In recent years, Clearwater Jazz Holiday has ventured further from traditional genre sounds into a more inclusive fest touching on soul, blues, R&B, funk and even roots rock and Americana sounds. Tickets aren’t free anymore, but the superior quality of acts represented has more than compensated for the price of admission and the talent hitting the stage for the 36th annual edition is no exception.
The Thursday kick-off sees the headlining slot commandeered by the classic funk and disco group behind “Love Train,” The O’Jays, with solid support from “Empress of Soul” herself, Ms. Gladys Knight. Buddy Guy wails and howls through fiery blues odes to end Friday, with another highlight in venerable conguero Poncho Sanchez & His Latin Band. A surprising headliner takes the stage on Saturday night – pop-rock songstress Sheryl Crow, who’s embraced a country twang-coated style of late – while Big Sam’s Funky Nation brings the brass-fueled grooves and dance-inducing jams. And closing everything out on Sunday (and returning to the holiday for a second time) is folk rock darlings The Avett Brothers.
The official Clearwater Jazz Holiday After Party occurs Friday night with Mindi Abair joining Allon Sams in an “All-Star House Band” jam with other TBA guests from the holiday at Capitol Theatre, while on Saturday night, the festivities continue aboard The StarLite Majesty with The Betty Fox Band playing the Late Night Centennial Celebration.
Clearwater Jazz Holiday take place Oct. 15-18, at Coachman Park in Clearwater. Admission is $15 per day general; $25 Sat.-Sun. passes and $50 four-day passes are also available. More info at clearwaterjazz.com. Day by day breakdown below…
Thursday, October 15: The O’Jays (8:45 p.m.), Gladys Knight (6:45 p.m.), Gloria West & The Gents (5 p.m.)
Friday, October 16: Buddy Guy (9:30 p.m.), Mindi Abair and the Boneshakers (7:45 p.m.), Poncho Sanchez & His Latin Band (6 p.m.), The James Suggs Quintet feat. Dave Stryker (5:30 p.m.)
Saturday, October 17: Sheryl Crow (9:15 p.m.), Big Sam's Funky Nation (7:15 p.m.), Nicole Henry (5:30 p.m.), Phill Fest (4 p.m.), Jack Wilkins Blue & Green Project (2:30 p.m.) [Fireworks show at 10:45 p.m.]
Sunday, October 18: The Avett Brothers (7:30 p.m.), Langhorne Slim & The Law (5:30 p.m.), The Quebe Sisters (4 p.m.), REH/CJH Youth Jazz Band (2:30 p.m.)
This article appears in Oct 15-21, 2015.
