Jazz Thursdays

About La Lucha

La Lucha is a Tampa Bay based trio that consists of three best friends from three different parts of the world: Colombia (Alejandro Arenas), Mexico (John O’Leary), & United States (Mark Feinman). Their music ventures boldly into a wide variety of musical styles, offering an appealing and fun mix of genres under the jazz umbrella. The combination of their musical versatility and varied musical influences makes for compelling virtuosic performances. Through an engaging stage presence and high level of interaction, La Lucha brings the audience into their world.

La Lucha was awarded Creative Loafing’s “Best of the Bay Jazz Ensemble” in 2013, 2014 & 2015; the “Think Small to Think Big Grant,” by Creative Pinellas; featured presenters at TEDxTampa Bay (2014), TEDxUSF (2015) & TEDxDouglasville (2017); and were honored by a grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, to present a multi- media project raising awareness for Alzheimer’s disease.

The trio has extensive national and international performance experience, including a tour of Italy and France with performances at the “Umbria Jazz Festival” and “Jazz a Juan” in Juan Les Pins. Some highlighted festival performances include; the Clearwater Jazz Holiday, St. Petersburg Jazz Festival, Sarasota Jazz Festival, New Smyrna Beach Jazz Fest, Thin Man Watts Jazz Fest, Chestertown Jazz Festival (Maryland) along with various performances in concert halls throughout the south and mid-atlantic United States. Their debut album, A Cup of Fuzzy Water was released in 2009 and their second self-titled album was released in June 2012. Their third album, Standards, Not-Standards, featuring vocalist Jun, was released in January 2015 on Blue Line Music, and Pa’ Lante, which features all original music, was released in September 2108 on Fuzzy Water Music.

La Lucha will be releasing a new album in spring 2020 on Arbors Records, and it will be produced by world renowned clarinetist, Ken Peplowski.

About Gustav Viehmeyer Quartet

Gustav Viehmeyer is an international musician, composer, and one of the world’s premier Jazz guitarists. Gustav has invigorated, inspired and moved audiences around the globe leaving them in awe with his enigmatic compositions, virtuous style of guitar playing and explosive performances. 

Gustav’s music is rooted in a deep love for classical, jazz, Manouche music, film scores and the art of soundscapes. He has become recognized as a virtuoso in Jazz and a multitude of World genres, having taken to the stage and collaborating with greats such as Renesito Avich, Michael Paouris, Stephane Wrembel, Bucky Pizarrelli, Maria Ioudenitch, Art Weiss, Brinae Ali, Keven Aland, Jamie Tremps, Art Weiss, James Varnado, Dovydas, and many more.

Gustav has performed at Jazz on the Bay, The Naples Motorfest, The Asheville Django Reinhardt Festival, Cirque Maceo, The Ringling Museum, and performs annually as the featured musician at The Sarasota Film Festival. Gustav has been sought out as a chosen performer for presidents, CEOs, celebrities, and thought leaders across the globe for exclusive events.

Gustav lives in Sarasota, FL where he composes, teaches and performs regularly both solo and with a high-energy jazz trio featuring Jack Berry on upright bass and James Varnado on drum set. Whether solo or with an ensemble, Gustav is available for weddings, corporate events, festivals, lessons, and performances of all sorts. 

About Hot Tonic Orchestra

Described as Postmodern Jukebox meets Amy Winehouse, Hot Tonic Orchestra fuses jazz with Latin rhythms, funk and soul, tied together by original arrangements. Co-led by vocalist/bassist Victoria Woods and guitarist Josh Hindmarsh, the band mixes horns and a dynamic rhythm section, performing throughout the USA and abroad in Australia and New Zealand.

Delivering their high energy music to festivals, clubs and engagements around the world, Hot Tonic Orchestra are a unique experience not to be missed!

