Music

When Sasso’s Restaurant on Marco Island hosts Dan Vass, the ambiance in the lounge is like opening up your home and inviting 30 or 40 of your closest friends and family over for drinks, dinner and a little entertainment. Except for the ties and crisp white shirts of Sasso’s staff, the comfort level is that inviting.

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Like Brigadoon on the beach, the Capri Fish House becomes a thatch-roofed time machine when Rod Mackenzie performs. Full story »

Ray Nesbit appears Friday and Sundays at the Snook Inn. Full story »

Lyrics to a love song are often enough to make someone swoon. Especially if those lyrics are delivered by a voice that is deep and resonant, similar to what it might sound like if you could hear chocolate: sweet and appealing at the start, then smooth, luscious and earthy after a bit. You must have heard Tony G sing. Full story »

The sweet and intricate sounds of a jazz ensemble emanate from a cozy corner of Kurrents in the Marco Island Marriott. Full story »

Duncan Wheeler performs at the Snook Inn on Thursday and Saturday nights. Full story »

Frederick Overdijking is a native of Holland, who lived for 20 years in Scotland, and then came to live in Naples in February. He recently purchased the Fifth Avenue Coffee Co., downtown, but plans to retain the same menu and staff. Full story »

What was the last album you bought? I can’t recall, but it had electric guitars. Full story »

Whether it was Woodstock or Bob Marley that helped shape Frank Carroll, one thing is certain — this self-proclaimed “hippie who never grew up,” just plays the music he feels like playing. Viewing the world though his dark, reggae-tinted sunglasses, Carroll has trailblazed his own path, weaving comfortably through a large assortment of styles and genres. Full story »

The voice: it’s not tautly classical, not wispy and ethereal, and thankfully not the hormonally nasal sound that infiltrates current pop music. It’s a voice that makes you comfortable, like the girl next door or your best friend — who just happens to sing really well. Full story »

In Naples and Marco Island, Bobby Gideons is synonymous to the word piano. Playing continuously for the last 48 years proves his popularity as well as Gideons’ sheer talent and versatility. He knows just about every song ever written and can play any style, including show tunes, country, ragtime, oldies and light classical. He projects a real love of music in his performances. Full story »

What music do you like? Everything, really. Country, rap, rock. Full story »

Is there any music you don’t like? Classical. People in Naples will hate me for that one.
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Who is your favorite artist? Akon. I like his accent and I just think that he’s cute. I like the sound he makes; it’s different from the others. And he’s actually from Africa, so it’s really cool to actually have someone like that. Full story »

This one’s for you, America. No Abba samples, no edgy French producers, no politics. Madonna makes her least adventurous, yet nonetheless shrewd, move with her new “Hard Candy.” She enrolls producers The Neptunes and Timbaland, the guys behind seemingly every American pop hit in the past several years, plus frequent guest vocals by Justin Timberlake, arguably the most viable modern pop star. Full story »