Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall hosted four sold-out saxophone-driven shows this weekend featuring University of Miami grad Kyle Schroeder who opened for headliner and St. Petersburg-native Mindi Abair, who’s become a national star. The hall’s remodeled lobby, named the Tiedemann & Cotton Cabaret Theater was transformed into tables of four, all socially-distanced which made for an intimate evening for 100 lucky patrons (a different scene from what happened at the Cuban Club in Ybor City on Saturday).
Abair was supported by bay area musicians Franklin “Third” Richardson on drums and Shawn Brown on B-3 organ. Abair was enthusiastic playing for a live audience, her first since March, and has been writing and recording new material. —Rod Millington
