MUSIC SCENE TomKats Jazz Orchestra's Joe Saunders - Monday CJ Backstage & Clearwater Jazz Holiday 10/15-18

Joe Saunders is one cool cat, a lawyer by day and a big band musician by night. Lunchtime Conversation host Nanette Wiser caught up with The TomKats Jazz Orchestra's about their upcoming performances at the Clearwater Jazz Holiday Oct. 15-18 as well as their residence Monday night at CJ's Backstage in Tyrone area as well as the history of the organization! Joe plays guitar, is the co-band leader and handles the band's booking and business. Meet all the band here.   They played the Bilmar, then the Blue Parrot and when it flooded, CJ's Backstage invited them in and that's where they have been for two years. 
👉Here's what he shared with us"For over 35 years, the TomKats Jazz Orchestra has been entertaining jazz and swing fans throughout the west coast of Florida. The band plays jazz, blues, and jazz-rock fusion. With a full jazz orchestra horn section of 5 saxes, 4 trombones, and 4 trumpets, the band’s repertoire includes traditional swing arrangements from the great big bands such as Count Basie and Duke Ellington through the more progressive sounds of Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Rich, and Woody Herman and up to Steely Dan jazz- rock and the modern big band fusion styles of Gordon Goodwin’s Phat Band. We have male and female vocalists who perform with the band as well as guitar, keyboard, bass and drums. Many of our arrangements are original arrangements, vocal performances, and improvised jazz solos in a variety of styles. The TomKats Jazz Orchestra is a complete big band, 18 instruments and vocalists. The TomKats are a working big band, being in residence in locations throughout Pinellas County over the years."
👉BOOK 'EM! The TomKats Jazz Orchestra has performed New Years Eve events at the St. Petersburg Coliseum and St. Petersburg Yacht Club among others. They have played weddings and society events at the Don Cesar Hotel, Vinoy Hotel, Sarasota Yacht Club, and St. Petersburg Yacht Club and have some smaller band subsets of the group that play a variety of events and are available for hire.

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