A jazzy "green Christmas" gig

Tom Ellison and June Garber

Saxophonist Tom Ellison's quartet Hip Pocket, with special guest June Garber on vocals, performed at the Centennial Park gazebo in Venice, FL this afternoon in a holiday concert sponsored by the South County Jazz Club and Venice MainStreet community nonprofit.


The morning began frosty, with temps in the 30s in the area, unusual for southern Florida, but by gig time, it was rather warm and sunny. Hip Pocket included Ellison (on alto, tenor, soprano and baritone saxophones plus flute), pianist Matt Bokulic, drummer Patricia Dean and bassist Don Mopsick. They presented a blend of jazz and holiday standards.

After a wonderful and poignant rendition of "White Christmas," Garber - a  recent Florida transplant from Toronto - said: "I've decided there's nothing quite like a green Christmas and palm trees. It's spectacular." Nobody in the crowd of about 200 disagreed.