We’re celebrating Black History Month with a spotlight on jazz legends!
Join us for Music Walk at McCollum Hall on Friday, Feb 21! It’s an evening of free jazz music and the Night Market, where live music, history, shopping and delicious food collide. Discover the soul of Fort Myers and experience a night to remember.
The evening’s entertainment:
- Brandon Robertson Sextet, performing the music of Wynton Marsalis’ “Democracy Suite” and the music of Lee Morgan, Art Blakey and Kenny Garrett
- Lew Del Gatto Quartet, performing the music of Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Billy Strayhorn, Charlie Bird Parker and Miles Davis
- FGCU Jazz Combo, performing the music of Thelonious Monk
- Vinson “Wordsworth” Johnson, spoken word poetry
Free show. Free parking.
Enjoy dinner with jazz from a food truck or pack your own basket. No alcoholic beverages permitted. Seating provided or bring your own chairs or blanket. Easy parking and event access is available for individuals with disabilities and seniors.
Join us for this free performance at historic McCollum Hall, celebrating Buck McCollum’s vision and advocacy for his neighbors – and the power of community.
Presented by the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency. Powered by HAPCO Music Foundation. Made possible with partnerships from: City of Fort Myers; River District Alliance; Lee County Black History Society; FGCU Bower School of Music & the Arts; Thirty8 Collective; Collaboratory; and Lee Pitts Live.
» Click here for event details
More info:
Fort Myers CRA
fmcra@cityftmyers.com
239-321-7100
https://fortmyerscra.com
About the Performers
Brandon Robertson, an Emmy®-nominated music director and accomplished upright/electric bassist, composer and educator, has led tours throughout the US and Europe. He is the John & Dorothy Guigon director of jazz studies at Florida Gulf Coast University, where he was nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Documentary focusing on the FGCU Jazz Ensemble. His debut album, Bass’d on A True Story, released through Canadian label Slammin’ Media/Believe Distributions, reached #16 on the iTunes Top 200 Jazz Releases. He is the director of the Artis Naples Philharmonic Youth Jazz Orchestra.
Lew Del Gatto’s versatility and knowledgeable comprehension of musical art-form is the basis for his stellar career. A saxophonist with the Saturday Night Live Band for 25 years, he has also recorded and performed with a Who’s Who of music legends including Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, John Lennon and Harry Connick, Jr. His movie and TV credits include My Blue Heaven, Naked Gun 2 1/2, the Grammy Awards and the Emmy Awards. He is the artistic director of The Naples Philharmonic Jazz Orchestra, a position he has held since its inception in 2011.
The FGCU Jazz Combo explores a diverse range of jazz styles under Robertson’s direction. It is an exceptional ensemble featuring some of the most talented musicians from the Bower School of Music. Known for its dynamic performances and refined artistry, this select group has showcased its talent on numerous radio broadcasts and is frequently sought after for prestigious campus and community events across the Southwest Florida region. Their versatility and expertise make them a standout presence in the local music scene.
About McCollum Hall
Built in 1938 by Clifford “Buck” McCollum, Sr., a black businessman and entrepreneur, and his wife Gertrude, McCollum Hall was the centerpiece of commerce, music and entertainment in the Dunbar Community. A popular stop for touring black entertainers on the Chitlin’ Circuit of the 1930s-1950s, its second-floor dance hall jumped to life when musicians took to the stage, including Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, B.B. King, Dizzy Gillespie, Otis Redding and other jazz and blues greats. It was named to the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places on April 18, 2022. It is a site on Florida’s Black Heritage Trail. It is a catalyst renovation project in promoting redevelopment in the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. redevelopment area.