A sun-drenched outdoor portrait of the jazz duo Acute Inflections. On the left, bassist Sadiki Pierre, a Black man wearing a tan flat cap, white button-down shirt, and dark suspenders, looks focused as he plays a polished wooden upright bass. On the right, vocalist Elasea Douglas, a Black woman in a white sleeveless dress and a white floral fascinator, smiles with her eyes closed, gesturing gracefully with one hand as if singing. They are positioned in a lush green park with a soft-focus background of trees and colorful flower beds, captured in warm, glowing natural light.
Acute Inflections Credit: David Divad

As a Friday night kickoff to Black History Month, jazzy NYC duo Acute Inflections is bringing its brief U.S. tour, full of roaring ‘20s vibes, to Tampa’s Carrollwood Cultural Center.

This gig promises to capture the essence of the 1920s and the Harlem Renaissance, which helped lay the foundation for the Civil Rights movement. According to a press release, the show will include “dynamic duets, clever comedy, and captivating freestyles” between vocalist Elasea Douglas and upright bassist Sadiki Pierre.

A portion of each ticket will go towards the Renaissance Youth Center, a non-profit in the South Bronx aiming to provide youth with music education.

The duo’s version of “Nature Boy” wouldn’t really fit in “Moulin Rouge!” the way David Bowie’s rendition of the Nat King Cole song famously did, but if younger artists like Jon Batiste and Samara Joy continue inspiring the next generation to indulge in jazz, Douglas and Pierre might be providing a good first step towards a resurgence for the Great American Songbook.

Tickets to see Acute Inflections play Tampa’s Carrollwood Cultural Center on Friday, Jan. 30 are still available and cost $55.

Soulful Sounds in Tampa

Time Fri., Jan. 30, 7-9 p.m.

Location Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Rd, Tampa

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This article appears in Jan. 08 – 14, 2026.

Josh Bradley is Creative Loafing Tampa's resident live music freak. He started freelancing with the paper in 2020 at the age of 18, and has since covered, announced, and previewed numerous live shows in...