About Paul Gavin & Mosaic

Paul Gavin is a Drummer, Teacher, Composer & Arranger in Tampa, FL. Since graduating from the University of South Florida in 2015 Paul has made his living exclusively as a freelance musician. By playing all kinds of music all around the state of Florida, teaching privately and in schools, and writing for school programs and his own original music he maintains an active schedule.

Paul Gavin is the Artistic Director and Arranger of both the Gulf Coast Jazz Collective in Fort Myers, FL and the Lake Wales Jazz Connection in Lake Wales, FL. Paul leads both ensembles in concerts to exuberant crowds of jazz lovers.

He has played regularly with great musicians in the Tampa bay area including trumpet player James Suggs, singer Gloria West, and bassist Michael Ross. He also plays regularly in the Fort Myers area with trumpet player Dan Miller, guitarist Dan Heck, bassist Brandon Robertson, and the Stardust Memories Big Band.

Paul Gavin & Mosaic is Paul’s tribute to the Hard Bop genre of Jazz. Influenced by blues, funk, and bebop, Hard Bop is easily the most relatable and groovy division of America’s art form. Greats like Hank Mobley, Cannonball Adderley, Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan, and Benny Golson are just a few of Hard Bop’s innovators.

Currently the band is presenting the music of Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers – often labeled as the archetypal Hard Bop group.

About Sarasota Jazz Project

Sarasota Jazz Project is a high energy 17-piece jazz ensemble comprised of some of the finest musicians on the West Coast of Florida. These talented all-stars play both original compositions and standard tunes, creatively arranged in a unique contemporary Big Band style. Whether you dance, or listen or both, be prepared to be thoroughly entertained. The Sarasota Jazz Project Big Band performs at jazz concerts, clubs, schools/universities, private clubs, and Jazz Club of Sarasota events throughout the year.

Sarasota Jazz Project is a 17-piece Big Band dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and public performance of big band jazz music in Sarasota and the neighboring communities in the state of Florida. Founded in February 2010 by George McLean and George McLain (no relation!), the band is comprised of the best available local musicians, including professional jazz musicians with long resumes and careers in performing with top-name bands and jazz musicians throughout the world. Members also include local music teachers and educators; working musicians who perform regularly in local theaters, orchestras and cabaret venues; and other serious local musicians who maintain “day jobs” and play jazz for the sheer pleasure and exhilaration of being part of this true American art form.

While respecting and performing music of great big bands of the past led by such luminaries as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman and Glen Miller, the Sarasota Jazz Project emphasizes the work of modern composers and arrangers such as Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Quincy Jones, and Gil Evans. Perhaps the most distinctive element of the Sarasota Jazz Project repertoire is its great collection of popular music and standards arranged in new and exciting jazz settings by the very best current musical arrangers in the world, including George Stone, Brad Morey, Gary Urwin, Ed Vizinho, Don Schamber and John Clayton.

About The Barker Project

Celebrate the Holidays with Seasonal favorites by The Barker Project – a Sarasota-based fusion band under the musical direction of Johnnie Barker. Since studying at Berklee College of Music, locally renowned Tampa Bay area bassist, Johnnie has assembled an array of his talented friends and colleagues that include musicians from all around the nation. With their roots in Jazz, they blend Funk, Rock, Blues, & Gospel into what makes the musical gumbo that makes the sound of The Barker Project. Their creative interpretations of well-known songs, as well as their original music, are a thrill for audiences throughout the region.

About Darcie Allen and the Five Points Quintet

Five Points Quintet is Sarasota’s newest elegant entertainment ensemble. The group features Sarasota vocalist Darcie Allen and includes Marc Mannino on Guitar, Pete Carney on Saxes, Bob Lunergan on Drums and Peter Innocenti on Bass. The group was formed to fill the need for posh events, concerts, and elegant dining. The music is diverse in nature with a jazz and an adult contemporary format.

Named after Sarasota’s landmark Five Points intersection location, the group is poised to fill the area’s growing need for sophisticated music.