Jazz & Blues Florida April 2024

CASH BOX KINGS

APRIL 13

TAMPA BAY

BLUES FEST

TAMPA

APRIL 14

HEARTWOOD

SOUNDSTAGE

GAINESVILLE

Co-led by real-deal Chicago blues vocalist and songwriter Oscar “Mr. 43rd Street” Wilson, and songwriter/harmonica giant/vocalist Joe Nosek, The Cash Box Kings play raw, unvarnished, oldschool ensemble blues.

On 2023’s Oscar’s Motel the Kings bring contemporary authority and old-school authenticity to each of the album’s 11 tracks. As ever, Wilson’s huge, emotive vocals and Nosek’s blistering harmonica fuel their razor-sharp original songs and incisive reinventions of obscure blues classics. The band – featuring guitarist Billy Flynn, drummer Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith, bassist John W. Lauler, and keyboardist Lee Kanehira – opens a door into the intoxicating spirit and sounds of 1950s and 1960s Chicago-based blues, and then they bring it up to the minute. Living Blues magazine named Oscar’s Motel their top album of 2023.

According to Nosek, “While we are never afraid to tackle any subject, we decided to put aside everyday problems and have a bit more fun. So, no songs about COVID and this time nothing too political. Our goal was to have Oscar’s Motel be a celebration, an open invitation to leave your troubles behind and have a carefree, down-home, good time.”

The history of The Cash Box Kings begins in Madison, WI where Nosek founded the band in 2001. Co-leader Wilson joined in 2007. Over 20 years apart in age and coming from vastly different backgrounds, the two form an unlikely pair, combining Wilson’s indisputably authentic South Side Chicago blues vocals and gritty, street-smart songwriting chops with Nosek’s storytelling vocals, dynamic harmonica and witty tunesmithing. According to Wilson, the group is “a throwback to the golden age of blues with some kickin’ fresh young blood. Joe is my best friend in the music world—the band is a marriage made in heaven for both of us.” Says Nosek: “We have each other’s backs. We’re family.”

The band is named with respect to Cashbox, a defunct publication that kept a music chart from the 1940s through the mid-1990s that rivaled Billboard’s. In their first six years, the Kings’ top-notch musicianship and deep blues feeling won the band a large and loyal audience across the Midwest. When Wilson joined the group in 2007, he brought a commanding stage presence and an authoritative vocal style. A natural-born entertainer and a perfect foil for Nosek and the band, Wilson grew up in the company of many famous blues artists. Junior Wells, Elmore James, Big Smokey Smothers and close family friend David “Honeyboy” Edwards were all regulars at weekly Friday night fish fries/jam sessions at the Wilson home.

A self-described blues fanatic, Nosek spent his youth soaking up all the blues music he could find, both live and on record. In his teens, he began sneaking into blues clubs to watch Junior Wells, James Cotton, Otis Rush, Jimmy Rogers and others. He took up harmonica, cultivating his own aggressive, fluid style. After moving to Madison, WI in the early 1990s, Nosek began sitting in with artists such as Clyde Stubblefield and Luther Allison. With the goal of finding

KINGS

like-minded musicians hell-bent on playing raw, rough-edged, hard-charging blues, Nosek formed The Cash Box Kings. Their 2003 debut album, Live! At The King Club earned instant praise from critics and fans, and boosted their reputation as one of the hottest live bands on the circuit.

With ten previous releases to their credit and hundreds of live performances under their belts, the Kings have won widespread acclaim throughout the blues world. 2017’s Royal Mint placed among the Top Ten Blues Albums of the Year by UK’s MOJO magazine. 2019’s Hail To The Kings! continued the trend, with the band receiving three Blues Music Award nominations, praise from media including NPR, The Chicago Tribune and AllMusic.com, and global radio airplay.

