ST. PETE STRONG
Nate Najar & Daniela Soledade / Friday Night Bossa Nova
A regular on the fundraiser/ house party/bar and restaurant scene,
homegrown acoustic jazz guitarist Nate Najar in recent years
has been drawing in steady audiences to cool-cat jazz nights at
the Palladium Side Door, appearing in festivals, and performing at
venues across the state and country. With a repertoire heavy into
Latin music, it seemed like kismet when he met Brazilian songstress
Daniela Soledade in November of 2018. They have been performing
mostly bossa nova tunes together ever since.
On March 20, just about the time bars and entertainment venues
were shutting down due to COVID-19, Najar decided to hold a
bossa nova concert on his downtown St. Pete balcony and stream
it live. “That was the same night I had to cancel my bossa nova
concert at the Palladium,” he recalls. “We thought why don’t we do
something the same night for the audience that couldn’t go?”
Najar set up a camera, some lights and announced on social media
that the show would go on – on his balcony and on Facebook
Live. With dusk settling over the St. Pete skyline, nervous residents
went online to enjoy an evening of calming Latin jazz – and the
plan was set in motion. Every Friday at 7:30 pm the duo performs
24 StPeteLifeMag.com May/June 2020
live and free for the residents of St. Pete. The livestreams, titled
“Love & Bossa Nova,” have drawn a steady audience, serving as a
serene hour of relaxing vibes to kick off the weekend.
There were a few technical glitches at the beginning, but Najar
seems to have mastered the live broadcasts. It’s a calming, casual
hour of happy hour music with a lovely downtown backdrop,
although occasionally they perform with a few backup musicians at
Studio@620.
Najar does not ask for donations like most other musicians who
are livestreaming these days. He feels he is giving back to the
community that has supported him over the years. “There’s not
a lot of opportunity to see live music now,” he says. “I want to
spread some love, it’s good for our soul.” He says he and Daniela
will continue to do live balcony concerts on Friday evenings until
venues open up and they have weekend gigs.
The concerts can be viewed on the Facebook pages for Nate
Najar and Daniela Soledad, as well as on YouTube.
“I want to spread some love,
it’s good for our soul.” Nate Najar
St. Pete Strong
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