Now here comes the first Ybor Jazz Festival, and its slogan and lineup make clear its musical intentions: There's nothing smooth about it!"
Some of the area's finest jazz artists, including pianists Kenny Drew, Jr. and Richard Drexler (also a fine bassist, below right) are on the bill, along with front-rank singer Kevin Mahogany, with the Helios Jazz Orchestra. A festival encore show, Nov. 21, will feature an encore duo performance by Drew and legendary jazz and fusion guitarist Larry Corell.
(And my own group, Trio Vibe, is slated to play the fest, too)
The preliminary schedule (subject to change) is below. You can also follow the fest on Facebook
STUDIO THEATRE and MAINSTAGE THEATRE both in the HCC Ybor City Campus Performing Arts Building at the NE corner of E Palm Ave and N 14th St ( Avenida Republica de Cuba)
TUESDAY, Nov. 2
- 7 to 9 PM KICK OFF PARTY & JAM (location tba); Sponsored by Artist's and Writer's Group
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 3
- 6 to 7:30 PM PRELUDE--STUDIO THEATRE; Artists tba
- 8 to 10 PM THE CONCERT GRAND: An Evening of Solo Jazz Piano--Featuring;
(in alphabetical order)
Kenny Drew, Jr.
Richard Drexler
Ken Hanks , Billy Marcus
Kym Purling
Bryan Shuler, Robert Winslow & Genadi Zagor .
and special two-piano improvisations !
Hosted by Paul Wilborn.
- 10 PM AFTER PARTY / JAM (location tba); Sponsored by Artist's and Writer's Group
THURSDAY, Nov. 4
- 6 to 7:30 PM PRELUDE--STUDIO THEATRE: Al Downing Tampa Bay Jazz Association, Inc. Program tba
- 8 to 10 PM FESTIVAL CONCERT:
Trio Vibe
Thick as Thieves
- 10 PM AFTER PARTY / JAM (location tba); Sponsored by Artist's and Writer's Group
FRIDAY, Nov. 5
- 6 to 7:30 PM PRELUDE--STUDIO THEATRE: Rose Bilal & Jazztorian, Inc. Program tba
- 8 to 10 PM FESTIVAL CONCERT:
Corey Holt Mirenda
- 10 PM AFTER PARTY / JAM (location tba); Sponsored by Artist's and Writer's Group
SATURDAY, Nov. 6
Day--Free Jazz Clinics and Workshops
Free Performances by
- Gibbs High School / PCCA--St Petersburg
- Blake High School / School of the Arts--Tampa
- Hillsborough Community College Jazz Ensmeble(s)
- University of Tampa Jazz Ensembles
- University of South Florida Jazz Ensembles
(Schedule TBA)
- 6 to 7:30 PM PRELUDE--STUDIO THEATRE: Artists tba
- 8 to 10 PM FESTIVAL CONCERT: Artists tba
- 10 PM AFTER PARTY / JAM (location tba) Sponsored by Artist's and Writer's Group
SUNDAY, Nov . 7
- 2 to 3:30 PM PRELUDE--STUDIO THEATRE: Artists tba
- 4 PM FESTIVAL CONCERT: TAMPA JAZZ CLUB presents Kevin Mahogany with Helios Jazz Orchestra
- 6 PM WRAP PARTY--JAM (location tba) Sponsored by Artist's and Writer's Group
SUNDAY, Nov. 21--Ybor Jazz Festival Encore
- 3 PM--TAMPA JAZZ CLUB presents Larry Coryell AND Kenny Drew, Jr.