Sarasota Jazz Club Celebrates 46th Annual Jazz Festival

The venerable Jazz Club of Sarasota is experiencing a resurgence, with plans to expand and open its own venue.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The 46th annual Sarasota Jazz Festival is taking place March 9-14, featuring top musicians like John Pizzarelli, Arturo Sandoval, and Sammy Figueroa. The Jazz Club of Sarasota, which produces the festival, has been revitalizing in recent years after facing declining membership and attendance in the 2010s. Under new leadership, the club has focused on increasing membership, broadening its programming, and establishing a stronger media presence. The club now presents over 100 performances per year and has ambitious plans to expand, including opening its own 300-seat venue and nightclub by 2035.

Why it matters

The Sarasota Jazz Festival is a longstanding cultural event that brings top jazz talent to the community. The resurgence of the Jazz Club of Sarasota, which organizes the festival, demonstrates the club's commitment to preserving and promoting jazz music in the region. The club's plans for expansion and a dedicated performance venue signal its intention to cement Sarasota's status as a hub for jazz enthusiasts.

The details

After facing declining membership and attendance in the 2010s, the Jazz Club of Sarasota has rebounded under the leadership of club president Ed Linehan. The club has focused on recovering former members, attracting new ones, and increasing membership dues. It has also broadened its programming beyond traditional "straight-ahead" jazz to include more contemporary styles and has established new partnerships, such as a Monday Night Jazz series at Florida Studio Theatre. The club now presents over 100 performances per year and is looking to further expand, with plans to open its own 300-seat venue and nightclub by 2035.

  • The 46th annual Sarasota Jazz Festival takes place March 9-14, 2026.
  • The Jazz Club of Sarasota was founded in 1980 with just 10 members.

The players

Ed Linehan

The current president of the Jazz Club of Sarasota, who has a background as the principal of a performing arts school in Connecticut.

Danielle La Senna

The Jazz Club of Sarasota's first-ever development director, previously with Choral Artists of Sarasota.

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What they’re saying

“We started by focusing on membership. Some former members didn't realize that whether or not they were a member was important. We recovered former members, but we got new ones, too. And we increased membership dues.”

— Ed Linehan, President, Jazz Club of Sarasota (sarasotamagazine.com)

“Historically, we had focused on what's seen as straight-ahead jazz, music from the American Songbook, Big Band music, swing—really, the music of the '40s, '50s, '60s and '70s, with maybe a little Latin jazz or bossa nova. We started to broaden not only the kinds of jazz we offered but also the places we presented it.”

— Ed Linehan, President, Jazz Club of Sarasota (sarasotamagazine.com)

What’s next

The Jazz Club of Sarasota is looking to reach a membership of 2,500 by 2030 and plans to open its own 300-seat venue and nightclub by 2035.

The takeaway

The resurgence of the Jazz Club of Sarasota demonstrates the enduring appeal of jazz music in the community and the club's commitment to preserving and promoting this art form. The club's ambitious expansion plans, including a dedicated performance venue, signal its intention to cement Sarasota's status as a hub for jazz enthusiasts.