The Miami Nice Jazz Festival is an elegant wind channeling into the Magic City and setting the tone for the rest of the year. Returning for its third installment, the festival brings international jazz concerts throughout the month of November, dispersed all over Miami, at some of our most treasured performing arts venues. Sink your teeth into to rich rhythms, improvisational flurries of seemingly offbeat sax’s, horns, flutes and don’t forget guitars!
Miami provides the perfect backdrop for the Festival as Miami is a city rich in historic heritage and culture parallel to that embodied by the Festival, its musicians and its patrons Philippe Pautesta-Herder, Founder
The festival kicks-off this Saturday, November 1st at the Olympia Theater with Cuban jazz pianist, Roberto Fonseca (enter the Robert Fonseca ticket giveaway content at the end of guide). Then, there will be three events each week in November at various locations including The Fillmore, South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center, and The National Hotel. There’s even a couple of free events: Lenard Rutledge Quartet at the Olympia Theater in Downtown and back-to-back outdoor concert nights in Miami Beach, outside of The Catalina Hotel on Collins Ave.
The Miami Nice Jazz Festival is the first and only jazz festival of such international significance to come to South Florida
ROBERTO FONSECA Opening Set By THE FRENCH HORN
Roberto Fonseca, was born and raised in Cuba under two musically established parents. Fonseca is a master pianist in his own right. Started playing piano at the age of 8 and played public shows as early as 15. His style and stage presence is masterful playing the likes of Jazz, Latin Jazz, Hip Hop, Urban and of course, Afro-Cuban.
ETIENNE CHARLES
Etienne truly understands what it is to be a jazz performer. From Trinidad, trained at FSU and Julliard, he believes that a true performer is one who plays FOR the crowd and not for themselves. This trumpet master will serenade you with a range of Creole to Antillean rhythms showing us the best Caribbean music.
THE FRENCH HORN
Get your taste of French Jazz! If you’ve visited Lagniappe or Moreno’s Cuba bar in Miami then your sure to have caught the french gypsy jazz maestros The French Horn. Performing with anywhere from 3 to 8 musicians at a time, The French Horn will be taking over The National Hotel every Sunday this month for brunch this. Fuel yourself with good eats while enjoying Jazz rhythms from Paris, Cuba and New Orleans. Make sure to reserve a spot, great tunes with good eats is sure to fill up!
Miami’s Leading Ladies of Jazz: NICOLE YARLING | ROSE MAX | WENDY PEDERSON
Conducted by the South Florida Jazz Orchestra, Olympia theater is bringing Miami’s leading ladies in Jazz for a show thats too good to miss. Yarling, Max and Pederson each in their own right will dominate the stage. Hold on to your seats because these leading ladies are sure to collaborate in a stunning improvisational performance.
LENARD RUTLEDGE QUARTET
Voted as Miami New Times Best Jazz Artist Miami 2006, Lenard bring you rich southern jazz vocals rooted from his passionate church choir work. This free event is looking to be a warm exchange of give intake between his dynamic stage presence that will bring out a love for jazz you didn’t know you had. This is another must see!
ALLAN HARRIS BAND
Allan Harris is best known for his jazz interpretations. A world class vocalist, Tony Bennet himself has named Harris his favorite singer. His veracity in interchanging sounds from early jazz to blues rock shows us exactly why he has played all around the world. A fine addition to Miami Nice Jazz Festival, come observe his knack for breaking down barriers.
JORGE MORENO
DJ OIL | DINNER AT THE THOMPSONS | AKIN YAI | BEBELL GILBERTO
Over the course of two days you will be able to take to the streets of SOBE for some free local to international music that is jazz infused although not strictly oriented. Latin Grammy Winner for “Best New Artist” Jorge Moreno will be taking the stage on Friday November 14th. November 15 will feature Marseille’s born Dj Oil who blends electronic music with live jazz instruments in Troublemakers. Bubbly Bossa Nova singer Bebell Gilberto and Akin Yai whose Africana Americana 80s pop sensibilities infused with hip-hop post/punk sounds. Lastly Dinner at the Thompsons with their future soul sounds that push the reaches of jazz.
THE HOT SARDINES
With a little glamour, a little grit, and a lot of passion, The Hot Sardines continue to give voice to the defining jazz eras of the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. Forbes Magazine calls them “one of the best jazz bands in NYC today.” Let’s welcome them to the magic city, enjoying their vibrant performances that bridge generations and captivate modern audiences.
DIEGO EL CIGALA
Even if you don’t like Flamenco its hard to remove your ears from those maestros, picking at a guitar like a harp. El Cigala’s heritage is flamenco; he’s been acclaimed as one of the finest traditional singers of his generation. He is constantly pushing the envelope inundating Argentine tango and Cuban jazz into his repertoire of nuevo flamenco. His energy is unmatched and if this show is to be anything like his previous shows, there is sure to be special guests that will make this night an epic one.
