The Jazz Club of Sarasota was recently honored in DownBeat Magazine’s 2026 Great Jazz Venues Guide, earning a place alongside acclaimed jazz clubs, concert halls and presenting organizations from around the world.
Published annually by one of the most respected publications in jazz, the Great Jazz Venues Guide highlights outstanding organizations that help preserve, promote and present jazz for audiences worldwide. The Jazz Club of Sarasota was one of only three organizations included in the Florida section of the guide.
DownBeat highlighted the Jazz Club’s long history of presenting legendary artists, its annual Sarasota Jazz Festival, and its extensive year-round programming.
Founded in 1980, the Jazz Club of Sarasota has grown into one of the nation’s most active jazz organizations. The membership-based nonprofit presents approximately 140 performances and events annually and serves more than 1,000 active members through concerts, festivals and educational programs. It also supports music education through scholarships, student programs and partnerships with area schools.
“To be recognized by the magazine for the work we’ve been doing for more than four decades is both gratifying and humbling,” said Ed Linehan, president of the Jazz Club of Sarasota. “It reflects the dedication of our members, volunteers, musicians, sponsors and audiences who have helped make this organization what it is today.”
The DownBeat recognition comes as the Jazz Club enters a period of significant expansion. In the coming year, the organization will expand the Sarasota Jazz Festival from five to seven days, reintroduce Jazz in the Park at Phillippi Estate Park, and launch a new monthly concert series featuring nationally recognized artists.
The Jazz Club is also transitioning to a professional staff structure. That transition began with the recent appointment of the organization’s first director of development, Danielle La Senna, a new membership platform, and the launch of a new website earlier this year.
“We’re proud to represent Sarasota on an international stage,” Linehan said. “As we continue to grow and expand our programming, we’re excited to build on this momentum and bring even more world-class jazz experiences to our community.”
For more information about the Jazz Club of Sarasota, visit JazzClubSarasota.org.
Submitted by Su Byron
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Jazz Club of Sarasota honored in top music guide
Reporting by Special to the Herald-Tribune, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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By Special to the Herald-Tribune, Sarasota Herald-Tribune | USA TODAY Network
