Sand Key’s popular, nonprofit Suncoast Jazz Festival—set for Friday-Sunday Nov. 18-20 near Clearwater Beach—is among those devoted to preserving the scene and hosts its three-day jazz holiday this weekend when it takes over five ballrooms in two hotels (The Sheraton and Marriott) for dozens of scheduled performances.
The agenda is packed starting with Friday’s opening poolside parasol parade, plus late night swing dance and jam session sets. Saturday’s festivities go from 10 a.m. all the way past midnight before Sunday recovery kicks off with jazz brunches and an afternoon barbecue with New Orleans trumpeter Kermit Ruffins.
As expected an all-star cast of local favorites is part of the programming, which also includes, for the first time ever, a celebration featuring “Legends of Jazz” bassist John Lamb, pianist Johnny Varro and saxophonist Houston Person.
This article appears in Nov 10-16, 2022.
