The stars are aligning for the Al Downing Tampa Bay Jazz Association this year, starting with news that the legendary jazz educator and musician will be inducted into the 2025 Florida Artists Hall of Fame. Established in 1986, the hall recognizes people — living or deceased — who have made significant contributions to the arts in Florida. Inductees receive a commemorative bronze sculpture commissioned by the state that will be permanently installed in the Capitol rotunda.

ADTBJA President Alvinette Downing McCleave said the organization is thrilled by the honor.

“My father and mother, Bunny, were extraordinary people of faith who loved music and jazz,” Alvinette said. “Beyond the classroom, Al Downing was a hero in every sense. He served as a Tuskegee Airman during World War II, making history as part of the first African American military aviators. In his community, he continued to serve as a member of the Housing Authority of St. Petersburg, improving lives through his dedication and advocacy, as well as launching the Al Downing Tampa Bay Jazz Association. For this and many reasons, this honor is a dream come true … and well deserved.”

Kicking off 2026 celebrations, the association presents “The Sounds of Hope: Honoring the Legacies of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Alvin J. Downing” on Saturday, Jan. 24, from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Warehouse Arts District Association, 515 22nd St. S. in downtown St. Petersburg. The event is funded by a grant from the city of St. Petersburg.

Co-sponsored by GRACE (Greater Reach Alliance of Counselors and Educators), Legacy-56 Inc. and WADA, “Sounds of Hope” features local jazz musicians performing music from the civil rights era and narrated reflections on the connection between jazz and the Civil Rights Movement. The program will honor the national legacy of civil rights champion Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the local impact of Alvin J. Downing, jazz music icon, music educator and 2025 Florida Artists Hall of Fame inductee.

Alvinette Downing hosts “Sounds of Healing,” a podcast devoted to the healing properties of music on RadioStPete, so the event will feature a segment on the importance of music to reduce stress, support emotional stability and promote holistic well-being. The free outdoor event is open to the public. To register, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-sounds-of-hope-honoring-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-alvin-j-downing-tickets-1979620129096?aff=oddtdtcreator.

A well-deserved homage

As part of the Florida Artists Hall of Fame class of 2025, Al Downing joins Ray Charles, Jim Morrison, Zora Neale Hurston and other artistic luminaries. Although the induction ceremony date has not been set at press time, Alvinette said ADTBJA will travel to Tallahassee for the ceremony and celebrate at a future event this spring in Downing’s beloved hometown of St. Petersburg.

Currently living in her family home filled with happy memories, Alvinette said her father was a man of faith and music who loved all genres, not just jazz.

“We were raised loving all kinds of music, and my dad would say there’s good music in every genre,” she said. “Truly, though, his heart was always in jazz, and his specialty was keyboards, in particular the Hammond B3. We always had at least five keyboards in the house, including an electric keyboard, an upright piano and, when computers came in, Dad had the very first Apple Macintosh.”

Before working and living in St. Petersburg, where Alvinette remembers days when 26 musicians practiced in the living room, Al Downing and his family lived in Tokyo on a military base for the first five years of Alvinette’s life.

“I loved growing up in Japan, and my dad did a lot of jazz work there, including writing several jingles for soap operas,” she said. “He and my mom were on a Japanese game show. My dad really made his mark in Japan as well as here in America as both a serviceman and musician.”

At what is now St. Petersburg College Gibbs campus, Downing taught every instrument as well as humanities.

“He loved to pour music and culture into his students,” Alvinette said. “That desire was one of the things that birthed the Al Downing Tampa Bay Jazz Association. He actually started with the Allegro Society because my sister, Evelyn, who’s passed now, was an amazing jazz singer. My parents noticed her talent when she was in her teens or younger — that she had perfect pitch and a beautiful voice. But there was no place for her to hone her skills except for bars and nightclubs. That didn’t fly with my parents, so my dad said, ‘Let’s meet in restaurants and perform so young people can share their skills and hone their talents.'”

Dwayne White and Victor Sims were among the youths who came to play with Downing and now serve on the board of directors.

Visit the Al Downing Collection

St. Petersburg College is home to memorabilia from the library of Al Downing — a true legend whose contributions to music, education and the community continue to inspire. As a dedicated educator at SPC, Al Downing taught an incredible range of courses, including piano and organ, music theory, brass and woodwind techniques, percussion techniques, concert band, jazz band and applied music. This remarkable collection of memorabilia includes original music scores and arrangements, historic recordings of his performances, and personal photos and mementos that highlight his extraordinary life. Visit the SPC Gibbs campus at 66th Street and Fifth Avenue N. in St. Petersburg.

Monday jazz jams, education and more

Dwayne White hosts a weekly Monday night event where seasoned and young musicians — and sometimes a Grammy Award winner like Samara Joy — can showcase their talent. Whether you’re a jazz enthusiast, a musician looking to sit in or just love great music, this is the perfect way to start your week with smooth rhythms and soulful sounds. There’s also a monthly Youth Jam on the last Saturday of each month from 1 to 3 p.m. at Pinellas Community Church, 5501 31st St. S., St. Petersburg. The next one is Jan. 31.

The goal of the Al Downing Tampa Bay Jazz Association is ambitious: to provide aspiring musicians with an environment to achieve their professional goals, nurture the talent and launch careers of local young artists, and provide scholarships. ADTBJA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting jazz and encouraging the appreciation of its origins and evolution. Through concerts, educational programs and scholarships, the association works to preserve and perpetuate jazz as an original American art form. Follow ADTBJA on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AlDowningJazz/ and on its website at www.aldowningjazz.com.