Tampa Bay jazz scene fixture Michael Ross is in seriously good company for Palladium concert

Longtime collaborator Fred Johnson is just part of the all-star band.

By Eric Snider on Thu, Nov 2, 2023 at 11:54 am

Photo by Jayne Drooger

Michael Ross, who plays Side Door at Palladium Theater in St. Petersburg, Florida on Nov. 9, 2023.

Bassist Michael Ross has been a fixture on the Florida West Coast jazz scene since the early 1980s. That’s some serious longevity, made possible by Ross’s impressive technique and feel—he plays exclusively acoustic—his composing skills and an abundance of hard work.

The bassist has released several albums as a leader, most recently Giraffe, a worthy set of straight-ahead jazz (with elements of Latin and funk), which he’ll feature on this two-set show. Ross will be in good Company (the same personnel as the album): drummer Walt Hubbard and saxophonist/flutist Danny Jordan—both longtime collaborators—and youngblood Anthony Aldissi, a Gibbs High alum (currently at Temple University), who doubles on piano and Fender Rhodes.

Singer Fred Johnson, a Bay area jazz stalwart who came on the scene about the same time as Ross, will make a guest appearance, performing the tunes he sings on Giraffe, plus a few other favorites. The Side Door, with its nightclub-style seating, intimate vibe and excellent sound quality, provides the ideal setting for what is sure to be a stellar evening of jazz.

Tickets to see Michael Ross at Side Door inside St. Pete's Palladium Theater on Thursday, Nov. 9 are still available and start at $30.
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About The Author

Eric Snider

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Eric Snider is the dean of Bay area music critics. He started in the early 1980s as one of the founding members of Music magazine, a free bi-monthly. He was the pop music critic for the then-St. Petersburg Times from ‘87-’93. Snider was the music critic, arts editor and senior editor of Weekly Planet/Creative...

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