Sounds of Jazz & Blues: Concert back at The Westin today
For the second year in a row, the Sounds of Jazz & Blues will fill the air with rich sounds at the waterfront Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village.
Hosted by the Cape Coral Parks and Recreation Department, the concert takes place from 5 to 10 p.m. today at the resort, at 5951 Silver King Blvd. The gates open at 4 p.m. and general admission at the event gate is $20.
“We do quite a bit of rock ‘n’ roll and quite a bit of country in this town,” Todd King, special events coordinator for parks and recreation, said Friday.
The Sounds of Jazz & Blues offers up a bit of musical variety.
“Most jazz and blues fans don’t get a lot of opportunities and events to come out and enjoy that type of music,” he said.
Last year, about 3,000 people attended the concert at the resort.
“It was a great evening of music, food and fun,” King said. “And we look forward to having a great repeat of that and a good crowd for tomorrow.”
The headliner is TIZER, led by keyboardist and composer Lao Tizer.
The band also features Chieli Minucci, a Grammy-nominated composer, guitarist and arranger of the group Chieli Minucci & Special EFX, and violin soloist Karen Briggs, who played with Yanni, event information states.
The rest of the group is comprised of co-producer and guitarist Jeff Kollman, Cuban-born drummer and percussionist Raul Pineda and bassist Rufus Philpot, with Steve Nieves on saxophone, vocals and percussion.
“The headliner has a lot of Grammy-nominated jazz artists that came together,” King said.
TIZER will perform from 8 to 10 p.m.
“The opening act is Little Eddie and the Fat Fingers,” he said.
Out of Naples, the blues group is an area favorite with good reviews.
“We like to have some local flavor,” King said.
Little Eddie and the Fat Fingers kicks off the concert from 5 to 6 p.m. Following the group is Gruv Therapy, playing from 6:20 to 7:30 p.m.
“Gruv Therapy did such an amazing job for us last year,” he said, adding that the group is back for an encore performance. “They are out of Tampa.”
Festival seating chairs and blankets are welcome.
However, coolers, umbrellas and pets are not permitted.
Food, beverage and other vendors will be on site.
“We try to keep it focused on the music as much as possible,” King said.
As of Friday afternoon, about 10 VIP tickets were still available for purchase. For $35, VIP tickets include food, drinks and close parking.
The VIP menu consists of chicken marsala, roast pork, mashed potatoes, steamed mixed vegetables and mixed greens salad, along with desserts.
Any remaining VIP tickets will be sold today at the event gate.
King explained that the city hosted the Sounds of Jazz & Blues for two decades before the economy turned and it was suspended for a few years. The city brought the concert back last year, relocating it to the resort.
“After three years, we felt this area needed it,” he said of the event.
“It was great. The aesthetics, being on the river – there’s nothing like it,” King said. “We just think the venue is great for Cape Coral.”
For more information, visit the city’s Web site at: www.capecoral.net.