Palladium At St. Petersburg College Announces Winter Season

The Palladium at St. Petersburg College presents a full line up of music, dance, and other performances this winter.

The new year at the Palladium at St. Petersburg College begins with cool jazz when New York City saxophone sensation Harry Allen joins the Nate Najar Trio on Thursday, January 6 at the Side Door Cabaret. Swing Bros. recording artist Harry Allen has over thirty recordings to his name. His recordings have made the top ten list for favorite new releases in Swing Journal Magazine's reader's poll and Jazz Journal International's critic's poll. The concert begins at 7:30 and tickets are $20.

On January 8, rock, blues, country and Elvis fans can re-live the Glory Days of Elvis' Las Vegas shows when Orange Room Records' recording artist Doug Wilson brings his 16-piece band for ELVIS: THE SHOW GOES ON! This show, put on in celebration of Elvis' birthday, authentically reproduces the sights and sounds of his captivating performances that pay homage to the King and his legendary TCB Band. Whether you are a long time Elvis fan, recent Elvis fan or discovering what an Elvis show is all about, this event is for you. A veteran performer, Wilson (Elvis) has shared the stage with Freddie Fender and The Texas Tornadoes, Dennis Yost and The Classics IV, The Jordanaires, Charlie Daniels and The Charlie Daniels Band, The Marshall Tucker Band, Mac Davis, Tracy Lawrence, and many more. The show begins at 8 pm and tickets are $25-$35. For more information, visit http: //elvistcbband.com.

On Sunday, January 9, the Palladium presents the Michael Ross Quartet. Michael Ross Quartet is one of Tampa Bay's finest jazz bands, led by bassist Michael Ross. Other players include: David Pate, sax; Walt Hubbard, drums; LaRue Nickelson, guitar. The concert will take place at 3 pm and tickets are $20.

Opera fans won't want to miss the St. Petersburg Opera's first performance of the new year when it presents Verdi's RIGOLETTO on January 21, 23 and 25. Rigoletto combines a story of love, passion, betrayal, revenge and tragedy. The lecherous Duke of Mantua seduces wives and daughters while his hunchbacked Jester, Rigoletto, adds insult to injury by ridiculing their husbands and fathers. Finally, the joke goes too far and a furious father, Count Monterone, pronounces a curse on Rigoletto. The curse comes alive as the Duke seduces Rigoletto's young, innocent daughter Gilda, then deepens when Rigoletto hires an assassin, Sparafucile, to kill the Duke. Will Gilda's love for the Duke finally bring the curse down upon them all? Tickets range from $21.50-61.50. For more information, visit www.stpeteopera.org.

On January 27, New York City's elegant Buglisi Dance Theatre makes its only Tampa Bay appearance. Says the NY Times, "Extravagant and beautiful...passionate...stunning theatricality," Featuring St. Petersburg native and BDT principal dancer Helen Hansen French, there will be a 6 p.m. pre-performance talk with Jacqulyn Buglisi, artistic director, followed by the performance at 7 p.m. The award-winning BDT is internationally renowned for its poignant, dramatic, and wondrously lyrical repertoire that speaks to the issues and emotions of our time. Direct from New York, the award-winning Buglisi Dance Theatre is internationally renowned for poignant, dramatic, and wondrously lyrical repertoire that speaks to the issues and emotions of our time. Witness magnificent dancers, sublime images and the viscerally-charged dances of Artistic Director Jacqulyn Buglisi, a descendent of Martha Graham. Program highlights include Buglisi's masterpiece Requiem set to Faure's soaring Mass and a preview of Letters of Love on Ripped Paper. For more information, visit http://www.buglisi-foreman.org/homepage.html

Free and open to the public, the Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve returns to the Palladium's stage on January 29. The Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve consists of forty-five full time professional musicians who are assigned to perform in at least three ensembles. All members are assigned to perform in the Ceremonial and Marching Band which normally utilizes 25-40 personnel. In addition to their musical responsibilities, members are also assigned to one of the administrative support departments within the band. The concert begins at 7:30. For more information, visit http://www.usafreserveband.af.mil/.

