The City of Miami Beach presents First Fridays, featuring the Luis Mario Ochoa Latin Jazz Ensemble January 6. This FREE performance will be from 6 to 9 PM at Normandy Fountain, Normandy Drive and Rue Vendôme, Miami Beach.

Vocalist, guitarist, composer, arranger and band leader Luis Mario Ochoa was born in Havana, Cuba. Embracing Toronto as his new home in 1990, Luis Mario soon formed his band Cimarrón, recording three critically acclaimed CDs. His third CD, Cimarrón, includes an all-star cast of jazz and Latin musicians from Toronto as well as special guests Paquito D’Rivera and Guido Basso.

Luis Mario has been featured at most of Canada’s major jazz and world festivals, including Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax and Ottawa’s Chamberfest. International highlights include the Barbados Jazz Festival and Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club in New York as a special guest of multi Grammy award winner Paquito D’ Rivera.

“Luis Ochoa has an exceptional voice. His soaring tenor rises above the horns and percussion, delivering the lyrics with sincerity and power.” [Jazz Improv Magazine.]

There are tables set up, and food can be ordered from local restaurants. Music courtesy of KCC Productions.