Chuck Owen at Mainstage Theatre at Hillsborough Community College in Ybor City, Florida on Aug. 28, 2019. Credit: Stephen Splane / Flickr
Based on Grammy-credentials alone (he’s been nominated seven times), Chuck Owen is easily one of the most famous artists Tampa Bay has ever produced.
This weekend, the jazz composer and former University of South Florida professor celebrates the 30th anniversary of his big band, Jazz Surge. And instead of looking back during a four-night run of concerts—including these two in New Tampa—Owen told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that the ensemble will play material that’s been written over the last 18 months.
The lineup and guestbook for the Surge is stacked beyond comprehension, too. Brecker Brother Randy Brecker has one of the trumpets (Frank Greene, Clay Jenkins have the others), and there are Grammy winners (drummer-composer Terri Lyne Carrington), world class vibraphonists (Warren Wolf), violinists (Sara Caswell), saxophonists (Dave Pietro), and more.
“I’ve gone all in on this project,” Owen, 71, told CL. “After all, I’m not getting any younger!”
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This article appears in Sept. 24 – 30, 2026.
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