The South Beach Jazz Festival goes all out this year — all outdoors that is.
The 5th Annual South Beach Jazz Festival presented by Power Access and KCC Productions will take place on Friday, Jan. 8 through Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021 at various venues throughout Miami Beach including the North Beach Bandshell, 1111 Lincoln Road Plaza, Euclid Oval, and the Lincoln Lane Courtyard. The festival has made its mark as featuring world-renowned musicians who also have disabilities.
The 2021 headliner is Matthew Whitaker, an 18-year-old, blind, multi-award-winning, internationally recognized, young jazz phenomenon. Other musicians playing the South Beach Jazz Festival include Roxana Amed, Javier Garcia, Rose Max and Ramatis Brazilian Quintet, Federico Britos, Jesse Jones and Troy Anderson, and the Hot Five.
Matthew Whitaker.
Most of the performances are free, open to the public, and outdoors. The event requires the audience to wear masks and practice social distancing. There will be safety ambassadors at all the events to ensure all safety protocols are being met. Also, the events will be live-streamed online so that everyone can watch however they are comfortable.
The South Beach Jazz Festival kicks off with Sobe at Nobe featuring Matthew Whitaker, an 18-year-old, blind American jazz pianist with an impressive resume and incredible talent. Whitaker has played world-renowned stages including Lincoln Center, the Apollo Theater, Carnegie Hall, and New Orleans Jazz Festival. He was featured on CBS's "60 Minutes" earlier this year.
LEFT:Troy Anderson. RIGHT: Rose Max.
The two-time ASCAP Foundation Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composers Award winner will take the stage at the North Beach Bandshell with his quartet on Friday, Jan. 8 at 8 p.m.
Matthew Whitaker's sound is filled with refined dynamics, a light and artful touch, accompanied by bright strings and rhythm. His approach to each instrument is thoughtful and distinctive- melodic and improvisational on piano, complex textured and harmonically dense on the organ. With a personal touch, supported by highly skilled colleagues, Matthew, whose enthusiasm is incessant, is the center of this quartet, smooth, graceful, and full of energy. Matthew and his band will have any audience on their feet swaying and shouting with delight. Tickets are $35 - $75.
LEFT: Javier Garcia. RIGHT: Jesse Jones Jr.
Roxana Amed with be performing live on Euclid Oval in South Beach. Javier Garcia, Rose Max & Ramatis Brazilian Quintet, Federico Britos, Jesse Jones, and Troy Anderson and the Hot Five will be "Live on Lincoln" from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 10.
Jean Caze.
Millennial jazz and world music artist, trumpeter Jean Caze will be leading a master class one afternoon. Mind & Melody, a local organization that creates music programs for older adults with or without neurological impairments, active older adults, and kids with disabilities will have a live demonstration during the festival.
Roxana Amed
Schedule of Events:
- Friday, January 8, 2021
Matthew Whitaker
North Beach Bandshell, 8 to 10 p.m.
Tickets: $35 - $75 - Saturday, January 9, 2021
Master Class with Jean Caze
Location TBA, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Tickets: Free and Open to the Public - Saturday, January 9, 2021
Roxana Amed
Euclid Oval, 2 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Tickets: Free and Open to the Public - Sunday, January 10, 2021
Mind & Melody
Lincoln Lane Courtyard, 11a.m. - 1 p.m.
Tickets: Free and Open to the Public - Sunday, January 10, 2021
Live on Lincoln featuring Javier Garcia, Rose Max and Ramatis Brazilian Quintet, Federico Britos, Jesse Jones and Troy Anderson, and the Hot Five.
1111 Lincoln Road Plaza, noon - 6 p.m.
Tickets: Free and Open to the Public
For more information: sobejazzfestival.com
