Looking ahead: Southwest Florida jazz preview

Southwest Florida's 2016-17 jazz concert season will continue through May. Here is a rundown of noteworthy jazz events, principally in the Sarasota to Naples territory, from now through March.

Veronica Swift

Dick Hyman

• Friday, January 27 – Singer Veronica Swift with the Dan Miller-Lew Del Gatto Quintet. The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, Fort Myers, 7 p.m.
• Sunday, January 29 – Pianist Dick Hyman performs the movie music of Henry Mancini, Daniels Pavilion at Artis Naples, 3 p.m.
• Saturday, February 4 – Singer Giacomo Gates and his trio. A South County Jazz Club concert at the Glenridge Performing Arts Center, Sarasota.
•  Friday, February 10 – Twin saxophonists Peter and Will Anderson’s trio. A South County Jazz Club concert at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Venice, 2 p.m.
• Monday, February 13: Pianist Dick Hyman. Charlotte County Jazz Society‘s Concert Series. Cultural Center of Charlotte County, Port Charlotte. 7 p.m.
•  Wednesday, February 15 – Saxophonist George Young joins the Naples Philharmonic Jazz Orchestra for the sextet’s monthly All That Jazz concert. Daniels Pavilion, 6 and 8:30 p.m.
• Friday, February 17 – Guitarist Joshua Breakstone with bassist Don Mopsick and drummer Tony Vigilante. A South County Jazz Club concert at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Venice, 2 p.m.
• Saturday, February 18 – Banjo player Cynthia Sayer in concert, Glenridge Performing Arts Center, Sarasota, co-produced by GPAC and the South County Jazz Club. 8 p.m.
• Friday, February 24 – Jane Monheit sings Ella Fitzgerald, Daniels Pavilion at Artis Naples, 6 and 8:30 p.m.
• Saturday, February 25 – 12^th annual Punta Gorda Wine & Jazz Festival. This smooth jazz event features saxophonist Mindi Abair (for the ninth consecutive year), guitarist Peter White and guitarist Chieli Minucci with Special EFX. You can hear the weekend’s mainstream jazz at the Sunday brunch at Isles Yacht Club on Sunday, February 26. That band features trombonist Herb Bruce, singer-drummer Patricia Dean, pianist Jeff Phillips, saxophonist David MacKenzie, trumpeter Bobby Pickwood and bassist Charlie Silva.
• March 5-11 – The Jazz Club of Sarasota’s 37^th annual Sarasota Jazz Festival. This year's major concerts are a celebration of 2017 NEA Jazz Master Dick Hyman. A Tuesday, March 7 concert teams Hyman with pianist Bill Charlap, singer Clairdee, tenor saxophonist Houston Person, trumpeter Randy Sandke, guitarist Russell Malone, bassist John Lamb and drummer Mark Feinman. A Saturday, March 11 finale teams pianist Hyman with Jim Cullum’s Riverwalk Jazz Band. These 7:30 p.m. concerts are at the Riverview High School Performing Arts Center in Sarasota.

  

  Norah Jones

• Tuesday, March 7 – Singer-pianist Norah Jones. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater. 8 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 8 – Violinist Benjamin Schmid joins the Naples Philharmonic Jazz Orchestra for the sextet’s monthly All That Jazz concert. Daniels Pavilion, 6 and 8:30 p.m.
•   Friday, March 10 – Pianist George Winston in concert, Glenridge Performing Arts Center, Sarasota. 8 p.m.
• Saturday, March 11 – Sergio Mendes and Brasil 2017. Southwest Florida Performing Arts Center, Bonita Springs, 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, March 12 – Singer Michael Feinstein, Hayes Hall, Artis Naples, 8 p.m.
• Monday, March 13 – Singer Lisa Kelly and trumpeter J.B. Scott. Charlotte County Jazz Society‘s Concert Series. Cultural Center of Charlotte County, Port Charlotte. 7 p.m.
• Sunday, March 19 – Singer Veronica Swift with The Jazz Professors. A  South County Jazz Club concert at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Venice, 2:30 p.m.
•  Friday, March 24 – Trombonist Wycliffe Gordon. The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, Fort Myers, 7 p.m.

Several local restaurants (including J.D.’s in Port Charlotte, The Turtle Club in Punta Gorda, Fandango in Sarasota, The Roadhouse and The Barrel Room at Twisted Vine Bistro in Ft. Myers and The Side Door Jazz Club at Slate’s in Cape Coral, offer jazz steadily). A variety of “Jazz at Two” Friday matinee concerts sponsored all season by the Jazz Club of Sarasota and the South County Jazz Club also keep things swinging for jazz lovers.