Continuing the Legacy of WUSF Jazz
Celebrating Florida Jazz
JAZZ ON ARTS AXIS FLORIDA celebrates Florida's rich jazz history and the large community of musicians and venues that make live performances possible by continuing WUSF Jazz's 56-year legacy: showcasing the best of live, local jazz through providing digital resources and advertising opportunities to jazz musicians, organizations, and venues throughout Florida.
Latest Jazz Updates
The Nick Peters Quartet is a dynamic jazz ensemble led by pianist Nicholas Peters, who has been performing since age four and immersed in jazz since middle school. Based in the Tampa Bay area, Nicholas has performed at renowned venues such as the Straz Center, Ruth Eckerd Hall, the Clearwater Jazz Festival, the Mahaffe
Aliqua, “to some extent”, is a jazz fusion band formed in Tampa, Florida. With members originating from all walks of life and different corners of the world, they blend their cultures and passions into a musical dialogue that listeners can resonate, engage, and change their lives with.
Meet Al Di Meola. He’s a GRAMMY® Award-Winning American jazz fusion and Latin jazz guitarist/composer, working as a solo artist on hit albums like Casino and Land of the Midnight Sun and performed with Chick Corea’s Return to Forever. He recently released a new album Twenty Four and is currently on tour where he’ll be
Recent Studio Performances
The Nick Peters Quartet is a dynamic jazz ensemble led by pianist Nicholas Peters, who has been performing since age four and immersed in jazz since middle school. Based in the Tampa Bay area, Nicholas has performed at renowned venues such as the Straz Center, Ruth Eckerd Hall, the Clearwater Jazz Festival, the Mahaffe
Aliqua, “to some extent”, is a jazz fusion band formed in Tampa, Florida. With members originating from all walks of life and different corners of the world, they blend their cultures and passions into a musical dialogue that listeners can resonate, engage, and change their lives with.
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 anthe
Meet Al Di Meola. He’s a GRAMMY® Award-Winning American jazz fusion and Latin jazz guitarist/composer, working as a solo artist on hit albums like Casino and Land of the Midnight Sun and performed with Chick Corea’s Return to Forever. He recently released a new album Twenty Four and is currently on tour where he’ll be
Meet Al Di Meola. He’s a GRAMMY® Award-Winning American jazz fusion and Latin jazz guitarist/composer, working as a solo artist on hit albums like Casino and Land of the Midnight Sun and performed with Chick Corea’s Return to Forever. He recently released a new album Twenty Four and is currently on tour where he’ll be
Gumbi Ortiz a 30 year veteran of The Al Di Meola Group, was born and raised in The South Bronx, Gumbi has Recorded, performed, and/or Produced, some of today’s most diverse and acclaimed musicians on the Planet
Jazz Album Reviews
Within the opening moments of the Premazzi/Nasser Quartet’s debut release From What I Recall, it becomes clear that this is the work of a distinctly unique and modern voice.
Make no mistake, Carlos Henriquez’s album A Nuyorican Tale is heavily influenced by its Latin music roots. However, there are threads of Straight Ahead Jazz, Afro-Jazz and even some Big-Band winding through the 9 songs that help broaden its appeal to a wider audience.
“Smokin’ Guitar Cat” is a beautiful single from vocalist Julie Black, which features Julie’s classic raspy, mellifluous bluesy voice. Dave Eichenberger's acoustic guitar and synth structure compliment Julie’s vocals, which makes you feel like you’re roaming the rainy streets of Ybor City. The song’s Cuban noir influences showcase lyrics like “soon everybody’s dancing to this smokin’ guitar cat on the rainy streets of Tampa where they roll the cigars at.”
Spoken Word Poetry Performances
New Performances coming in 2025
Leandra Diaz, known as SlimTruth, is a spoken word artist, author, coach, and workshop facilitator based in Orlando. She’s nationally ranked and known for using her voice to highlight mental health and uncover personal truths.
Nicole has always had a love for writing and especially poetry, one she has only expanded on through high school and college. Inspired by lyricists, other poets, and the natural world, she commonly writes about internal and external struggles and how language shapes our understanding of ourselves. For more of her work, check local literary magazines and community poetry events in the St. Pete area, where she appears regularly.
Ty Scott King is an award-winning, multi-Billboard charting poet and hip hop artist and a best-selling author. Ty has successfully showcased her poetic talent on the National Poetry Slam level and hosted both an internationally aired TV show and her own radio show. Learn more at tyscottking.com.
Poetry Written and Performed By Grentry Burkes. Artwork Referenced: “swansong” by Caroline Colby and "Juicebox of Desire” by Andrew King.
