Jazz on the Block

Name: Jazz on the Block
Start: 2026-05-09T17:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-05-09T22:00:00-04:00
Location: Suite E Studios

Schedule

Sat May 09 2026 at 05:00 pm to 10:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

Suite E Studios | St. Petersburg, FL

During Mental Health Awareness Month, live jazz offers a meaningful way to support well‑being by reducing stress, uplifting mood, and bringing people together through shared experience. WUSF and Suite E Studios are proud to present Jazz on the Block, a vibrant community event hosted at Suite E Studios in St. Petersburg and sponsored by the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg. This free, five‑hour celebration will take place from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM on Saturday, May 9, 2026, coinciding with Second Saturday Art Walk in the Warehouse Arts District, and is designed to bring a fresh, modern energy to the local jazz scene while highlighting the positive impact of music on mental health.

Music has a powerful positive effect on mental health because it engages the brain emotionally, physically, and socially. Listening to or playing music can lower stress hormones like cortisol, slow the heart rate, and promote relaxation, which helps reduce anxiety. Music also stimulates the release of dopamine and serotonin—chemicals linked to pleasure, motivation, and mood—making it an effective tool for lifting spirits and combating depression. Beyond biology, music encourages emotional expression, mindfulness, and connection with others, helping people feel understood and less alone. Together, these effects make music a natural, accessible way to support emotional well‑being and resilience.

This special evening will feature:
Four live jazz ensembles, each showcasing talented young musicians
Spoken word poets
Mental health presentation by Freeman Sound
Interactive Q&A sessions with each band
Meet & Greets with WUSF hosts
Nosh and libations

When: Saturday May 9, 2026
Time: 5:00-10:00pm
Where: Suite E Studios - 615 27th St S. STE E, St. Petersburg 33712
Cost: Free to Attend
Thanks to our sponsor Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg and partners Freeman Sound and Suite E Studios.
Lineup:
Steamin' Jazz
Led by bassist and founder Holly Cordero, Steamin' Jazz is a dynamic ensemble hailing from Central Florida. Known for their versatile performances, they blend jazz standards, Brazilian rhythms, funk grooves, and jazz-infused renditions of pop tunes. With a rotating lineup that includes configurations like the Steamin' Quartet, Trio, or Duo, the group brings a fresh and engaging experience to every show.

Mutant Fusion Collective
Mutant Fusion Collective (MFC), the jazz/rock sonic conquistadors, have set sail from Dunedin, FL. Fronted by guitarist and bandleader Kirk Yates, MFC has earned a reputation for its genre-blending prowess. Their signature sound seamlessly melds original compositions with classic jazz standards and ‘90s alt-rock anthems. Known for their bold bond of jazz’s improvisational freedom and grunge rock’s raw energy, MFC delivers performances marked by intricate solos, tight rhythms, and a palpable passion.

Tha Banned
As a collective of Tampa based musicians and songwriters that started as a jam band in an auto shop, Tha Banned are committed to spreading the spirit of live music and community. Tha Banned plays every genre of music and specializes in improvisational jazz. They play events at venues across the Tampa Bay area including Rock the Park at Curtis Hixon and the St. Pete Saturday Morning Market.

Jose Pineiro Trio
In the pursuit of finding a voice in his art,Jose Pineiro has grasped tightly the evocative and emotional genre of Jazz. Burgeoning from a fertile music scene in Gainesville, FL honed his discovery of a true musical identity. Jumping the gap between peace and mania, the Jose Pineiro Trio means to reach the depths of human interactions to relay the beauty in life.
Poets:
Keshia Banks
Keshia Banks is a poet who has released Book of Rhymes :: Soulor System, the first book in a series, which is a self published concept of life's poetic perspectives. A book of poetry. A book of thoughts. A book of perspections. A book of rhymes.
Idle Friend
Idle Friend is an independent, Florida-based hip-hop artist known for intense, lyrical, and introspective rap, often described as "aggressive optimism". His name was Introvert. Now it’s Idle Friend, and he likes blowing out his voice over rap beats. Idle Friend's debut EP came out in 2010, and he released his first album, A Graveyard, A Garden, in June of 2017. A month later, he completed his first tour supporting the artist Forthteller and has had the pleasure of opening for artists like Sadistik, Upgrade, Rafael Vigilantics, Moodie Black, Ceschi, Castor’s Hollow, and Jonathan Brown.
D-Rod the Poet
Host of "Poetry Is..." on WMNF. D-Rod the Poet is a Tampa-based spoken word artist and poet known for performances featuring lyrical and rhythmic content.
About our Sponsors & Partners:
Sponsor: The Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg is a private foundation formed in 2013 following the sale of the nonprofit Bayfront Health St. Petersburg. It is the steward of $170 million in assets to support racial equity and health equity in Pinellas County. The Foundation inspires and empowers people, ideas, information exchange, organizations and relationships to end differences in health due to institutional racism.
Freemansound.org and the MINDSET Series strive to raise awareness and funds to support local organizations that provide services to help individuals navigate the effects of mental illness and the stigma often associated with it. The goal is to create a positive mindset, reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness, support community mental health awareness, and prevent suicide.
Suite E Studios is a creative community arts space in the Warehouse Arts District of St. Petersburg, FL. They host community events like a creative support group and monthly jam session, concerts, comedy nights, DJ events and more.

When: Saturday May 9, 2026
Time: 5:00-10:00pm
Where: Suite E Studios - 615 27th St S. STE E, St. Petersburg 33712
Cost: Free to Attend
Thanks to our sponsor Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg.