-wide. In addition to her many performances at top jazz venues like Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Birdland, The Jazz Standard, Blues Alley, and Billboard Live, she’s also performed at Avery Fisher Hall and the Kennedy Center and had been a featured soloist with the Boston Pops and NY Philharmonic.

The 18-member Helios Jazz Orchestra, directed by Dr. David Manson, has been featured on the Clearwater Jazz Holiday, St. Petersburg Jazz Festival, and Ybor Jazz Festival. It is comprised of top area jazz musicians who love the sound of a roaring jazz big band!
 

Mauricio Rodriguez & The Latin Jazz Project"
Wednesday, April 3 at 7:30 PM
Palladium Side Door


This performance will mix original work composed by Mauricio J. Rodriguez with a mixture of the new Cuban contemporary music and some Latin jazz staples. Bassist, composer, producer, and educator, Mauricio J Rodriguez is one of the finest musicians of his generation in Cuba. He was member of Fervet Opus jazz quartet, one of the most important Latin jazz bands in Cuba in the 80’s, touring around the world to many festivals and concert including The Havana Latin Jazz Festival, Jamboree, Bratislava, Spain, and Moscow, among others. He now teaches at Saint Leo University. Joining this performance will be Zachary Bornheimer- saxophone, Pablo Arencibia - piano, Andy Forner- drums, Mauricio Rodriguez- bass.

Markus Gottschlich Trio
Thursday, April 4 at 7:30 PM
Music Center at St. Petersburg College

His compositional skills and his dazzling pianism give full rein to his expressive spirit, as heard on his latest recording, Found Sounds”Musically Speaking.

Embark on a highly entertaining evening with the Markus Gottschlich Trio, led by the internationally acclaimed pianist hailing from Vienna, Austria. Described by Albuquerque Magazine as "a lyrical, high-energy, and risk-taking artist," Markus Gottschlich, a distinguished Steinway Artist, infuses his performances with melodically remarkable ideas, as applauded by The Standard, Austria.

Making a St. Petersburg Jazz Festival debut, the Trio unveils premieres alongside selections from the albums "Found Sounds" and "Of Places Between." With a global presence on festival stages from Europe to the US to Asia, Markus Gottschlich’s Trio promises an evening of jazz that transcends borders, showcasing a distinctive artistry that resonates across continents.

For tickets, see: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-markus-gottschlich-trio-st-petersburg-jazz-festival-tickets-805790790947?aff=odcleoeventsincollection


Brazilian Percussion Workshop with Rafael Pereira - FREE!
Thursday, April 4
12:30 – 1:45 PM at SPC-Gibbs campus in room HS 109 at St. Petersburg College located at 6605 5th Ave. North in St. Petersburg


O Som Do Jazz with special guests Rafael Pereira & Jose Valentino Ruiz
Friday, April 5 at 7:30 PM
Warehouse Arts District
O Som Do Jazz features Rio de Janeiro singer Andrea Moraes Manson and a crew of experienced musicians performing samba-jazz, Bossa Nova, Balanço, Baião and MPB. O Som Do Jazz (the sound of jazz in Portuguese) recaptures the grace, energy and spirit of Brazilian music. With 4 CDs and original music placed on BBC, Fox and HBO, O Som Do Jazz is a Florida favorite with performances on the Miami International Jazz Fest, DTO Jazz Fest, Clearwater Jazz Holiday, Mod Miami, Pensacola Jazz Fest and more. Special guest Rafael Pereira's (percussion). performing resume includes the Grammys, SNL, Janelle Monae, Prince, Bruno Mars, and many more. Jose Valentino Ruiz is an EMMY Award Winner, a multi-GRAMMY Award Nominated artist-producer-engineer, a multi-instrumentalist, composer and professor at the University of Florida.

 

 

 




Hot Club SRQ
Saturday, April 6 at 7:30 PM
Museum of American Arts and Crafts Movement

Hot Club SRQ plays Gypsy Jazz that is deeply rooted in the style of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. This music simply swings and is full of beauty and romance! The quartet emulates the style of what the French call "Jazz Manouche" and "Le Jazz Hot" in the style of Sinti virtuosos and the "Quintette du Hot Club de France." The heart of this ensemble is the violin and vocals of Keven Aland, the guitar of Jon McLaughlin, bass playing of Glenn Stevenson and world renowned Brazilian valve trombonist François de Lima. Their string jazz ensemble has been thoughtfully cultivated and crafted for over a decade. There is a genuine warmth and connection that is unique to this ensemble. This group can swing ferociously then suddenly hypnotize you with a beautiful ballad. Tickets are available at this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hot-club-srq-st-petersburg-jazz-festival-tickets-805829988187?aff=oddtdtcreator

We hope to see you at our concerts!

David Manson
Director
St. Petersburg Jazz Festival
mansond@spcollege.edu

 











The St. Petersburg Jazz Festival is sponsored in part by EMIT, the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, Florida Council on Arts and Culture, St. Petersburg College and the City of St. Petersburg.