2-18-19 Interview

3-4-19 Multi genre singer Katt Heffner says that “music was coming out of the pores of her family.” Her father was in a band, her uncle Frank was a song writer, her mother played the piano at church, and they made every kind of music “from church to Doo Wop.” Katt and her 5 brothers “would take turns entertaining and applauding each other.” They soon became a band and their uncle Frank was their manager. Katt says she just “loves to play with the boys in the band,” and so it is no surprise that she has made a life with music, performing virtually every genre with virtually every kind of performer including the following Patti LaBelle, Ronnie Spector, Al Hibler, The Four Aces, The Count Basie Quartet, The Temptations, Sandra Reaves, Luther Vandross, Dick Hyman, John Lamb, Buster Cooper, Roger Humphries, Fred Johnson, Kenny Drew Jr., Richard Drexler, The Warren Covington Orchestra, The 42nd Street Big Band, and The Ybor City Underground Orchestra, the 16th Annual Moscow International Jazz Festival, Jeffrey Sexton. The 35th Birthday Celebration of the Clearwater Jazz Holiday,. Listen to this charming, talented, hard-working woman describe making a life in what we all know is a very difficult business and come see why these entertainers wanted to work with her when she performs on the Classic Stage as one of the Afternoon Theme Performers at the Sarasota Jazz Festival.

12-31-18 Interview

1-7-19 John Lamb When John Lamb plays everyone stops to listen. His solos may be poignant or whimsical, achingly simple or blindingly complex, but you don’t want to miss a note. A highly respected musician who spent three years touring and recording with the legendary Duke Ellington band, he is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Sarasota Jazz Club’s “Satchmo Award” for service to jazz as both a musician and an educator. In his 80’s he is arguably the busiest musician in South Florida. But despite his success and accolades he remains kind, generous, charming and self-deprecating, dedicated to sharing his extraordinary talent and knowledge and making the world a better place which, by his very presence, he already has. Listen to him describe the way he constructs his solos and come help him celebrate his 85th birthday at The Palladium on Jan 6th at 3 PM with an all-star cast including Nate Najar, “La Lucha” (Alejandro Arenas, Mark Feinman & John O’Leary), Jeff Rupert, James Suggs, Jeremy Carter, Synia Carroll, Bryan Hughes, and a Bass Choir with Steve Boisen, Mark Neuenschwander and Joe Porter. Special appearance by Bob Devin Jones. Jam session to follow show in Side Door led by the Al Downing Jazz Association.