By Terri Bryce Reeves, Times Correspondent
Friday, October 15, 2010
J.D. Johnson of Jacksonville blackens gator tail nuggets at the festival on Thursday.
CLEARWATER — The forecast calls for wall-to-wall sunshine today, clear skies tonight and a cornucopia of fun, food and big sounds as the 2010 Clearwater Jazz Holiday continues at Coachman Park today and Sunday.
Gates open at 2 p.m. today, and the free festival should nourish a variety of musical and gastronomic tastes.
Fried frog legs and blackened gator, giant turkey legs and smoked fish bread should satisfy the more adventuresome.
Shaved prime rib, wood fired pizza, Greek foods, funnel cakes and London broil steak sandwiches are also on the menu.
Wash it all down with a merlot or a pinot grigio and enjoy the lineup.
Soulive, tonight's headliner, takes the stage at 9:15 p.m. Soulive is a fun jam band, a newer version of the old-style jazz organ trios, covering everything from funk to jazz to rock and hip-hop.
But it all starts at 2:30 p.m., when the Brazilian beats of O Som Do Jazz make music with St. Petersburg College's ensemble, the Helios Jazz Orchestra.
Then at 4:30 p.m., Sean Chambers and Friends bring their special brand of blues to the stage. Level 10, a bay area jazz favorite, performs at 6 p.m.
At 7:30 p.m., Tizer — featuring Lao Tizer, Chieli Minucci and Karen Briggs — releases its hip, contemporary jazz sounds.
Stick around for the fireworks slated to illuminate the skies at 10:45 p.m.
If you really want to be a cool cat, donate a dollar or more for a shiny beaded jazz necklace, or buy the official Clearwater Jazz Holiday poster or T-shirt.
They'll make nice souvenirs, and you'll help keep jazz free.
Reach Terri Bryce Reeves at treeves@tampabay.rr.com.