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This year’s headliner is The Lao Tizer Band featuring Elliott Yamin, Karen Briggs & Chieli Minucci.
PHOTO AND LOGO PROVIDED
BY THE CITY OF CAPE CORAL
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Karen Briggs. PROVIDED
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Elliott Yamin. PROVIDED
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Lao Tizer. PHOTO BY ALEX SOLCA
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One of the city’s most highly anticipated concert events that takes place this weekend, continuing its third decade of entertainment.
The 35th annual Sounds of Jazz & Blues, put on by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, brings some of the best musical talents in the genre to the Cape for an evening of good tunes, food, and fun.
The Sounds of Jazz and Blues is touted by the city as a premier musical event in Cape Coral, and takes place at Coral Oaks Golf Course.
“Sounds of Jazz & Blues has become a standout Cape Coral tradition, bringing residents together for an energetic night of live music in a relaxed outdoor setting,” said Parks and Recreation Deputy Director Mike Massoglia via email. “Attendees can expect great performances, plenty of space to unwind and mingle, and a casual bring-your-own-chair atmosphere that makes it easy to enjoy the evening with friends and neighbors. With on-site food and beverages and a festive, community-centered vibe, it feels like a shared night out that the city looks forward to each year.”
The event takes place this Saturday and runs from 5 to 9 p.m., with this year’s headliner being The Lao Tizer Band featuring Elliott Yamin, Karen Briggs & Chieli Minucci.
“We’re thrilled to welcome the Lao Tizer Band this year,” Massoglia said. “Lao is a modern jazz keyboardist known for blending styles and bringing fresh energy to every performance. His band features Grammy and Emmy-winning artists, and they’ve headlined major jazz festivals around the world. They’ll bring world-class talent and a dynamic sound that perfectly fits the vibe of Sounds of Jazz & Blues.”
City officials said The Lao Tizer Band, known for its dynamic contemporary jazz sound, is raising the bar for this year’s Sounds of Jazz & Blues with an all‑star roster of featured guests. Keyboardist, composer, bandleader and former “Best New Jazz Artist” nominee, Lao Tizer is a contemporary jazz innovator known for high‑energy live performances and genre‑blending arrangements that fuse jazz, R&B, funk and rock into a vibrant, crowd‑pleasing sound. Sharing the stage will be platinum-selling vocalist and American Idol finalist Elliott Yamin; Grammy-nominee and 3x Emmy‑winning guitarist and Contemporary Jazz favorite Chieli Minucci (Special EFX); and virtuoso violinist Karen Briggs (Yanni, Diana Ross), whose fiery solos have thrilled audiences around the world.
They’ll be joined by an elite rhythm section and horn lineup featuring saxophonist Danny Janklow (MONKestra, Shelea), bassist Cheikh N’Doye (Mike Stern, Baaba Maal), drummer Tony Austin (Kamasi Washington), and percussionist Joey De Leon (Poncho Sanchez, Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band), creating a genre‑blending showcase of jazz, blues, soul, and global grooves.
“With this unprecedented collection of talent on one stage, this year’s Sounds of Jazz & Blues promises an electrifying, festival‑caliber concert experience right here in Cape Coral,” said city spokesperson Kaitlyn Mullen.
General Admission tickets are $25 tickets in advance, or $30 at the gate. General admission guests are not provided seating, so city officials highly encourages bringing chairs and blankets to enjoy the show. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.
“Experience” tickets are $50 in advance, or $55 at the gate. Experience tickets include a buffet-style catered meal and two drink tabs for beer, wine, or soda. Water is included. Additional drinks can be purchased. Round table seating will be provided for all Experience guests.
This popular event has sold out in advance in previous years, so officials highly recommend purchasing tickets in advance.
This is a rain-or-shine event. No refunds will be issued.
For tickets and for more information, visit capeconcerts.com.
Coral Oaks Golf Course is at 1800 N.W. 28th Ave.