The Music of Stevie Wonder: Frost Jazz Orchestra

A large-ensemble tribute celebrates the enduring legacy of Stevie Wonder through the lens of contemporary jazz.

The Music of Stevie Wonder: Frost Jazz Orchestra takes place Tuesday, February 17 at Gusman Concert Hall at the University of Miami. Under the direction of Dr. John Daversa, the Frost Jazz Orchestra presents an evening dedicated to one of the most influential singer-songwriters of the past century.

Blending jazz sophistication with the soul and pop sensibility that defined Wonder’s catalog, the program features dynamic big band arrangements by Frost alumnus Matt Harris. Vocalists from the Frost Jazz Vocal program, led by Dr. Kate Reid, join the orchestra to reinterpret selections from Wonder’s expansive body of work, which spans classics such as “Superstition,” “Sir Duke,” “Isn’t She Lovely” and “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours.”

A multi-instrumentalist and songwriter whose career began in the 1960s, Stevie Wonder helped reshape modern music with socially conscious lyrics, innovative studio techniques and a genre-crossing sound that continues to influence artists worldwide. This concert highlights that legacy through fresh orchestrations and collaborative performance, showcasing the next generation of jazz musicians in a large ensemble setting.