Grammy award-winning Jazz vocalist Cecile McLorin Salvant and jazz pianist Sullivan Fortner perform at the 2024 South Beach Jazz Festival. (Photo by MasterWing Creative Agency Photography)
Holiday festivities may be over but don't put away your dancing shoes yet-the party continues as the annual South Beach Jazz Festival takes the stage.
The festival celebrates its ninth anniversary Thursday, Jan. 9, Friday, Jan. 10, Saturday, Jan. 11 and Sunday, Jan. 12. Since its founding in 2016, the festival has grown into one of the most anticipated music events in South Florida.
The festival was founded by David New, who became blind as an adult, to showcase the talents and abilities that people with disabilities possess.
New says he hopes audience members take away his messages about inclusion, accessibility and diversity “through the universal message of jazz,” says New.
Award-winning jazz pianist Matthew Whitaker with band members Dave Stryker, Vincent Herring, Eric Alexander at opening night of the 2024 South Beach Jazz Festival. (Photo by MasterWing Creative Agency Photography)
“Our goal is not only to entertain, educate and inspire by demonstrating how art can break down barriers and bring people together.”
He is also proud that the festival brings jazz to different parts to Miami Beach, especially the outdoor stages of Lincoln Road, Collins Park, and the Miami Beach Bandshell amphitheater.
New says he is particularly excited by the outdoor spaces because, he notes, “we fill the outdoor air with the sound of jazz.”
South Beach's Lincoln Road Mall, one of the nation's most famous pedestrian malls, will have a large stage set up to host both well-known jazz performers, along with jazz music students, throughout the day. Master classes and other events will also be featured there, and all events at the Lincoln Road Mall are free.
The Miami Lighthouse Band performs on the "Stars of Tomorrow" Student Stage at the 2024 South Beach Jazz Festival. (Photo by MasterWing Creative Agency Photography)
Collins Park has plenty of room for a picnic — bring chairs and blankets — to enjoy Emmet Cohen's performance free, or pay for the VIP area for seating.
The Faena Theater will be the venue for Lisa Fischer and Taylor Eigsti's concert. This elaborate, Art Deco-decorated theater, located in the Faena Hotel at 3201 Collins Ave., is one of the city's poshest venues.
Here are this year's performers and where you can see them:
Emmet Cohen and Friends: A multifaceted jazz performer and composer, Emmet Cohen is the winner of several music competitions, he headlines regularly at Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Village Vanguard, and Birdland, and has appeared at the Newport, Monterey, and North Sea jazz festival. “His performances are intimate and engaging, exuding warmth and wit, often blending intricate improvisations with audience-pleasing swing rhythms,” says New.
Friday, 8 p.m., January 10, 2010 Collins Park, Free admission, VIP reception and reserved seating, $75
A Tribute Concert to Eddie Palmieri: Members of the Eddie Palmieri band will pay tribute to the music of Palmieri, who is known as the “Sun of Latin Music.” A beloved figure in jazz, Palmieri revolutionized Latin jazz by pushing the genre's boundaries. The band will perform at the Miami Beach Bandshell, which provides plenty of space for the audience to get up and dance. “Their live shows feel like a joyous celebration of Latin music and jazz,” says New.
8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 11, Miami Beach Bandshell, 7275 Collins Ave. Tickets: $42.29-$490.28 (club level)
The "Spirit of Goodwill" band perform at the 2024 South Beach Jazz Festival. (Photo by MasterWing Creative Agency Photography)
Lisa Fischer and Taylor Eigsti: Starting out as a backup singer, Fisher was one of the artists showcased in the Academy Award-winning documentary, “Twenty Feet from Stardom.” She has performed with the top names in music, including Luther Vandross, Chaka Khan, Tina Turner, and Nine Inch Nails, and she toured with the Rolling Stones for 26 years. She has appeared off-Broadway in the show, “Born to Sing,” and has a lengthy discography. Says New, “Lisa's concerts are immersive and emotional, creating a spiritual connection with the audience.” She will perform with Grammy award-winner pianist and composer Eigsti in a show entitled “The Badass & The Beautiful.”
8:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 9, Faena Theater, 3201 Collins Ave. Tickets: $85-$180
Melton Mustafa Jr. and his Big Band with Jesse Jones Jr.: Mustafa, a dynamic trumpeter, has performed with many jazz greats, and has toured internationally, performing with the Ray Charles Band and at festivals like Jazz in the Gardens. Performing with Mustafa will be Jesse Jones Jr., an exceptional saxophonist, he has recorded albums and often performs alongside jazz legends such as Donald Byrd, Dexter Gordon, and Dee Dee Bridgewater, as well as performing with his brother, Melton Mustafa.
7:30 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 12, 1111 Lincoln Road. Free
Carole Ann Taylor: Known as “CAT,” the a soulful Miami jazz singer with a career spanning decades has performed with legends like Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton, and Cedar Walton, captivating audiences at prominent venues throughout Miami and beyond.
2 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 12, 1111 Lincoln Road. Free
Jazz pianist Sullivan Fortner accompanying Cecile McLorin Salvant at the 2024 South Beach Jazz Festival. (Photo by MasterWing Creative Agency Photography)
Danny Sinoff: As a young man, jazz pianist and vocalist Danny Sinoff fell in love with the swinging Big Band sound, later discovering bebop and modern jazz. He has performed and recorded with numerous jazz greats and is known for his charisma, smooth vocals, and swinging jazz style.
3:30 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 12, 1111 Lincoln Road. Free
Yissy García & Bandancha: Yissy García is a groundbreaking Cuban drummer blending jazz, funk, and Afro-Cuban rhythms. Leading Bandancha and collaborating globally, she's a major influence in female percussion.
5:30 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 12, 1111 Lincoln Road. Free
Bad Apples Brass Band: Bad Apples Brass Band is South Florida's premier New Orleans-style brass band, blending traditional brass sounds with modern influences. Known for their fun and funky vibe, they deliver electrifying performances that captivate audiences with infectious street beats, funkiest jazz, and a heavy brass sound.
Sunday, Jan. 12, 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., 1111 Lincoln Road, Free.
Alfredo Rodriquez and his band performing at the Miami Beach Bandshell at the 2024 South Beach Jazz Festival. (Photo by MasterWing Creative Agency Photography)
Ricky Williams: Ricky Williams, a Smooth Jazz, R&B, and Soul artist, has captivated South Florida audiences. Blind since childhood, he launched his career in New York City, collaborating with legends like Stevie Wonder and Bennie King.
12:45 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 12, 1111 Lincoln Road, Free
Spirit of Goodwill Band
The Spirit of Goodwill Band, made up of people with a variety of disabilities – come together to play beautiful music. Comprised of members who work at Goodwill, the Spirit of Goodwill Band was showcased in 2011 in a documentary entitled “For Once in My Life.”
11:30 a.m., 1111 Lincoln Road, Free
Jazz for Tomorrow Student Stage
Performances, master classes and discussion
10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 11, 1111 Lincoln Road, Free
Directed by jazz artist and educator Nicole Yarling, the Jazz for Tomorrow Student Stage showcases talented student jazz bands, celebrating the future stars of jazz and the power of education, as well as master classes.
Here is the schedule:
Master Classes:
10 to 10:30 a.m: Coffee Talk, Nicole Yarling speaks about Josephine Baker.
10:30 to 11:15 a.m.: Master Class: South Florida Center for Percussive Arts. Speaker: Executive Director Alexa Fernandez
11:15 to noon: Master Class: Bosa Nova – A History of Brazilian Music. Speaker: Gene de Souza
noon to 12:45 p.m.: Performance: Miami Arts Center
1 to 1:45 p.m.: Performance, JECC
2 to 2:45 p.m.: Performance: Miami Beach Senior High
3 to 3:45 p.m.: Performance: Anastasia Chubb Quartet
4 to 5 p.m.: Performance: FIU Latin Jazz Ensemble
All the events are free, but RSVPs are requested
If You Go:
What: South Beach Jazz Festival
Where: Various locations in Miami Beach
Cost: Events are both free and ticketed, and there is a $275 all-access pass
Information: (754) 800-4512 and www.sobejazzfestival.com
