Nate Najar’s 18th annual holiday concert caps off a busy week of live jazz in Tampa Bay

Jeff Rupert has a busy week in the Bay area that kicks off in Ybor City for Tampa Jazz Club’s Sunday matinee. The tenor saxophonist wraps up his stay with a place on the stage for this 18th “Jazz Holiday” concert from Nate Najar.

Rupert, Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Central Florida, plays on Najar’s 2017 Woodward Avenue Records album Christmas in December, as well as the guitarist’s 2022 Charlie Byrd tribute album, Jazz Samba Pra Sempre. New York City trumpet player Bruce Harris is also in the lineup along with stalwart locals like drummer Jean Bolduc, bassist Joe Porter, Patrick Bettison on piano, plus Carl Amundson on guitar.

Vocals will be handled in part by songwriter Daniela Soledade who recently recorded a new holiday song, “On Christmas Night,” with Najar, too.

Tickets to Nate Najar’s Jazz Holiday happening Thursday, Dec. 12 inside Hough Hall at Palladium Theater in St. Petersburg are still available and start at $25.

See more live jazz happening in Tampa Bay from Dec. 5-12 below.

Friday Night Jazz open Christmas jam w/Kayli Marie/Dominic Walker/Mark Neuenschwander/Paul Gavin Friday, Dec. 6. 7:30 p.m. No cover. DI CoffeeBar, Tampa

A Womack Family Christmas Friday, Dec. 6. 7 p.m. $20 & up. freeFall Theatre Company, St. Petersburg

Jazz with Jim: Brazil – Sambas & Bossa Novas Friday, Dec. 6. 7:30 p.m. $13 & up. Carrollwood Cultural Center, Tampa

Patel Conservatory Winter Jazz Jam Saturday, Dec. 7. 11 a.m. No cover. Teco Theater at Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa

Sax Meets Santa Saturday, Dec. 7. 8 p.m. $33.75 & up. Jaeb Theater at Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa

Clearwater Latin Jazz Fest: Renesito Avich & Friends w/Mauricio Rodriguez & the MJR Latin Project/O Som Do Jazz Sunday, Dec. 8. 6 p.m. No cover. The BayCare Sound, Clearwater

Hindmarsh Jazzy Trio Sunday, Dec. 8. 12 p.m. No cover. Grand Central Brewhouse, St. Petersburg

Holiday Big Band Extravaganza: Florida Jazz Express Sunday, Dec. 8. 3 p.m. $15. New Tampa Performing Arts Center, Tampa

Hot Tonic Sundays. 6 p.m. No cover. Tiki Bar & Grill at 56th & Shore, Gulfport

In The Pocket Sunday, Dec. 8. 5 p.m. No cover. The Corner Club, Tampa

Jazz & Blues Jam hosted by James Varnado Sundays. 5 p.m. No cover. Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen, Bradenton

Le Jazz Sundays. 11:30 a.m. No cover. Boulevard Burgers & Tap House, St. Petersburg

Sunday Jazz in the Lounge: Boho Sideshow Sundays. 2 p.m. No cover. Floridian Social, St. Petersburg

Sunday Jazz Project: Sandi Grecco w/James Suggs/Mark Moultrup Sundays. 3 p.m. No cover. The Studio Public House, St. Petersburg

Tampa Jazz Club: Jeff Rupert Quartet Sunday, Dec. 8. 3 p.m. $10 & up. Mainstage Theatre at HCC Ybor, Ybor City

Peggy Morris Mondays. 6 p.m. No cover. The Fenway, Dunedin

Jazz Night Tuesday, Dec. 10. 5 p.m. No cover. Intermezzo Coffee & Cocktails, St. Petersburg

Kyle Schroeder Tuesdays. 6 p.m. No cover. The Fenway, Dunedin

Hot Tonic Wednesday, Dec. 11. 6 p.m. No cover. The North End Taphouse, Gulfport
Readers are invited to submit their own events to Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s things to do calendar.

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This article appears in Nov 28 – Dec 4, 2024.