For jazz aficionados, lovers of the arts, or folks hoping to have a great night out in Tampa Bay, mark your calendar for Jazz at the Ballroom.
On Sunday, April 16th, the powerhouse ensemble of award-winning musicians comprising Jazz at the Ballroom will be bringing an evening of unforgettable music from the Great American Songbook to St. Petersburg, FL.
For this one-night-only concert, the organizers have chosen one of Tampa Bay’s clandestine gems as its venue, the gorgeous historic Palladium theater, an intimate atmosphere for an evening of swinging, classic standards. For Tampa Bay locals–experiencing the acoustics at this venue is not to be skipped.
“We chose the Palladium in St. Petersburg for several reasons. Many of the musicians we work with have performed there before and spoke highly of it, and the Palladium speaks to our ethos—it’s historic, unique, community-driven, and believes that the arts enrich all of our lives,” says a spokesperson for Jazz at the Ballroom.
Taking inspiration from Bing Crosby’s 1944 hit song, “Accentuate the Positive,” the performance will celebrate the music that was the unofficial catalog of tunes that kept Americans company through the highs and lows of the 1920s–1940s. The songs will be performed by some of the world’s most celebrated voices and musicians in the genre.
Bandleader and pianist Konrad Paszkduzki and his trio will share the stage with the likes of Adrian Cunningham, renowned Australian jazz multi-instrumentalist and Olivia Chindamo, the first-ever jazz voice graduate student at The Juilliard School.
“Adrian Cunningham is a star in the jazz and swing dance world and we’re so lucky that he loves playing the Palladium,” says Paul Wilborn, Executive Director of the Palladium Theater. “If you think jazz is some kind of old school, boring thing, then you haven’t seen Adrian Cunningham on stage. He brings a joy and in-the-moment vitality to this timeless music.”
A reviewer from The Independent, London echos these sentiments, saying, “Adrian Cunningham’s saxophone solo actually had me making whimpering noises in the front Stalls.”
These award-winning musicians will be joined by special guest Niki Haris, best known as “the big voice” behind Madonna and daughter of jazz pianist, Gene Harris.
These artists have graced the stages of Carnegie Hall, Wembley Stadium, New York’s Café Carlyle, Bemelmans, Birdland, Dizzy’s and more. Together, through Jazz at the Ballroom, they are excited and united in a mission to keep swinging, classic jazz thriving and provide one-of-a-kind performances.
Purchase tickets: here