As they continue to play major festivals across the U.S. and Europe, building their worldwide audience one jaw-dropping show at a time, The Cash Box Kings invite everyone to leave their worries at home a and check into Oscar’s Motel, where the music is always just getting started. More

FROM A PHOTO BY ROMAN SOBUS

APRIL 4

CD RELEASE

NEW TAMPA

PERFORMING ARTS CENTER TAMPA

APRIL 20 FIREHOUSE CENTER

RUSKIN

APRIL 24

W/SIMON LASKEY GROUP

NEW TAMPA

PERFORMING ARTS CENTER TAMPA

Jack Wilkins

Saxophonist/composer Jack Wilkins serves as Director of the Jazz Studies Program at the University of South Florida. At USF he teaches courses in jazz improvisation, jazz styles and analysis, and jazz history, teaches applied jazz performance and directs the USF Jazztet. The Jazztet is an internationally acclaimed student jazz ensemble that has performed at notable European jazz festivals including the Montreux, North Sea, Jazz A’ Vienne and Umbria Jazz Festivals, and conducted concert tours of Colombia and South Africa. Wilkins has released seven CDs as a leader, including his latest, 2024’s Acadian Rhythms. This follows 2019’s The Rundle Sessions and 2017’s The Banff Project, a collection of Wilkins compositions with original films by Edwin Dennis and others. All three projects drew inspiration from time spent in the Canadian Rockies as part of artist residencies at the Banff Centre and as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Calgary. Earlier CDs include The Blue and Green Project, a unique set of Wilkins original compositions and arrangements based in American roots music and inspired by the culture and environ ment of the Appalachian Mountains. Wilkins also co-leads a group with Swedish trumpeter Jon Allan, Swedish/American pianist Per Danielsson, Swedish all-stars Hans Backenroth (bass) and Johan Lofcrantz (drums), and American saxophonist Tamara Danielsson. CDs released by this group include Dear Old Stockholm and Artwork by the group Two of a Kind, a collection of compositions by Wilkins, Swedish com poser/arranger Georg Reidel, and Per Danielsson. Wilkins can be heard as a soloist on all of the recordings by Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge, including their latest, 2024’s Magic Light. More at jackwilkinsjazz.com

APRIL 10

COTTONMOUTH KITCHEN BRADENTON

APRIL 10 & 11

BIRDROCK TACO SHACK BRADENTON

Lauren Mitchell

Dynamic blues vocalist Lauren Mitchell relocated from Florida to New Orleans, LA in 2021 to expand her musical knowledge and influences. Soon after, she recorded as a guest vocalist with the Count Basie Orchestra for their 2024 Grammy-winning Basie Swings The Blues album. Backed by the legendary orchestra, she shares a duet with Keb ‘Mo on the song “Down Home Blues.” Other artists on the star-studded album include Buddy Guy, Charlie Musselwhite, George Benson, Shemekia Copeland, Bettye LaVette, and Bobby Rush, among others. Orchestra Director Scotty Barnhart says, “Lauren is one of the most important blues artists working today.” After singing “Me and Bobby McGee” at a karaoke contest and taking home the top prize, Mitchell moved back to Florida after college and began singing in local clubs while developing a loyal following, eventually putting a band together and making her mark on the Florida regional scene. In 2013, she and her band released their debut CD Please Call Home. It, along with their second album, 2014’s Live! From the Bradfordville Blues Club led to regional Suncoast Blues Society wins and appearances at two International Blues Challenges. From 2016 to 2019, Lauren and her band traveled the U.S. on several lengthy tours that had her sharing the stage with Buddy Guy, Danielle Nicole and Lurrie Bell. Her 2017 release Desire garnered two Blues Blast Award nominations, and was ranked the No. 6 Soul Blues Album on the Roots Music Report for 2017. More at laurenmitchellmusic.com

