Taj Mahal, Kurt Elling, Jake Shimabukuro and the SPO. Need we say more? Maybe not, but if we didn't you would surely miss so much more - including blues, jazz, rock and soul on our mainstage Hough Hall and in our award-winning Side Door!
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JUNE
5/31, 6/2, 4
St. Petersburg Opera Presents:
Richard Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos
Vienna's richest man is planning an incredible party. But first, guests will enjoy a serious opera (the Prima Donna plays Ariadne, who's ready to die on the island of Naxos because her lover's jilted her). Then comes a ribald comedy, starring saucy Zerbinetta (who's got a Ph.D. in flirting). And finally, there's to be a pyrotechnic display. But the host suddenly decides both productions must take place simultaneously so the fireworks can start promptly at nine! The Composer's aghast and the Prima Donna's horrified. But watch what happens when Zerbinetta gets into the act and determines that Ariadne's "tragedy" shouldn't end unhappily after all! This is Strauss à la Rosenkavalier, with sparkling, luscious music that wraps itself around a witty comedy. Sung in German with English subtitles. Mark Sforzini, Artistic Director.
Fri., May 31, 7:30 p.m.
Sun., Jun. 2, 2 p.m.
Jun. 4, 7:30 p.m.
Wed., 6/5
Ruth Eckerd Hall on the Road Presents:
The mythology of American blues is filled with images of the lone musician standing at the crossroads, caught in that gray area between light and shadow, cutting impossible deals with dark forces, offering up nothing less than his soul as collateral. Composer and multi-instrumentalist Taj Mahal, a two-time Grammy winner and one of the most influential American blues and roots artists of the past half-century, has made no Faustian deals in his long and distinguished career, but he stands at an important crossroads nonetheless. In his never-ending exploration of the complex origins and underpinnings of American music, he has forged a four-decade career by gathering and distilling countless musical traditions from a range of geographical and cultural sources: the Mississippi Delta, the Appalachian backwoods, the African continent, the Hawaiian Islands, Europe, the Caribbean and so much more. Taj Mahal doesn't just stand at the crossroads. He is the crossroads.
7:30 p.m. Tickets available from Ruth Eckerd Hall, (727) 791-7400
Watch Mahal Sing You Ain't No Street Walker Mama, Honey But I Do Love The Way You Strut Your Stuff
Listen to NPR Interview with Mahal
Fri., 6/7
Kurt Elling: 1619 Broadway, The Brill Building Project
Whitney James Opens
Grammy winner Kurt Elling is among the world's foremost jazz vocalists. He has won everyDownBeat Critics Poll for the last thirteen years and has been named "Male Singer of the Year" by the Jazz Journalists Association eight times in that same span. Every one of Elling's ten albums has been Grammy-nominated for a GRAMMY. Elling's rich baritone spans four octaves and features both astonishing technical mastery and emotional depth. His repertoire includes original compositions and modern interpretations of standards, all of which are springboards for inspired improvisation, scatting, spoken word, and poetry. The New York Times declared, "Elling is the standout male vocalist of our time." Even for the ceaselessly inventive Elling, 1619 Broadway is another unexpected step, and one guaranteed to further solidify his reputation for thrilling innovation and superb craftsmanship.
Popular jazz vocalist Whitney James opens.
8 p.m.
Watch Elling perform You Send Me
Watch Elling on the Brill Building Project
Mon., 6/10
Ruth Eckerd Hall on the Road Presents:
Compared to Jimi Hendrix and MiLes Davis, this virtuoso astounds with his lightning-fast playing and phenomenal dexterity. Shimabukuro conjures sounds from his ukelele one would never expect from this humble, four-string instrument. Blending jazz, rock, classical, traditional Hawaiian and folk, he creates his own unique sound. Shimabukuro, has already redefined a heretofore under-the-radar instrument, been declared a musical "hero" by Rolling Stone, won accolades from the disparate likes of Eddie Vedder, Perez Hilton and Dr. Sanjay Gupta, wowed audiences on TV (Jimmy Kimmel, Conan), earned comparisons to Jimi Hendrix and MiLes Davis, and even played in front of the Queen of England.
