The Jazz Club of Sarasota featured The Barker Project on the spacious grounds of the Sarasota Art Museum whose outdoor patio performance space under the balmy 70-degree sunset temperatures provided a perfect setting for a Holiday Show.
WSLR 96.5 FM radio host of Discovery Road, Louise Coogan served as MC and kicked off the festivities at 5:30 sharp as lead vocalist Joyce Coleman pranced on stage with her green Elf Santa’s Helper outfit and joined band leader Johnnie Barker of the Barker Project to cover everyone’s XMAS classics, from Charley Brown to the Little Drummer Boy.
With an impressive horn section featuring Jayden Titus and his brother Tristen on trumpet and sax, complimented by percussionist Rande Sanderbeck on drums and the unique sounds of vibraphonist Eric Zabela on keyboards, Johnnie Barker took a much-needed detour into the band’s R&B roots to cover “Georgy Porgy” that had the laid back audience dancing in their seats.
The 2024/2025 season of the Jazz Club of Sarasota will culminate with the Sarasota Jazz Festival from March 17th to 23rd featuring among others Marcus Miller, Terell Stafford and The MJR Latin Project featuring Mauricio Rodriquez a Tampa-based band that I have seen perform the best Latin Jazz Fusion at WSLR’s Fogartyville Community Arts Center.
All photos © 2024 Malcolm Lewis Barnes
