It’s prime festival season and the Sarasota Jazz Club does not disappoint with the 35th Annual Sarasota Jazz Festival, bringing acclaimed musicians from around the country for seven days of jazz celebration. This year’s line-up, featuring world-class performers such as Doug Cameron and Dick Hyman, the return of the Jazz Trolley and a special live debut of vocalist Karla Harris’ latest project, packs everything from big band concert to intimate cool.

“We hope that in our small way we can contribute and give back to the community,” said Peg Pluto, president of the Sarasota Jazz Club and the first woman to hold the position in the 35 years since the club’s founding. “We hope they come away with a feeling of contentment with music—good music—and enjoyment.”

Under the guidance of Pluto, the Jazz Club hopes also to bring more attention to the genre and the club, which peaked with around 2,500 members at its founding and now sits at about 600. This year, she looks to “make it a bit more lively and bring in some younger members.”

The festival begins Sunday afternoon with a free “Jazz in the Park” concert at Phillippi Estate Park, featuring the Doug Cameron Quartet and performances from the Pine View Jazz Quartet and the Riverview High School Jazz Ensemble. An L.A. studio musician, Cameron’s credits include work with Tom Petty, Cher and The Allman Brothers. Tuesday night brings a Big Band Concert with former Duke Ellington bassist John Lamb and Canadian vocalist June Garber teaming up with the Sarasota Jazz Project Big Band at the Riverview High School Performing Arts Center.

Midweek marks the ever-popular Jazz Trolley and Pub Crawl, seeing Sarasota’s jazz aficionados spirited between nine local venues, living the nightlife and enjoying more intimate performances from artists like Betty Comora, David Pruyn and Skip Conkling. With Marina Jack’s, The Gator Club and Darwin’s on 4th among the many stops, it’s a night of good food and good tunes.

Returning to the Riverview PAC, The Freddy Cole Quartet takes the stage. The younger brother of Nat King Cole, singer/pianist Freddy Cole and his backing members—drummer Herman Burney, bassist Henry Conerway and guitarist Randy Napoleon—bring some old school cool and bluesy atmosphere to the affair. The following night, singer Karla Harris will perform a series of vocal versions of the pianist Dave Brubeck’s compositions, using lyrics from the late composer’s wife, Lola. Teaming up with the Ted Howe Trio, this will be Harris’ live debut of the project, only recently recorded and released.

The Sarasota Jazz Festival comes to a close Mar. 7 with a final evening concert from a trio of masterful performers. Pianist and composer Dick Hyman, with over 50 years under his belt and a reputation for versatile style, will play out the night with clarinetist and tenor saxophonist Ken Peplowski and vocalist Kitt Moran.

The Sarasota Jazz Festival opens Mar. 1 with a free concert at Phillippi Estate Park. Future evening concerts will be at the Riverview High School Performing Arts Center and are ticketed events, as is the Jazz Trolley and Pub Crawl.

Pictured: John Lamb. Photo by Carol LoRicco.