Live Music Returns to Fogartyville in Sarasota with the Bridge Jazz Series

Written by Arlene Sweeting on February 3, 2021. Posted in Music.

Eager to bridge the void of excellent jazz performances created by the pandemic, WSLR+Fogartville and the Sarasota Jazz Club have joined forces to present a series of four concerts featuring some of the best jazz talent in the area. The Bridge Jazz Series will kick off on Thursday, February 11^th with performances by ARIELLA and The Barker Project. The first concert in the series will be virtual only. For the next shows in the series, Fogartyville will be offering limited in-person seating with strict health and safety guidelines in place. Virtual gates will open at 7pm and the concert will begin at 7:30pm. Tickets are $10 for Sarasota Jazz Club and WSLR+Fogartyville members, $15 for non-members, and $25 for those that will host a watch party. Tickets are available at HERE.

Infusing funk, jazz and samba with blues, soul and tango, award-winning touring duo Ariella and Nicolas Kraster have created a memorable ear-catching sound. Formed in September 2013, they quickly became one of the top acts in the Sarasota area, as evidenced by their nomination for best local group in Tampa Bay and Ari for best Jazz vocalist. Ariella combines stunning melodies with infectious grooves and great beats, in order to create a catchy, yet direct and edgy sound.

The Barker Project is a young, energetic group of talented musicians under the leadership of bassist Johnnie Barker. With two vocalists and a horn section, The Barker Project takes jazz and fusion to a new place. With their unique interpretations, improvisation and innovative stylings, The Barker Project delivers cutting-edge sounds that delight and surprise with each performance. In addition to Barker, members include Aaron Washington (drums), Liam Kaiser (guitar), Camilo Molina (trumpet/flugel), DeAntonio Dublin (keyboards), Petra Greenidge (vocals); and Marc Dortch (vocals).