By Nanette Wiser
Summertime, and the living is lyrical with live entertainment downtown (Flute & Dram, Ruby’s Elixir, The Hangar Monday jazz jam, Grand Central, Jannus Landing, Ringside) and the beaches including pool parties (The Saint Hotel), tiki bars (Bongo’s), to rocking hangouts (Daiquri Deck, Bongo’s, Jimmy B’s) as well as RumFish Grill and MiddleGrounds.
I recently saw The Topcasters at The Haus. Jacqueline “Jac” Buchanan is from Sunderland, U.K; she started out in theatre productions in her ‘20s then began her singing career and added to her repertoire during the pandemic with Izzy to start The Topcasters in late 2021. Izzy Buholzer hails from Lucerne, Switzerland. He started his first band in the early 70’s in Europe and the early 80’s in the US. Together this dynamic duo perform country, classic rock, folk and blues music as well as themed parodies at local clubs, events, and weddings. Their motto? No music, no life! I enjoyed an April Saturday Morning Market visit hanging out with Doug Deming & The Jewel Tones (featured image) and their rocking rhythm & blues, and caught them again at Salt Water Hippie and Bayboro Brewing Co. Eastside Detroit native Doug Deming, now hailing from Florida’s Gulf Coast, has garnered widespread attention for his deft guitar work and memorable songwriting. With a nod to the likes of T-Bone Walker and Charlie Christian, as well as Luther Tucker and Robert Jr. Lockwood, Doug leaves his own mark whether swingin’ on the big jazz box or playing straight up blues on the solid body Fender guitar. Complicated Mess, the most recent recording from Doug Deming & The Jewel Tones, is their most courageous effort to date, combining traditional blues, jazz, swing, soul, and R&B, delivered in 10 original Deming tunes along with three re-tooled covers. Joining him are Andrew Gohman on bass and Zack Pomerlau on drums and harmonica.
For the last few months, Markus Gottschlich has worked tirelessly as the new executive director of downtown St. Pete’s Warehouse Arts District Association. The composer and Steinway artist grew up in Vienna, Austria, before moving to the U.S. at an early age, and attended Admiral Farragut Academy, Concordia College-NY before graduating from Western Connecticut State University. He moved to Miami to study intensively with South Florida pianist Mike Gerber for two years. In addition to performing as a solo pianist and with his ensembles, Markus curated numerous concert series in and around Miami, partnering with the Design District, Fisher Island, the Faena, and other venues. He was Artistic Director of the Miami Beach Jazz Festival until 2016 and founded Jazz Academy Miami (JAM). In Sept. 2018, Markus was executive director of the New Mexico Jazz Workshop and in late 2019, he was Director of Music at Jazz House Kids/Montclair Jazz Festival, transitioning the organization’s youth and adult programs to an online/hybrid format and expanding its international reach. He became head of the Music Business department at the Vienna Music Institute and was a lecturer for jazz piano and composition. Returning to Florida in the summer of 2022 to head WADA, he will perform this summer in Miami Beach and Vienna as well as Tampa Bay.
Markus Gottschlich
Check out social media for upcoming concerts and band listings.