The second annual multi-day HCC-hosted celebration of Bay area jazz features a wide-ranging bill of talent repping the genre's varying styles, from Brazilian jazz to big band to New Orleans funky. According to its slogan, "There's Nothing Smooth About it!" which means a (thankful) lack of easy-listening contemporary fare. Each show opens with an intimate two-set "Prelude" concert in the Studio Theatre with complimentary light refreshments followed by headline entertainment in the Mainstage Theatre. The fest concludes with an afternoon Mainstage performance on Sunday. Complete schedule below.
Thursday: HCC Faculty Jazz Showcase led by pianist Ken Hanks, 6-7:30 p.m.; O Som Do Jazz, Nate Najar Trio, 8 p.m.
Friday: Bryan Shuler & Dagari, 6-7:30 p.m.; "The Art of the Jazz Vocal" with the Helios Jazz Orchestra and singers Tony Castellano, Liz Hollister, Denise Moore, Sasha Tuck and Belinda Womack, 8 p.m.
Saturday: Thick as Thieves, 6-7:30 p.m.; Tampa Bay Latin Jazz All Stars with Gumbi Ortiz, Carlos Marchena, Butch Thomas and Lemay Olano James, 8 p.m.
Sunday: New Orleans Jazz, Funk & Gospel Extravaganza with The Jim Morey Band, Dwayne White / Quadravium, Distinguished Men of Brass and St Petersburg College Gospel Chorus, 3 p.m.
Details: Second Annual Ybor Jazz Festival, now through Sun., Nov. 6, HCC-Ybor Performing Arts Building, Ybor City, $15 daily, $5 seniors (free admission for HCC students, faculty, and staff with ID)
This article appears in Nov 3-9, 2011.
