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Jam-session guru Al Hixon will bring a large group of the area's most popular musicians to South County Jazz Club fans this Friday afternoon. Drummer Hixon will be accompanied by former Ellington bassist John Lamb, with Jim Wellen on tenor sax, Dick Reynolds piano, Dick Hamilton trombone, and singer Debbie Keeton.

Reynolds was house piano at Mr. Kelly's in Chicago for 15 years, and accompanied many of the world's greatest musicians. Multi-instrumentalist Hamilton spent 40 years at the top of the industry, writing and playing in the Hollywood studios. Wellen and Keeton have long been among our most popular entertainers.

The Ed Metz, Rossano Sportiello, Nicki Parrot trio has been playing to full houses in our area for the past six years, and will be at the Glenridge Performing Arts Center this Wednesday, February 13 at 8PM. A presentation of the South County Jazz Club. The Orlando-based Metz is known as a drummer's drummer, who gives a lesson in technique every time he plays. Italian native Sportiello, winner of many music awards, tours the country with Metz and Parrot for a month each year. Australian-born bassist/singer Parrott caught the attention of top-name artists when she was still in her teens. after a long run with Les Paul at New York's Iridium, she worked with Michel Legrand, Joe Wilder, Randy Brecker, Clark Terry, Jose Feliciano, Bucky Pizzarelli, John Pizzarelli, Dick Hyman, Patti Labelle & the New York Pops Orchestra, Harry Allen, Marlena Shaw, David Krakauer, Ken Peplowski, Ann Hampton Callaway, Bill Mays, Scott Hamilton, Lillian Boutte, Larry Carlton and Houston Person, just to name a few.

The Glenridge Performing Arts Center, 7333 Scotland Way in Palmer Ranch. 8-10PM, Wednesday, March 13. Tickets $20 club members, $25 non-members. Reserve online at GPACTIX.com.

Bud Leeds, one of South County’s most popular artists, will bring his ensemble to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation this Friday, February 8. Clarinetist Leeds, whose Dixie Spirit Band has played downtown Venice for many years, will have the very popular Bobby van Deusen on piano, Bob McGinnis cornet, Dick Maley drums, Bob Leary guitar and vocals, Don Mopsick bass, with a special appearance by Sarasota Symphony bassist Isaac Mingus. Reserve online or buy tickets at the door. Admission $10.00 members, $15.00 non-members. Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 1971 Pinebrook Road, 2-4PM, Friday February 8.

At age 24, Veronica Swift has rocketed to the top ranks of young jazz singers.

She won second place at the prestigious Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition, and in 2016 performed her own concert at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center in New York. She appeared with Michael Feinstein at Jazz at Lincoln Center with the Tedd Firth Big Band and Marilyn Maye and Freda Payne. In the summer of 2016 she headlined at the Telluride Jazz Festival, her 10th appearance there – but her first as a headliner. In 2017 she started her residency at the Birdland Jazz Club in New York City, then began touring with her trio (Emmet Cohen Trio) as well as Benny Green Trio, Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and Chris Botti appearing at Jazz Showcase, Monterey and Montreal Jazz festivals, two runs at Jazz at Lincoln Center: Shanghai, China, and Marians' Jazz Showroom in Bern, Switzerland.

Jeff Rupert is a freelance tenor saxophonist, a Yamaha Artist and a record producer under the Flying Horse Records label. His numerous recordings as a featured soloist include dates with Maynard Ferguson, Sam Rivers, Diane Schuur, Mel Torme, Benny Carter’s Grammy winning recording, Harlem Renaissance (Music Masters), and the New Jersey Blues band TheFins, to name just a few.

Backing Swift and Rupert will be “The Jazz Professors: Richard Drexler piano, Ben Kramer bass and Marty Morell drums.

Experience the greatest jazz festival at sea with your SCJC friends!

Internationally renowned tenor sax player Harry Allen, a frequent and popular performer in our area, has recreated the famous Four Brothers sound of the Woody Herman Band for this special. Harry, Lew Del Gatto and Jeff Rupert will bring their tenors, with Mike Brignola on baritone sax. They’ll be accompanied by Riverwalk Jazz veteran Don Mopsick on bass, long-time Bill Evans drummer Marty Morrell, and Richard Drexler on piano. This star-studded concert is not to be missed!

