Headliners
Andy Stefano had been in the entertainment business since 1979 as a producer. In1990 Andy began singing as a hobby. Influenced by the music of Frank Sinatra started his professional career performing in dinner theatre. In 1993 Andy started "The Nightshift Revue". Comprised of the best amateur performers in the Tampa area, "The Nightshift Revue" was a non-stop, three hour performance by singers, dancers and comedians.
He formed "Rat Pack Too" in 2001. This ensemble of four entertainers played to packed nightclubs for over seven years. They were always in demand for exclusive, private events. As part of this impressive and highly entertaining act, Andy assembled the area's top musicians to form an 18 piece jazz orchestra. The "Rat Pack Too Orchestra" was in demand for corporate events and public concerts.
In 2007, Andy went solo performing with his band, which ranged from four to 17 pieces. He is very popular in nightclubs and for private functions and has been featured in many city concerts. His humor is situational and extemporaneous. He does not imitate Frank Sinatra. He simply has the voice. He is adamantly faithful to the Sinatra style and admires the accomplishments of, as he puts it, "the greatest artist of the Twentieth Century".
Rose Bilal is a jazz vocalist, visual artist, actor, author and motivational speaker. She is also the Director/Founder of Jazztorian, Inc; a Tampa based nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering lives through jazz. Jazztorian mission is to promote and preserve classic jazz as a rare and valuable American treasure.
For more than a decade Rose has been a household name throughout the Tampa Bay area often performing with world-renowned musician John Lamb, bassist with the Duke Ellington band, and has also had the privilege of appearing on stage with Trombonist, Slide Hampton, and Reed Player, Frank West. Her classical renditions are reminiscent of Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen McRae, and other great jazz artists.
Bilal recently returned from a tour in Europe where she performed her unique style of jazz to packed houses. Throughout the 1960's, Bilal, gigging as a rhythm & blues singer was the opener for some of the greats, The O'Jays, The Delphonics, Wilson Pickett, Chubby Checker, and Gladys Knight & The Pips. For more information visit her at: rsbilal@aol.com
Featured Poet - Arbra Tawwab , recipient of the 1993 Minnesota Community Television Award, author and poet. She was the M/C and requested poet for the three Women of Jazz Concerts held at The Palladium of St. Petersburg College. In 2009, she was the featured poet for the Harlem Night Jazz Concert, where over 400 attended.
Arbra will move the audience through an evening of "edu-tainment" with her poetry as she integrates the historical legacy Ella Fitzgerald made to the evolution of jazz. Learn more at www.ArbraTawwab.com