Tampa's Jazz History ....

Tampa's Jazz History to be Celebrated in Honor of Ernie Calhoun April 2, 2017

Saxophonist ERNIE CALHOUN, who has played for generations of listeners in the Tampa Bay area, will be celebrated at a tribute concert and film premiere in the Mainstage Theatre at HCC/Ybor City, on Sunday, April 2, at 3pm. Coming a few weeks before Calhoun’s 90thbirthday, the event is presented by the Tampa Jazz Club and the Al Downing Tampa Bay Jazz Association, as part of HCC’s Visual & Performing Arts Series. And in keeping with Ernie’s history as mentor to younger players, a portion of the proceeds will benefit each organization’s annual Jazz Scholarship.

Leading off the afternoon will be a new documentary film from

Bay Area journalist Arielle Stevenson, featuring Ernie Calhoun

telling his own story. The concert that follows puts the emphasis

on the saxophone (Jeremy Carter, Valerie Gillespie, Henry 

Ashwood, Rodney Rojas, and Kendric McCallister) along

with veteran players who have often shared the stage with

Ernie – pianist Kevin Wilder, guitarist Vincent Sims, bassist

Kenny Walker, and drummer Ron Gregg. In addition, there

will be a special appearance by Tampa legends Kitty Daniels

and Majid Shabazz, who with Ernie Calhoun have helped

shape the Tampa music scene for decades.

Tampa’s fabled Central Avenue, the heart of the city’s African-American community, was home to Ernie Calhoun from age 13, in 1938. He went on the road with singer Percy Mayfield (who heard him practicing through his bedroom window) at 18, and worked closely with the young Ray Charles, then living in Tampa. After years on the road, he formed Ernie Cal & The Soul Brothers, the highly popular group who performed with the biggest names in jazz as they came through town. That band eventually became Al Downing & the All-Stars, always featuring Ernie’s big, soulful sound on the tenor.


The documentary that begins the concert showcases Ernie Calhoun’s musical career, as well as his life off-stage. After seeing intense front-line action in Korea, he returned to the Jim Crow south, attended Morehouse College, and became active in the civil rights movement. He would go on to a career as a leader in community service organizations in Tampa, leading outreach efforts to help minority youth, and later senior citizens. He helped the lives of thousands through his day job, all the while making great music until his retirement from playing, just a few years ago. The film is by Arielle Stevenson, from an oral history project prepared by David Brown and Stan Wilkins, with Bob Seymour.