World- class singer Stephanie Nakasian will make her third appearance for the club, accompanied by Richard Drexler piano, Don Mopsick bass and Dave Pruyn drums. She first hit the scene with Jon Hendricks and Company, and it has been straight ahead ever since.
She has been a frequent guest artist with the Jim Cullum Band on the internationally syndicated Riverwalk Jazz show. She portrayed herself on the show with Dick Hyman for tributes to composers Hoagy Carmichael and Walter Donaldson. She continues to appear at several international festivals and national music education conferences, and sang with notables such as Harry Allen, Wycliffe Gordon, Nicki Parrott, Urbie Green, Pat Metheny, Clark Terry, Scott Hamilton, Hank Jones, Roy Haynes and Annie Ross. Stephanie currently teaches voice at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia and the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Our area had a great stroke of luck when brilliant trumpeter Randy Sandke moved from New York to make his home in Venice. Sandke has performed at festivals, clubs, and concerts around the world, toured Europe over forty times and performed extensively throughout Japan, the U.S., Canada, and India. Randy has recorded over twenty albums as a leader. Among the artists with whom he has recorded are Benny Goodman, Kenny Barron, Dick Hyman, Mulgrew Miller, Bill Charlap, Eric Reed, Frank Wess, Ray Anderson, Chris Potter, Sweets Edison, Flip Phillips, Scott Hamilton, Wycliffe Gordon, Warren Vache, and Mel Lewis. Singers include Mel Torme, Jon Hendricks, Rosemary Clooney, Cab Calloway, John Pizzarelli, Gregory Hines, Art Garfunkel, Barbara Carroll, Dr. John, Karrin Allyson, Susannah McCorkle, as well as appearances with Diane Reeves, Sting, Elton John, Billy Joel, Bette Midler, James Taylor, Chaka Khan, Ruth Brown, Billy Eckstine, and Joe Williams.

For the South County Jazz Club concert at the Venice Presbyterian Church, Sandke will be accompanied by Peter Barenbregge on sax, Joe Delaney piano, Don Mopsick bass and Dave Pruyn drums.

With Patricia Dean on drums and Scott Smith on bass.

"Sinoff is always a treat. His Sinatra-like vocals dig mightily into the Great American Songbook, particularly Sinatra covers. While he is a fine singer, and has a strong following in that regard, I find his piano solos even more enjoyable as he takes familiar material to unexpected places."

~ Ken Franckling Jazz Critic, Author/Photographer, Jazz in the Key of Light

Nate is one of the most popular players ever to appear before the South County Jazz Club. One of the nation’s most prominent nylon string guitarists, his career and audience continues to grow and grow. For the 2018 version of his annual jazz holiday, Nate appears with his trio, John Lamb on bass and Mark Feinman, drums, with very special guests: James Suggs, trumpet; and New York City jazz star Adrian Cunningham on sax, clarinet and flute.

The wildly talented vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, Paul Duffy, has been performing since he was a small child in a circus family. In his native Ireland, he would walk across the tightrope while playing the sax. He is one of the most charming, engaging, and soulful performers found anywhere. Paul will be accompanied by Patrick Bettison on bass and harmonica with Johnny Moore on Drums.

Robert van Deusen, a Philadelphia native, began his musical training at age 7. Precocious from a very early age, he started picking out tunes by mimicking the family player piano. Classically trained, he attended Whetstone School of the Performing Arts in Columbus, Ohio, graduating with distinction. Further studies at Capital University, Ohio State, Eastman, and Curtis helped develop the dazzling technique that became a trademark of his playing style.

After turning pro in 1976, Bobby toured the Midwest, playing clubs, piano bars and providing concerts. Moving South in 1985 led him to the Rosie O’ Gradys Dixieland Band, and gigs in New Orleans with Pete Fountain, Al Hirt, and The Dukes. He performed with the Delta Queen Steamboat Company for 5 years, perfecting his stride and ragtime styles.