South Beach Jazz Festival
The date for this annual event has passed. A new date will be provided when available.
Kick off the New Year with amazing live music when the 6th annual South Beach Jazz Festival returns to venues throughout Miami Beach from January 7-9, 2022. While entertaining audiences from Lincoln Road to the Faena Theater and the North Beach Bandshell is the focus of the festival, it also has a humanitarian mission to celebrate and advocate for people with disabilities (more on this below).
Highlights of the 2022 festival include The Blind Boys of Alabama, the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida and Miami’s own French Horn Collective. A wide range of events are free and open to the public, while others have paid admission and even offer VIP packages.
South Beach Jazz Festival 2022 Highlights
Viento y Tiempo: Aymée & Gonzalo Live
January 6 at 9 p.m.
At this special pre-festival performance at the glamorous Faena Theater in Mid Beach, Grammy and Latin Grammy Award-winning vocalist Aymée Nuviola and jazz pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba will showcase the Afro-Cuban stylings of their latest Latin Grammy-nominated album, “Viento y Tiempo – Live at Blue Note Tokyo.”
Faena Theater, 3201 Collins Ave., Miami Beach
Blind Boys of Alabama
January 7 at 8 p.m.
The Grammy Award-winning Blind Boys of Alabama will take to the amphitheater stage Friday night to officially kick off the South Beach Jazz Festival at the North Beach Bandshell in North Beach. New Orleans-born saxophonist Donald Harrison and his jazz quartet will open the show.
North Beach Bandshell, 7275 Collins Ave., Miami Beach
Gay Men's Chorus of South Florida
January 8 from 4-6 p.m.
For a burst of joy, don’t miss the 100-member Gay Men's Chorus of South Florida’s rousing performance at the 1111 Lincoln Road Building on Lincoln Road in South Beach, accompanied by the SoBe Jazz Big Band with Special Guest Maryel Epps.
Power Access Main Stage, 1111 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach
Munir Hossn & Elas
January 9 at 5:30 p.m.
As the South Beach Jazz Festival’s closing act, Munir Hossn & Elas will perform their progressive Brazilian jazz. Led by Hossn and backed by his all-female ensemble, de Elas, the high-energy performance promises to get you on your feet.
Power Access Main Stage, 1111 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach
Additional Daytime Performances at the South Beach Jazz Festival
Additional daytime performances at the Power Access Main Stage on Lincoln Road will take place throughout the weekend, including Jazz for Tomorrow student ensembles, the Russ Speigel Organ Group, the Nicole Yarling Quintet and French Horn Collective. You won’t want to miss this entertaining weekend of live music in South Beach.
An Inspiring Story
Founded in 2016 by David New and produced by his non-profit organization, Power Access, the South Beach Jazz Festival’s dual mission hits close to home. Nearly 20 years ago, New was diagnosed with a rare disease that left him deaf, blind and paralyzed. Against all odds and his doctor’s prognosis, he’s gradually regained his ability to walk and hear, but not his eyesight. Today, he works tirelessly to break down barriers and educate people about living and working with people with disabilities.
“The sheer talent of the artists defines them by ability rather than disability,” said New, who is also the festival’s president and artistic director. “It’s all about bringing our community together through the universal sound of music.”
In addition to his work with the South Beach Jazz Festival, New advocates for the enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act through his leadership with Access Now Inc. He also founded the Miami Beach Council of the Blind and acted as chairman of the Miami Beach Disability Access Committee.
By: Shayne Benowitz | December 13, 2021