7:30 p.m. Tickets available from Ruth Eckerd Hall, (727) 791-7400
Watch Shimabukuro play While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Sat., 6/22
Ruth Eckerd Hall on the Road Presents:
David Sanborn and Bob James, Jazz
In his three-and-a-half decade career. Sanborn has released twenty-four albums, won six Grammies, amassed eight Gold and one Platinum album. Sanborn's music blends instrumental pop, R&B and traditional jazz. Discovered by Quincy Jones, James has recorded fifty-eight albums and received innumerable awards through five decades. He's worked with Hank Crawford and Grover Washington, Jr, among many others, and found popular success overseeing significant hits for Paul Simon, Neil Diamond, Maynard Ferguson, and Kenny Loggins. The jazz icons will perform with Steve Gadd.
7:30 p.m. Tickets available from Ruth Eckerd Hall, (727) 791-7400
Sat., 7/6
Ruth Eckerd Hall on the Road Presents:
Jay & Silent Bob's Super Groovy Cartoon Movie
With Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes
Jay and Silent Bob are back! Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes are hitting the road with their new animated film, JAY & SILENT BOB'S SUPER GROOVY CARTOON MOVIE, which blazes across America in a series of one-night-only shows which started in April of this year. The legendary best buds from Jersey are back to dispense weed and wisdom in cartoon form and audiences will have the opportunity to watch the new movie and stick around for a rip-roaring Q&A afterwards.
7:30 p.m. Tickets available from Ruth Eckerd Hall, (727) 791-7400
Fri., 7/19
Coo Coo Ca Choo & Tin Pan Alley, Classic Rock 'n' Roll
Benefit Concert for the St. Petersburg Free Clinic
Put your dancing shoes on, grab a partner and rock out for the St. Petersburg Free Clinic. Don't miss this great bill with two of Tampa Bay's fave classic rock bands, Coo Coo Ca Chooand Tin Pan Alley, playing their hearts out for this great charity!
8 p.m.
Sat., 6/8
Palladium Presents:
St. Pete Blues Allstars, Chicago and Jump Blues
Back by popular demand for another rockin' night of music featuring seven of St. Pete's best blues musicians, the Allstars are renowned for their work together and with their own bands, including stints with Diamond Teeth Mary, Rock Bottom and The Cutaways, The Backbreakers, Treblemakers and The Hawks. The St. Pete Allstars are Jon Puhl (guitar, vocals), Kim Harpo (harmonica, vocals), Mike Delaney (sax, vocals), Liz Pennock (piano, vocals), Dr. Blues (guitar, vocals), Don Cox (bass) and Dave Gill (drums).
8 p.m.
Fri., 6/14
Palladium Presents:
Welcome Back! Lauren Mitchell Band, Blues & Soul
Red hot vocalist and Palladium favorite, Lauren Mitchell and her kickin' band, return to the Side Door with her Welcome Back show. This is the first show since her Please Come Hometour took the band around the Carolinas, Ohio and Canada. Don't miss the return of this great blues and soul singer. Her last shows here at the Side Door sold out, so get your tickets early!
8 p.m.
Watch Mitchell Rock It on I'll Sing the Blues for You at the Palladium's Side Door!
Fri., 6/20
Palladium Presents:
O Som Do Jazz: A Kiss for Rio, Brazilian Jazz
Celebrating the release of its second CD, "A Kiss for Rio," the septet with Rio de Janeiro singer Andrea Moraes Manson, explores jazzy Brazilian grooves including bossa nova, MPB, samba-funk, chill, marcha and more. Andrea Moraes Manson (vocals), Alfredo Rivero (guitar), David Cubillos (piano), Alejandro Arenas (bass), Mark Feinman (drums), Austin Vickrey (sax), David Manson (trombone).
7:30 p.m.
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