Jazz guitarist/singer John Pizzarelli stars in two "Dear Mr. Bennett" concerts featuring the songs of Tony Bennett at the South Beach Jazz Festival. (Photo courtesy South Beach Jazz Festival)
Performances by the Spanish Harlem Orchestra and a salute to singer Tony Bennett by Grammy Award jazz guitarist/singer John Pizzarelli and his trio highlight 13 events (11 of the events are free) in multiple South Beach venues at the four day South Beach Jazz Festival, The festival takes place from Thursday, Jan. 8 through Sunday, Jan. 11 at multiple South Beach venues.
Opening the four-day event on Thursday with two shows is Pizzarelli’s “Dear Mr. Bennett” concerts at 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. at the Faena Theater.
“This is a loving tribute to Tony (Bennett) whom I both performed with and grew up with,” said the 65-year-old Pizzarelli. Pizzarelli knew Bennett initially because his late father, guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, performed with Bennett in the 1960s, recording Bennett’s hit song “I Wanna Be Around.”
Spanish Harlem Orchestra with Oscar Hernandez (far left on piano) to perform Latin and salsa music in concert at the South Beach Jazz Festival. (Photo courtesy of George Pruitt)
Pizzarelli is releasing his new CD "Dear Mr. Bennett” in March to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Bennett’s birthday in 2026. Bennett died at age 96 in 2023.
“The quality of Tony’s songs over his career of seven decades is impressive and unique. I look forward to performing some of his most cherished songs which his audience will remember.”
Trumpet player Etienne Charles will perform Caribbean music with Spanish Harlem Orchestra in concert at the South Beach Jazz Festival. (Photo courtesy of Jason Henry)
Pizzarelli will perform Bennett’s most beloved songs in the two concerts, including “Because Of You,” “Boulevard Of Broken Dreams,” “I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” “It Amazes Me,” and "Young And Foolish,” among other songs.
“As Tony got older, his audiences grew. He became especially well-known by young people for his many duets with Lady Gaga.. Tony made great standard songs that stood the test of time,” said Pizzarelli.
Tickets for the “Dear Mr. Bennett concerts range from $75-$300 at Faena Theater in Miami Beach.
Spanish Harlem Orchestra, led by music director and pianist Oscar Hernandez,will perform with trumpet player Etienne Charles on Saturday, Jan. 10 at 8 p.m. at Miami Beach Bandshell.
SHO, founded by Hernandez in 2001, is known for Latin dance music, with a strong emphasis on salsa.
“Without a doubt, our reputation and popularity is based on New York hard core salsa,”’ said the 71-year-old Hernandez, who has won three Grammy Awards with SHO for their recordings of salsa music.
“Performing our music in South Beach will be magical. The many cultures and visitors in South Beach will create memories that will thrill not only the audience but the musicians themselves.”
The audience should anticipate Hernandez and the SHO to perform some of their most well-known Latin songs, such as “Baila Latino,” “La Fiesta Empezo,” “Rumba Urbana” and “Somos Uno,” among other songs.
Born in Trinidad, Etienne Charles is well-known for popularizing Caribbean music with his skills on trumpet. His most well-known albums include “Carnival: The Sound Of A People” (2019) and “Creole Orchestra" (2024).
Gafieria Rio Miami band will perform bossa nova, choro, jazz and samba with flutist Nestor Torres at the South Beach Jazz Festival. (Photo courtesy of South Beach Jazz Festival)
Expect to hear Charles' most well known songs in the concert, such as “A Shade Of Jade,” “Centerpiece,” “Colorado River Song,” “Douens,” and “Ten To One It’s Murder,” among other songs featured in collaborated with SHO.
“While we rehearse selected songs, remember that jazz rests on the importance of improvisation in creating unique and memorable live moments in concert.. So it is quite possible, if not probable, that the audience will hear music by us and Etienne (Charles) that has never been performed live before,” said Hernandez.
“I am especially looking forward to our collaboration. It is not every day that someone can say that they heard both Caribbean and salsa music in the same concert,” said Hernandez.
Tickets range from $44.29-$93.73 at Miami Beach Bandshell in Miami Beach.
The remaining 11 events will have free admission.
Legendary singer and trumpet player Louis Armstrong, whose life was featured locally in the Miami New Drama musical “A Wonderful World,” (2021), will be the topic of discussion by Ricky Riccardi, Director of Research Collection at the Louis Armstrong House Museum in New York, on Friday, Jan. 10 at 5:30 p.m. at The Bass Museum of Art in Miami Beach.
Spam Allstars will perform electronic, funk and Latin music at the South Beach Jazz Festival. (Photo courtesy of South Beach Jazz Festival)
Trumpeter Steven Bernstein and his Millennial Territory Orchestra and singer Carla Cook will perform funk, gospel and swing music in “Society Jazz Night” concert on Friday, Jan. 10 at 8 p.m. at Collins Park in Miami Beach. Although the event is free, there are VIP reserved seats that cost $75 and include a 7 p.m. reception.
Many of the student jazz musician groups will perform on Saturday, Jan. 10 throughout the day from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. in “Jazz For Tomorrow” at Euclid Oval on Lincoln Road in Miami Beach.
Five free events taking place at 1111 Lincoln Road in Miami Beach conclude the South Beach Jazz Festival on Sunday, Jan. 11. The day begins at 12:45 p.m. with Lemon City Trio from Miami performing a blend of fusion, jazz and soul music.The Harden Project features four singers performing soul music at 2p.m. Violinist Frederico Britos and his jazz quintet play classical and jazz music at 3:30 p.m. Spam Allstars from Miami play electronic,funk and Latin music at 5:30 p.m.
The final concert features 11 piece band Gafieira Rio Miami performing bossa nova, choro, jazz and samba music with guest flutist Nestor Torres at 7:30 p.m. in a 90 minute concert.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: South Beach Jazz Festival
WHEN: Thursday, Jan.8 through Sunday, Jan. 11. Opening night 8 p.m. Thursday at Faena Theater, 5:30 p.m. Friday at The Bass Museum of Art; 8 p.m. Friday at Collins Park. Events 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday on Lincoln Road, with headliner performance 8 p.m. at the Miami Beach Bandshell. Events 11 am-9 p.m. Sunday on Lincoln Road.
WHERE: Various locations throughout Miami Beach, including Faena Theater at Faena Forum, 3300 Collins Ave.; The Bass Museum of Art, 2100 Collins Ave.; Collins Park, 2100 Collins Ave.; Lincoln Road and Euclid Ave., including the plaza at 1100-1111 Lincoln Road and the Miami Beach Bandshell, 7275 Collins Ave., Miami Beach.
COST: Free to $275. Individual tickets start at $42.50. VIP reception $75. All Access Pass $275. Miami Beach residents receive a 20% discount on selected ticketed events with code MB20. Many free events require RSVP.
INFORMATION: SoBeJazzFestival.com and (305) 322-6385.
