Last year, WUSF lost all of its federal funding. We turned to our community—and you stepped up to support the local, fact-based journalism, music, and cultural programming you love. As a thank-you, we’re excited to invite you to Jazz on the Block, a free celebration in honor of members like you.
During Mental Health Awareness Month, live jazz offers a meaningful way to support well‑being by reducing stress, uplifting mood, and bringing people together through shared experience. WUSF and
Suite E Studios proudly presented Jazz on the Block, a vibrant community event hosted at Suite E Studios in St. Petersburg and sponsored by the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg with partnerships from
Freeman Sound and
3 Daughters Brewing.
Music has a powerful positive effect on mental health because it
engages the brain emotionally, physically, and socially. Listening to or playing music
can lower stress hormones like cortisol, slow the heart rate, and promote relaxation, which helps reduce anxiety. Music also
stimulates the release of dopamine and serotonin—chemicals linked to pleasure, motivation, and mood—making it an effective tool for lifting spirits and combating depression. Beyond biology, music encourages emotional expression, mindfulness, and connection with others, helping people feel understood and less alone. Together, these effects make music a natural, accessible way to support emotional well‑being and resilience.
Thanks to our sponsor Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg and partners Freeman Sound and Suite E Studios.
Entertainment
Steamin' Jazz
Led by bassist and founder Holly Cordero, Steamin' Jazz is a dynamic ensemble hailing from Central Florida. Known for their versatile performances, they blend jazz standards, Brazilian rhythms, funk grooves, and jazz-infused renditions of pop tunes. With a rotating lineup that includes configurations like the Steamin' Quartet, Trio, or Duo, the group brings a fresh and engaging experience to every show.
Mutant Fusion Collective
Mutant Fusion Collective (MFC), the jazz/rock sonic conquistadors, have set sail from Dunedin, FL.
Fronted by guitarist and bandleader Kirk Yates, MFC has earned a reputation for its genre-blending prowess. Their signature sound seamlessly melds original compositions with classic jazz standards and ‘90s alt-rock anthems.
Known for their bold bond of jazz’s improvisational freedom and grunge rock’s raw energy, MFC delivers performances marked by intricate solos, tight rhythms, and a palpable passion.
Tha Banned
As a collective of Tampa based musicians and songwriters that started as a jam band in an auto shop, Tha Banned are committed to spreading the spirit of live music and community. Tha Banned plays every genre of music and specializes in improvisational jazz. They play events at venues across the Tampa Bay area including Rock the Park at Curtis Hixon and the St. Pete Saturday Morning Market.
Tha Banned operates as a collective and often plays as a supporting band for its members' solo performances.
Jose Pineiro Trio
In the pursuit of finding a voice in his art, Jose Pineiro has grasped tightly the evocative and emotional genre of Jazz.
Burgeoning from a fertile music scene in Gainesville, FL honed his discovery of a true musical identity. Jumping the gap between peace and mania, the Jose Pineiro Trio means to reach the depths of human interactions to relay the beauty in life.
Poetry
Quin Killin'
Quin Killin' is a poet, advocate, educator, and performer reppin’ Liberty City, Miami on their back while residing in Volusia County, Florida. They have had their works featured on platforms such as Anomalous Press, African Writer, The Bitchin’ Kitsch, WUSF Arts Axis Florida, Button Poetry, and Voices in Power. They are also an avid comic panelist with speaking and performance experiences Tampa Bay Comic Con, Blerd Con, Dream Con, Holiday Matsuri, and Orlando MegaCon. With an MFA in Creative Writing from Stetson University, they live life as a part-time Blerd, a full-time AuDHD, introverted Negro, and moonlights as a comedic, smart mouth in intimate spaces and Substack essays.
Keshia Banks
Keshia Banks is a poet who has released
Book of Rhymes :: Soulor System, the first book in a series, which
is a self published concept of life's poetic perspectives. A book of poetry. A book of thoughts. A book of perspections. A book of rhymes.
D-Rod the Poet
Dennis Rodney (D-Rod the Poet) is a Tampa-based spoken word artist and poet known for performances featuring lyrical and rhythmic content. He is the host of "Poetry Is..." on WMNF 88.5.
Nosh / Libations
Sponsors and Partners
The Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg
The Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg is a private foundation formed in 2013 following the sale of the nonprofit Bayfront Health St. Petersburg. It is the steward of $170 million in assets to support racial equity and health equity in Pinellas County. The Foundation inspires and empowers people, ideas, information exchange, organizations and relationships to end differences in health due to institutional racism.
Freeman Sound
Freemansound.org and the MINDSET Series strive to raise awareness and funds to support local organizations that provide services to help individuals navigate the effects of mental illness and the stigma often associated with it. The goal is to create a positive mindset, reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness, support community mental health awareness, and prevent suicide.
Suite E Studios
Suite E Studios is a creative community arts space in the Warehouse Arts District of St. Petersburg, FL. They host community and educational events like a creative support group and monthly jam session, concerts, comedy nights, DJ events and more.
