Hot Club SRQ

Reviews:
"Unbelievable talent, personable and professional is the best way to describe this duo. I can't say enough good things about these guys, several of our very particular customers said Keven Aland was the best violinist they had ever heard and his guitarist (Jon) was also amazing!! Their song selection was perfect for our event, especially their originals. I'm looking forward to booking them again soon... I've still got goose bumps!!!- Alexis H

"Everything was great, from communication, to flexibility, to performance! Thank you so much!"- Michael M

"These flamenco tinged musicians are setting the world on fire...." -Sound Check, The Herald Tribune

"They really heat things up on stage and on the dance floor..." -Best Latin Act, Best of the Suncoast, The Weekly Planet​

Sampling of Former Clients: Tedx 12-12-12 event, Ritz Carlton, Marriott, Hyatt, Celebration Hotel, Melia Resorts, The Met, a former US President, Volvo, Mercedes, Sun Coast Motorsports, Salvador Dali Museum, St Petersburg Center for Fine Arts, Paladium Theater, Ceviche's, Cafe L'Europe, Stella Artois, Arturo Fuente, Brides of Sarasota, Micheal's on East, Longboat Key Club, BAM, Sarasota Film Festival, Terra Nichol Academy, Sotheby's, SRQ Magazine, just to name a few.

We play Gypsy Jazz that is deeply rooted in the style of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. This music simply swings and is full of beauty and romance! We emulate the style of what the French call "Jazz Manouche" and "Le Jazz Hot" in the style of Sinti virtuosos and the "Quintette du Hot Club de France" circa 1934-1948.

The heart of this ensemble is the violin and vocals of Keven Aland, the guitar of Jon McLaughlin and bass playing of Glenn Stevenson. Their unique acoustic string jazz ensemble has been cultivated and crafted for over a decade. Beyond the genre of Gypsy Jazz, their vast repertoire includes Rumba Flamenco, Bossanova, Samba, Tango, BeBop, Modern Jazz, swing, Afro Cuban and the great American songbook.

The Hot Club SRQ ensemble is available with additional horns, strings and may include dancers to lively up your event. For a limited time, world renowned valve trombonist François de Lima is available to perform with HCSRQ.

Hot Club SRQ has the experience and artistry to help you create the perfect ambiance for your festival, concert, private party, fundraiser, corporate and fashion event. We can also provide lighting and sound for any size venue. They are also proud supporters of marriage equality.

Keven Aland (violin) began his studies with Master Miltiades Siadimas of Athens, Greece (acclaimed soloist of the N.Y. Philharmonic and Metropolitan Opera). Aland gave his solo debut with the Venice Symphony at age 14. In high school, Keven received highest honors in All-State Orchestra and received much recognition from Governor Martinez as recipient of the Southern Bell Fellowship two years in a row. A graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder, Keven had a Fellowship with the London Symphony Orchestra and has played with the South Florida Orchestra, Sarasota Chamber Orchestra, Transylvania Symphony Orchestra, Boulder Philharmonic, and the Shostakovich String Quartet. After completing his performance degree at C.U. Boulder, Aland discovered he had a passion for music beyond classical. Aland has since performed professionally with various ensembles including but not limited to: bluegrass, jazz, rock, country, Celtic, Blues, Latin, and Gypsy Jazz. Aland was the co-founder of the Lotus Fire, founder of Sampa Jazz, and can be seen performing locally with Impromptu Jazz, Hot Sun Quartet and Gypsy Wind. With Aland's versatility and ability to arrange almost any style of music, we have the ability to entertain any audience.

Jon McLaughlin (guitar) is a very talented performer and extremely gifted accompanist. Jon studied with Rex Willis while attending Florida College. A native of Sarasota, Florida, he performed with many rumba flamenco/gypsy swing/tango bands including Los Listos, Los Rumberos, Cabal, and Douce Ambiance and most notably a member of The Lotus Fire and The Willie Royal Quartet.

Nikola Baltic (Guitar) Nikola Baltic began studying classical guitar at age 9 and began playing professionally at age 12. He was accepted to Eastern Michigan University at age 17 for classical guitar performance and later accepted to the Center for Creative Studies in Detroit. Following a Bachelors degree in mechanical engineering (Lawerance Tech. University) he was later accepted to the Manhattan School of Music in New York for further studies in the classical genre. Nikola has studied with guitarist Manuel Barreco, and David Russell to name a couple. Nikola has been reviewed in Guitar Player Magazine and is founder of the Hot Sun Quartet. A World Jazz ensemble based in Florida.

Glenn Stevenson (Up-right bass) began his performing professionally as a teenager and was brought up through the ranks with some of Tampa's Bay areas finest jazz musicians such as Kenny Drew Jr., Ray Biscoglia, Mark Fox, Linda Nash, Nate Najar, James Suggs and many others. In addition to playing bass, Glenn is a masterful art framer and has worked over 10 years framing Salvador Dali's work in St. Petersburg.

Eddie Mercado (Baby Bass) was born in NYC and played for many years with the world known sensational merengue group “Conjunto Quisqueya”. Eddie will proudly tell you he's traveled all over the world playing salsa, merengue and Latin Jazz events. After 40+ years and still grooving, you'll find him somewhere on this planet with the "Hot Club of SRQ" and the “Hot Sun Quartet” and his 63' Ampeg Baby Bass laying a solid foundation of awesome thumping tone.

François de Lima (brass) is a Grammy-nominated Brazilian valve trombonist. His playing is breath-taking, joyful and heart-pumping with strong roots in samba, Jazz, and Bossa Nova. He is one of the founders of the Brazilian big band, Banda Mantiqueira and he has earned worldwide acclaim for the swing in his interpretations and the creativity of his improvisations. He has performed at Carnegie Hall with Gal Costa and toured over 15 years with Djavan.

All bookings are governed by a performance agreement that outlines both parties expectations in detail.