Part of what makes the Palladium special is our focus on talented artists that call this area home. The list is long – names like Damon Fowler, Nate Najar, Liz Pennock and Dr. Blues, John Lamb, Selwyn Birchwood and so many more.
This month we are welcoming another top musician to the Palladium family – Guitarist Les Sabler. Born in Canada, Les has been a big name on the Tampa Bay jazz scene for a while. I’m happy to say that Les is coming to the Palladium Side Door next Friday, May 23, at 8 p.m., to celebrate the release of his latest CD.
Recorded in Nashville, Tampa and Los Angeles, Sabler’s new album – Jobim Tribute– focuses on the music of Brazilian songwriter and musician, Antonio Carlos Jobim. The new work earned rave reviews from the first day of its release on Amazon.com’s “Hot New Releases” where it is listed as a “best seller.” It charted at No. 1 on both the Brazilian and Latin Jazz charts, and No. 26 on the Jazz chart. It reached #1 on Amazon’s Brazilian Jazz and Latin Jazz best sellers and #36 on the Latin Music chart one week after its release April 8th.
One review called it “beautiful in the extreme!” and here’s what reviewer H. Allen Williams said in JazzTimes:
“Sabler conveys a fresh take on his Jobim Tribute, as once again the power of Jobim’s music is given yet another wonderful working that is full of sensitivity and sophistication.”
Les says the timing of the release correlates to two milestones: the 50th anniversary of the classic “Getz/Gilberto” recording that spawned Jobim’s Number One hit “The Girl from Ipanema;” and the 20th anniversary of the composer’s death.
Ipanema’s words and music helped weave Bossa Nova permanently into the fabric of American music. Sabler’s tribute includes five vocal tunes and seven instrumentals. Les says a trip to Brazil pushed him to a new appreciation of the “soulful passion and exotic rhythms” of Jobim’s work.
In the music world, Sabler has been a contender for many years. His earlier albums have featured contributions by such musicians as Jeff Lorber and others. He has shared stages with Spyro Gyra, Richard Elliot, Michael Lington, Diane Schurr and Fattburger.
Smooth jazz radio program Café Jazz named Sabler the #1 most played Canadian artist in 2007 while his album, Sweet Drive was the #1 most played album by a Canadian artist, and Club Street was the #2 most played single by a Canadian artist.
Tickets for the May 23 show are $15 in advance and $18 day of show. A limited number of reserved seats are also available for prime seating in the Palladium’s intimate Side Door Cabaret. The Palladium Theater is located at 253 Fifth Avenue North, St. Petersburg, and ticket information is available from 727-822-3590 or at palladium@spcollege.edu
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