Black Violin performs in Sarasota

About 10 years ago, two string players from South Florida hit the big time when they performed on "Showtime at the Apollo" and accompanied Alicia Keys at the Billboard Awards show.

Since then, violinist Kev Marcus and violist Wil B have been stunning crowds around the world with their intense genre-defying concerts.

Together, they're Black Violin. They're classically trained, but they have contemporary sensibilities, and they're likely to play an Eagles song, followed by a Bach opus, then something by Wu Tang Clan.

They have the virtuosity to handle the Bach, the sensibility to pull off classic pop-rock and master hip-hop. It's no novelty act. Whatever they play, the perform with such affection and conviction that they can make a classical music lover appreciate hip-hop, and vice-versa. The shows feel more like a party than a typical violin concert.

Black Violin is a favorite of local audiences. The duo was a hit when it played at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa less than year ago, and now Black Violin is returning for a show at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota on Tuesday.

Details: 8 p.m. Jan. 12, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Tickets: $25-$40. Information: 941-953-3368, vanwezel.org.

-- Marty Clear

This story was originally published January 6, 2016 at 5:06 PM with the headline "Black Violin performs in Sarasota ."