Back by popular demand, Bob Seeley, Joe Krown, Rob Rio, Liz Pennock & Dr. Blues take the stage again for 2011's Boogie Woogie Blues Piano Stomp on January 29. Four boogie woogie and blues pianists offer up a night of rockin' good music on two grand pianos. All the artists come together for a jam to close out this not to be missed show! Four boogie woogie and blues pianists offer up a night of rockin' good music on two grand pianos. The concert features Bob Seeley, who has performed worldwide and as a featured pianist at Carnegie Hall, St. Petersburg's own Liz Pennock, Los Angeles Rob Rio, and direct from New Orleans, Joe Krown. Pennock, Seeley and Rio are inductees into the Boogie Woogie Piano Hall of Fame. Guitarist Dr. Blues is also on the bill. All the artists come together for a jam to close out this not to be missed show!

Joe Krown - The great New Orleans piano player is one of the headliners at the House of Blues Piano Night prior to Jazz Fest and a regular at the Maple Leaf with Walter "Wolfman" Washington and Russell Batiste. He was the longtime keyboardist for Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown. He's toured and recorded with such artists as Marsha Ball, Luther "Guitar Jr." Johnson, Jumpin Johnny Sansone, New Orleans Juice, Kid Ramos (guitarist from the Fabulous Thunderbirds), Bobby Charles, Raful Neal, Marva Wright and many other New Orleans artists.

Bob Seeley - The 82-year-old boogie woogie master. A student of the legendary Meade Lux Lewis. Seeley also played piano with Art Tatum and Eubie Blake and was a regular accompanist for Sippie Wallace. Seeley's playing spans ragtime, stride, blues and boogie woogie.

Rob Rio - The "Boss of the Boogie," piano man and vocalist Rob Rio plays boogie-woogie and jump blues of the 40's and 50's with a virtuosity and élan that has excited audiences around the world for more than thirty years. Based in Los Angeles, Rio has appeared with early blues greats including Muddy Waters, Willy Dixon, CharLes Brown, Joe Cocker, Paul Butterfield and many more, and has recorded with Mick Jagger, Canned Heat, Billy Boy Arnold, William Clarke, Coco Montoya, among others.

Liz Pennock & Dr. Blues - The popular Tampa Bay duo has also performed extensively with legendary Blues artist Diamond Teeth Mary McClain, and throughout the world appearing with artists including John Hartford, Diane Schuur, John Hammond, Carey Bell, North Mississippi All-Stars, Saffire: The Uppity Blues Women, Big Bill Morganfield, Roy Book Binder, Savoy Brown, Bob Margolin, Pinetop Perkins and Leon Russell, and joined the likes of Albert Ammons, Johnnie Johnson (Chuck Berry's piano player), and Pinetop Perkins when in 2008 they were inducted into the Boogie Woogie Piano Hall Of Fame.

The Boogie Woogie Blues Piano Stomp is at 8 pm and tickets are $20 in advance or $25 the day of the show. For more information on the performers, visit www.joekrown.com, www.boogiebob.com, www.robrio.com, or www.lizpennock.com

Whether in the main concert hall with its unsurpassed new sound system, or in its cozy Side Door Cabaret, come see what our audiences already know - that the Palladium is consistently ranked as one of Tampa Bay's best, most intimate and affordable venues. For tickets and information, visit mypalladium.org. The Palladium is just a short walk from the Vinoy in downtown St. Petersburg.
Stay up to date on shows, artists and special events at the Palladium Theater by reading the "Palladium Paul" blog. Executive Director Paul Wilborn talks with performers, previews shows and shares random thoughts on the arts, entertainment and anything else on his mind. You can post your comments as well.

The blog is updated weekly, so check back regularly for the latest news from your favorite theater. To see the most recent "Palladium Paul" blog entries follow this link: http://palladiumpaul.wordpress.com/.

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