APRIL 10

PROHIBITION KITCHEN

ST AUGUSTINE

APRIL 11

JACKSONVILLE UNIVERSITY JACKSONVILLE

APRIL 12

BYNX ORLANDO

APRIL 13

CHEZ L’AMOUR ST AUGUSTINE

Kelly Green

Born and raised in Florida, critically acclaimed pianist/ vocalist Kelly Green currently lives and works in New York City where she and her trio have performed weekly at The Flatiron Room for the past five years. Her interest in jazz blossomed at age eleven, and in her senior year of high school Green recorded and produced Aspire, her debut album of twelve original songs. While earning her Bachelors Degree in Jazz Studies-Piano Performance at the University of North Florida, Green received the Outstanding Musician award in each of her last three years at the University. She performed regularly with her trio at area venues and private events, and in 2011 she won the Generation Next Youth Talent Competition at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival. For her last two semesters at William Paterson University (where she received her Masters in Jazz Piano Performance) Green was the pianist in the William Paterson Jazz Orchestra. She also received the Outstanding Graduate Music Student Award for her class. Life Rearranged in 2017 was followed by the debut trio release Volume One just one year later. In 2019, she and bassist Luca Soul formed the duo Green Soul, performing in Greece, Barcelona, Copenhagen, and Paris. In 2020 the two created a performance, recording, and art space in Queens called Green Soul Studios where they continue to produce their own concert series and recording content. One such product is the self-engineered, mixed, and mastered album of 11 spontaneously composed pieces that is 2022’s Endings That Are Beginnings Her brand-new release is and features her longstanding trio with new collaborators. More at kellygreen piano.com

BLUES SPOTLIGHT

APRIL 11

LYRIC THEATRE

STUART

APRIL 14

COLISEUM ST PETERSBURG

APRIL 16

BOCA BLACK BOX

BOCA RATON

APRIL 17

DANIELS PAVILION

NAPLES

Jive Aces

Renowned worldwide for their high-energy spectacular showmanship, their viral video “Bring Me Sunshine” and for being the first live band to reach the final rounds of “Britain’s Got Talent” (with their showstopping version of “I Wanna Be Like You”seen by more than 20 million viewers), The Jive Aces have firmly established themselves the UK’s No.1 Jive and Swing band. The live show includes classics like “When You’re Smiling”, “Mack The Knife” and “Sing, Sing, Sing”, plus originals taken from their various albums. The in-demand sextet averages 300 shows a year , and have worked with Van Morrison, Keely Smith and performed for the Queen of England. They headlined and sold out the Royal Albert Hall and thousands of festivals and venues in 40 countries, including Buckingham Palace for the Coronation Festival, Trafalgar Square for the Olympics and major theatre tours in the U.S. They have released 11 albums along with compilations, EPs and singles. The band was formed in 1989 by vocalist Ian Clarkson, drummer Peter Howell, bassist Ken Smith and saxman John Fordham. After several years of touring, Alex Douglas (trombone, bongos, blues harp, washboard) and Vince Hurley (piano) joined as permanent members. Grazia Clarkson, the band’s publicist, has become a regular performing member playing several songs on accordion. Their “Bring Me Sunshine” video is a viral hit with nearly four million views on YouTube and seven film festival awards. They’ve made hundreds of media appearances, including a residency on BBC Radio London. More at

APRIL 11

PHILLIPS CENTER

GAINESVILLE

APRIL 12

PHILLIPS CENTER

ORLANDO

APRIL 13

MOSS CENTER

MIAMI

APRIL 14

ARTS GARAGE

DELRAY BEACH

Harold López-Nussa

Cuban-born pianist and composer Harold López-Nussa begins an exciting new chapter of his fascinating career with 2023’s Timba a la Americana, a vibrant album inspired by the pianist’s recent decision to leave his Cuban homeland and begin a new life in France. Produced by Snarky Puppy bandleader Michael League, the CD unveils a brandnew sound across 10 original compositions performed by a tight-knit band featuring harmonica virtuoso Grégoire Maret, Luques Curtis on bass, Bárbaro “Machito” Crespo on congas, and Harold’s brother Ruy Adrián López-Nussa on drums. The pianist had released a string of acclaimed Latin jazz projects under his own name and participated in collabo rative all-star assemblages like Ninety Miles with Stefon Harris, David Sanchez, and Christian Scott. Still, he felt a strong urge to escape the conventional thinking about song form and structure that’s defined Latin jazz since the 1950s. In collaboration with League, the two sought new settings for the clave patterns that are the heartbeat of Cuban music. They grabbed elements of danzon, son tumbao riffs and ancient bata drum rhythms, then incorporated them into the choppy polyrhythmic agitations of modern improvising collectives. League also persuaded López-Nussa to expand his identity as a piano player – not an easy thing given that his credits include top honors at the Montreux Jazz Festi val’s 2005 piano competition. López-Nussa made his debut as a leader in 2007 with Canciones. Since then, he’s alternated between small-group projects and unusual collaborations… always exploring. More at haroldlopeznussa.com

