The Kuumba Dancers & Drummers. PHOTO PTOVIDED

JAZZ AT THE MACC: Jazz Influenced by Africa takes the stage Thursday, March 23 at 7 p.m. at the Music & Arts Community Center at 13411 Shire Lane in Fort Myers.

For tickets, click HERE.

The Kuumba Dancers & Drummers have been sharing authentic West African drum and dance culture in Tampa Bay since 1980. This March they’ll join the Gulf Coast Jazz Collective for an ambitious show that is a fusion of Jazz with West African drumming and dance. The Gulf Coast Jazz Collective is inviting Master Drummer and teacher Cheikh N’Dong from Senegal, Dundunfola Domenique Green, and professional West African dancers Kya Conner and Beryl Colbert for a celebration and fusion of Jazz and West African drum and dance. Artistic director Paul Gavin’s goal from the beginning of the Jazz Collective was to bring to Southwest Florida rare Jazz experiences that can’t be found anywhere else.

MEET YOUR MUSICIANS

Kuumba Dancers & Drummers

Kuumba Dancers and Drummers, is a community based organization that offers classes and train their members ranging from young children and adults of all ages. Based in Tampa, Florida since 1980, Kuumba has provided numerous audiences with their insightful display of traditional African folkdance, music songs and storytelling.

Paul Gavin

Drums, Director of Gulf Coast Jazz Collective

Paul Gavin is a Drummer, Teacher, Composer & Arranger in Tampa. Since graduating from the University of South Florida in 2015 Paul has made his living exclusively as a freelance musician.

BRANDON ROBERTSON

Bass

In 2009, he graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a focus on Jazz Studies. In the same year, Brandon became a member of the popular Florida-based jazz trio The Zach Bartholomew Trio. In 2012, the trio released their first album entitled “Out of This Town”, which received notable reviews from jazz critics. In 2015, Brandon performed at the world-famous Dizzy’s Coca Cola Club in New York City with the nationally recognized FSU Jazz Sextet joining members of the JALC Orchestra.

ZACH BARTHOLOMEW

Piano

Dr. Zach Bartholomew is an award-winning jazz pianist, composer, and music educator. He is currently based in Miami, FL where he maintains an active performance career as one of the most heavily sought-after pianists, accompanists, and sidemen in the area.

Source: Gulf Coast Jazz Collective