JK & The Contraband Bring ’90s Alternative Rock, Jazz and Funk to Fogartyville in Sarasota
Fans of ’90s alternative rock, jazz, funk and improvisational music will get all of those sounds in one performance when JK & The Contraband take the stage at Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center on Saturday, September 26, 2026.
The Central Florida-based collective will perform at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m., for a two-set show that promises to take familiar alternative-rock favorites in an entirely different musical direction before showcasing the band’s original compositions.
Rather than simply recreating classic songs note for note, JK & The Contraband specializes in transforming recognizable music through jazz improvisation, funk rhythms and groove-oriented arrangements.
’90s Alternative Rock Gets a Jazz-Funk Makeover
The evening’s first set will feature instrumental interpretations of music associated with some of the biggest names of the alternative-rock and grunge era.
Audiences can expect the group to reinterpret material from artists including Nirvana, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, The Smashing Pumpkins and Queens of the Stone Age.
The concept creates an interesting crossover for music fans. Songs originally driven by distorted guitars and alternative-rock intensity become launching points for improvisation, jazz harmony and funk-inspired rhythms.
Fogartyville describes the band’s approach as combining jazz, funk and improvisation with the energy of alternative rock, producing atmospheric and groove-driven new arrangements of familiar material. The venue’s recent Fogartyville music coverage reflects the range of performances presented there.
Second Set Showcases JK & The Contraband’s Original Music
After revisiting the alternative-rock catalog, the band will switch gears for its second set and perform original JK & The Contraband material.
The group’s original sound draws from several styles, including modern jazz fusion, funk, hip-hop rhythms, psychedelic textures and improvisational music.
The band’s website describes JK & The Contraband as a project built around collective improvisation and musical exploration, while Fogartyville characterizes its original material as cinematic, energetic and groove-driven.
The result is music that can appeal to listeners well beyond traditional jazz audiences.
Meet JK & The Contraband
JK & The Contraband is led by guitarist John Krasula (JK) and features a lineup of Central Florida musicians:
- John Krasula — guitar
- Patrick Moreno — keyboards
- Thomas Milovac — bass
- Daniel Bonnet — saxophone
- Johnbern Thomas — drums
Together, the musicians combine tightly arranged passages with the spontaneity of live improvisation, allowing songs to evolve differently from one performance to another.
That improvisational element should make the September 26 Fogartyville performance particularly appealing to concertgoers who enjoy musicians taking chances onstage rather than simply reproducing studio recordings.
Learn more about JK & The Contraband and listen to their music at the band’s website.
About Fogartyville
The performance will take place at Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, located at 525 Kumquat Court in Sarasota.
Fogartyville is part of WSLR+Fogartyville, Sarasota’s community radio and arts organization. The venue has developed a diverse calendar of live music that ranges from blues, jazz and Americana to reggae, folk, world music and experimental performances.
The intimate setting also gives audiences an opportunity to experience touring and Florida-based musicians in a room designed around listening and live performance. For a broader look at the area’s concert scene, see the Suncoast Post guide to Sarasota’s live music venues.
Concertgoers attending the JK & The Contraband show should note that entrance to the performance space is through the alleyway.
More information about Fogartyville and upcoming events is available at WSLR+Fogartyville.
JK & The Contraband at Fogartyville — Event Details
- What: JK & The Contraband
- When: Saturday, September 26, 2026
- Doors: 7 p.m.
- Show: 8 p.m.
- Where: Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center
- Address: 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota, FL
- WSLR+Fogartyville Members: $20
- Not-Yet-Members: $25
- Students Ages 13+: $13
Tickets can be purchased directly at Fogartyville’s TicketSpice page. Additional event information is available through the WSLR event listing.
For music fans who grew up listening to the alternative-rock explosion of the 1990s—but also appreciate jazz musicianship, improvisation and a serious funk groove—JK & The Contraband’s Sarasota appearance offers something considerably different from a conventional tribute show.
Instead of simply looking backward, the band uses familiar music as the starting point for something new, then follows it with an entire set devoted to its own groove-heavy original sound.
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