The Boneshakers

During his 1980 maiden session for Don and David Was, Randy Jacobs met Sweetpea Atkinson. After the Was Band went on hiatus in 1992, Jacobs played and recorded with the likes of Bonnie Raitt, BB King, Seal, Paula Abdul and Kris Kristofferson. Atkinson provided backing vocals to artists like Raitt, Neil Diamond, Keb Mo and Bob Seger. The two reconnected and released 1997’s Book Of Spells

Shake The Planet. (Note: It was Raitt who inadvertently gave them their name while they were working on her Longing In Our Hearts

After 2001’s Pouring Gasoline (with vocalist Malford Milligan) and 2002’s live CD Put Some Booty On It, the band joined forces with sax queen Mindi Abair and released Live in Seattle, leading to eight Independent Blues Awards including Artist of the Year, and an Independent Music Award for Best Blues Song Fan Award for “Pretty Good For A Girl” featuring Joe Bonamassa. After Atkinson’s death in 2020, producer John Wooler (who originally signed The Boneshakers in 1997) connected Jacobs and vocalist Jenny Langer, a Blues Hall of Fame (NYC and VA) inductee at age 28 and winner of the 2020 International Blues Challenge for Best Self-Produced Album. One Foot In the Groove was released in 2022 and immediate ly hit No. 1 on UK Blues Charts and No. 1 on U.S. Soul Blues

Charts. After 11 months on Soul Blues radio charts, the band reissued a Deluxe Edition reissue of the award-winning album with five bonus tracks. More at officialboneshakers.com

MAITLAND JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL MAITLAND

APRIL 10

GOLD COAST

JAZZ SOCIETY

BROWARD CENTER

FT LAUDERDALE

APRIL 12

RITZ THEATRE

JACKSONVILLE

Grace Kelly

Meet Grace Kelly, an unequivocal musical prodigy. As a singer-saxophonistsongwriter-composer and band leader, Kelly has rocked the jazz world with sold-out concerts, 14 acclaimed albums and a résumé that includes performing at the Hollywood Bowl and as part of the house band for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert – all before reaching her mid-twenties. As of 2022 she has become the youngest member of the Board of Trustees of Berklee College of Music. Kelly’s early career featured performances at age 14 as a soloist with the Boston Pops, playing an original composition arranged for the legendary orchestra, and at age 16 for Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration. Since then she has played over 1,000 shows as a bandleader in 35 countries at venues such as the Kennedy Center and the Moscow Symphony Hall and for the Montreal, Newport, and Montreux international jazz festivals. Touted for her scorching saxophone stylings and purring vocals, Kelly has performed and recorded with renowned artists including Lin Manuel-Miranda, Dave Brubeck, Lee Konitz, Phil

Harry Connick Jr., Gloria and Wynton Marsalis. Vanity Fair as a millennial shaking

Kelly’s state-of-the-art brand of electro jazz-pop

content are pushing her to the forefront of the fusion scene, alongside names

Ray Robinson

TUESDAYS

AC HOTEL

MIAMI DADELAND

THURSDAYS

W/RACHELLE COBA

THE FISH HOUSE

MIAMI

After high school, H. Ray Robinson, Jr. joined the military and was selected to join the U.S. Army Band program including performances for numerous dignitaries and high-ranking officials, and traveled the world performing. After completing his military service, Robinson created the drum program for the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame’s Saturday Morning Jazz Program. He was also affiliated with the University of Alabama’s ARTPLAY Program, and taught private students. Robinson is the founder of Heartbeat Percussion Ensemble, RAW Jazz Trio, Art Music Poetry (AMP), and H. Ray Entertainment. Since relocating to South Florida, Robinson has been teaching, performing and recording with groups such as Graham Wood Drout’s Iko-Iko, Joey Gilmore and the TCB Express, Mo Morgan, Patti Russo, Muggy Doo and Rachelle Coba. Currently he is performing with fusion jazz group Night Moves Project, blues artists Midnite Johnny, Nigel Mack, Americana folk artist Michael Wieskopf, jazz artist Amy Arlo, jazz duo Ted McDermott and Loye Hawkins, acoustic string group Wagner, Hand and Phlug (WHP), Derelict Daughters and Mari Bell’s Jazz Quartet. Robinson is also passionately active with the South Florida Center for Percussive Arts, developing and participating in specialized programs for students including those with disabilities (autism, down syndrome, substance abuse), including organizing performances and bringing musical arts presentations to local