This article originally appeared on Miami’s Community News
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by Miami Beach Chamber
December 23, 2021
Power Access, the non-profit organization that produces the annual South Beach Jazz Festival (SBJF), in association with The Rhythm Foundation is excited to announce the headliner for SoBe in NoBe, The Opening Night of the 6th Annual South Beach Jazz Festival. The Grammy® Award Winning group, The Blind Boys of Alabama, will headline the 6th Annual South Beach Jazz Festival at the North Beach Bandshell on Friday, January 7, 2022, at 8:00 pm. The Donald Harrison Quartet will open for The Blind Boys of Alabama. Tickets range from $35 – $75. Miami Beach residents can use code LOCAL for a special discount on tickets. Club Level Tables (of 6) are available for $450. Tickets can be purchased at https://sobejazzfestival.com/tickets/
By showcasing highly acclaimed musicians with disabilities prominently in the programming all weekend, The South Beach Jazz Festival promotes its mission of awareness, accessibility, and inclusion in the arts. Join us as we celebrate the sheer talent and musical abilities of The Blind Boys of Alabama. The band includes Joey Williams, Ben Moore, Jimmy Carter, Ricky McKinnie, and Paul Beasley. The Blind Boys of Alabama are recognized worldwide as living legends of gospel music. Celebrated by The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the Recording Academy with Lifetime Achievement Awards, inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, and winners of five Grammy® Awards, they have attained the highest levels of achievement in a career that spans over 70 years. SBJF ticket holders can expect a roof-raising musical event that appeals to audiences of all cultures. The New York Times says, “They proclaim their reverence in close harmonies and gutsy improvisations that leap heavenward.” Don’t miss the opportunity to see them live in Miami Beach!
“The sheer talent of these artists will promote the festival’s dual goal, to entertain, and to define others by ability rather than disability. The festival is all about bringing our community together through the universal sound of music.” – David New, Founder of Power Access and the South Beach Jazz Festival.
New Orleans-born, award-winning saxophonist Donald Harrison will open for The Blind Boys of Alabama. Harrison is a musician/composer who master musicians consider a master of every Jazz era, soul, funk, and composer of orchestral classical music. Harrison has been named to the National Endowment for the Arts’ 2022 Jazz Masters class. Harrison and his Quartet will stun the SBJF audience with their ability to blend the swing beat of modern jazz with hip-hop, funk, and soul music. All About jazz says Harrison is “one of the most confident and convincing improvisers in jazz today.” The Donald Harrison Quartet includes Donald Harrison on saxophone, Joe Dyson on drums, Nori Naraoka on bass, and Dan Kaufman on piano.
The South Beach Jazz Festival will take place in venues throughout Miami Beach on January 7-9, 2022. The festival takes pride in featuring world-renowned musicians who also have disabilities. Classic, Latin, and New Orleans styles of jazz are featured. Most of the performances are free, open to the public, and outdoors. The sounds of jazz enliven the city all weekend long and draw locals and guests from around the world to listen, linger and enjoy. Tickets to the Blind Boys of Alabama and the Donald Harrison Quartet range from $35 – $75. Miami Beach residents can use code LOCAL for a special discount on tickets. Club Level Tables (of 6) are available for $450. Tickets can be purchased at https://sobejazzfestival.com/tickets/
The South Beach Jazz Festival is produced by Power Access, a 501(c)3 non-profit humanitarian organization. Power Access celebrates the abilities of musicians with disabilities by presenting the Sixth Annual South Beach Jazz Festival. The South Beach Jazz Festival takes place in multiple venues throughout South Beach over three days in January. The mission of disability awareness, access, and inclusion is celebrated through a festival that takes pride in presenting world-renowned artists from the entire spectrum of jazz including traditional, contemporary, and Latin American cutting edge acts. Many of the performances are free and open to the public and outdoors. The sounds of jazz enliven the city all weekend long providing residents and guests to Miami Beach a time to enjoy, listen and learn. “From Disability to Serendipity”
The South Beach Jazz Festival is made possible with the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor, Board of County Commissioners, City of Miami Beach, the Cultural Affairs Program and the Cultural Arts Council. This project is sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture (Section 286.25, Florida Statutes).
Sobejazzfestival.com | Facebook.com/SoBeJazz | Instagram: @SouthBeachJazzFestival
The Rhythm Foundation creates shared cultural experiences that build and strengthen the diverse communities of South Florida through the presentation of live music. They believe:
- International cultural exchange injects empathy and positivity into the global conversation;
- Cultural activity develops community and builds neighborhoods;
- Miami is a global city, and our artists and audiences are world-class.
Support for the Rhythm Foundation comes in part from the City of Miami Beach, Miami Beach Cultural Affairs Council, Miami-Dade County Cultural Affairs Council, and Florida Department of State Division of Cultural Affairs.
The North Beach Bandshell also receives support from City National Bank, Ocean Terrace Holdings, Urban Resource, Broadmore Hotel, Atlantic Broadband, and Diageo.
Rhythmfoundation.com | Facebook.com/TheRhythmFoundation | Instagram: @rhythmfoundation
