T'is the season...

Guitarist Nate Najar loves the Christmas season. He brought his annual Jazz Holiday concert program to Sarasota FL on Friday, December 15, one night after the same sextet performed at the Palladium Theater in St. Petersburg.

Nate Najar

Najar was joined by John Lamb on bass, Mark Feinman on drums, James Suggs on trumpet, Jeff Rupert on tenor sax and special guest Chuck Redd on vibes.

Chuck Redd

Most of the concert featured instrumental holiday fare - done with a jazz twist, of course . They included "Mistletoe & Holly," "Winter Wonderland" and "Angels We Have Heard on High," among others.

Highlights included ex-Ellington bassist Lamb's feature on Duke's "Love You Madly," in which he played duo segments with each other band member, and Redd's vibes feature on the 1953 Eartha Kitt hit "Santa Baby."


Najar is a masterful acoustic guitarist, a St. Petersburg-based musician highly influenced by the late Charlie Byrd. He is starting to get the recognition he so deserves. Rupert and Suggs combined as a strong horn section, both in unison and as passionate soloists.

The Sarasota concert at the Glenridge Performing Arts Center was a South County Jazz Club event. 

Enjoy these photographic moments. 

Najar and Lamb

Lamb and Rupert

Chuck Redd

Najar, Lamb, Suggs, Rupert, Redd, Feinman

Najar, Lamb, Rupert, Suggs, Redd, Feinman