NIK & THE NIGHTOWLS / Ballroom / cc110

Nik and the Nightowls

Nik and the Nightowls is a dynamic Dixie Swing and Jazz band leading the charge of building Southwest Florida’s emerging professional jazz scene. Their authentic sound transports audiences back to the era of flappers, speakeasies, zoot suits, and the bright, celebratory sounds that you can’t resist dancing to. Specializing in the New Orleans sounds of Dixie-Swing, Nik and the Nightowls play Jazz from the '20s to the '60s but introduce all jazz styles into their performances in addition to incorporating that quintessential jazz sound into tunes from contemporary genres. This unique band filled with snazzy personalities brings you the timeless class that shaped generations before.

Nik Bortolussi – drums and clarinet

Minneapolis native, clarinetist and drummer, Nik Bortolussi, was lauded by Count Basie’s drummer, Butch Miles, as one of today’s most talented drummers. He is the mastermind behind a rotating roster of exceptional Jazz and Swing talent who serve as his Nightowls, including nationally in demand jazz artists from throughout the United States. In addition to his own band, Nik is a regular with Fort Myers’ legendary Rockabilly band, Memphis 56.

Other Nightowls include

Regular band members include trombonist Herb Bruce, who has performed as a bandleader and staff musician at Walt Disney World, and has performed with internationally renowned artists like Liza Minelli, Jimmy Dorsey, Bob Hope, Burt Bacharach, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme’, and many more.
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Keyboardist Stu Shelton is a musical phenomenon, with the ability to fill acoustic bass lines with his left hand while playing piano with his right hand only.
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Mezzo soprano Dee Vicola attended the Ithaca College Conservatory of Music where she studied under jazz greats Kim Nazarian, of the New York Voices, and acclaimed countertenor, John Holiday. She achieved her bachelor’s degree in jazz studies at Temple University where she studied under Sarasota Jazz Festival’s Music Director, Terell Stafford. She has appeared at the Appel Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Chris’s Jazz Club in Philadelphia, and throughout notable Jazz clubs in the Northeast.
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Nik and the Nightowls have played in many venues throughout Southwest Florida including The Old Barrel Room, Fancy's Southern Cafe, locally beloved prohibition-era style speakeasy, The 86 Room in Downtown Fort Myers, and Sicily Trattoria in Cape Coral, among others.

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$10 Cover Charge / $10 minimum purchase per person required

Early Bird: 20% discount regular dinner menu / 5 to 6pm daily / Specials excluded

Happy Hour: 50% discount house wines, wells, dom. draft beers / 5 to 6pm daily

Walk-ins welcome / Reservations recommended

For assistance with reservations call 239-549-3000

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There are two parking lots close-by. One is on the East side of our building & the other is on the West side of Vincennes Blvd. in the next shopping center. Usually, it is easier to find a space in this lot.