SOUTH BEACH JAZZ FESTIVAL

SOUTH BEACH JAZZ FESTIVAL

The date for this annual event has passed. A new date will be provided when available.

RECURRING DAILY

The Eighth Annual South Beach Jazz Festival (SBJF) will offer a kaleidoscope of musical, artistic and cultural experiences for the entire family to enjoy. Sponsored by the humanitarian group Power Access, the festivities kick off the New Year on January 4-7 at venues across Miami Beach. Participants can expect best-in-class, Grammy Award-winning jazz artists, complimentary art gallery tours and a showcase of emerging jazz students. In addition, the public is invited to virtually participate in a panel discussion addressing accessibility and inclusion in the arts for persons living with disabilities, the core mission of the festival.

South Beach Jazz Festival 2024 Highlights

SBJF will offer 18 performances, master classes and diverse cultural experiences that fit every budget, and many of them are free. Here are the highlights.

Thursday, January 4

Cécile McLorin Salvant at 9 p.m.

The festival opens at Faena Theater, with its dazzling centerpiece chandelier, moody lighting and velvet décor. Jazz enthusiasts will enjoy three-time Grammy Award-winning jazz vocalist and composer Cécile McLorin Salvant and her velvety-smooth musical storytelling. Salvant will be joined by longtime collaborator Sullivan Fortner, who has been acclaimed as one of the top jazz pianists of his generation. The theater will provide intimate seating for this ticketed event.

Friday, January 5

Something Else! with special guest Matthew Whitaker at 8 p.m.

Friday’s evening performance will literally be Something Else! for festivalgoers to enjoy: the all-star showcase Society Jazz Night featuring the septet Something Else! Its bandleader, preeminent saxophonist Vincent Herring, will deliver a moving groove of funky soul-jazz sounds. Matthew Whitaker, who is visually impaired and has been said to conjure the mastery of a youthful Stevie Wonder at the piano or organ, is the special guest. The concert will take place under the stars beginning at 8 p.m. on the great lawn of Collins Park at The Bass contemporary art museum. Plan to dance the night away at this complimentary event. You’re encouraged to bring blankets and chairs for lawn seating. To upgrade your concert experience, consider VIP reserved seating. The Bass will add to the evening by offering complimentary museum gallery tours.

Saturday, January 6

Jazz for Tomorrow Student Stage, starting at 10 a.m.

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Jazz For Tomorrow Student Stage, celebrated jazz artist and educator Nicole Yarling will direct a lineup of burgeoning talent, including youth artists from nearby and notable colleges and universities. In keeping with the festival’s purpose, master classes will be offered to encourage new talent. There is no charge for this event at 1100 Lincoln Road Plaza, but RSVP is encouraged.

Alfredo Rodriguez & Friends at 8 p.m.

It wouldn’t be Greater Miami & Miami Beach if Latin jazz was not on the menu. At the Miami Beach Bandshell, Grammy-nominated Cuban composer and jazz pianist Alfredo Rodriguez & Friends will rock the house with their special blend of Latin, pop, jazz and funk. Rodriguez’s chart-topping hit “Coral Way,” with its up-tempo, infectious and happy sound, will highlight this evening of music and dance.

Sunday, January 7

The final day of the SBJF will be an all-day affair. From 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., 1111 Lincoln Road will serve as host to an all-star lineup of bands and notable special guests. All of Sunday’s events are free with RSVP.

The Spirit of Goodwill Band at 11:30 a.m.

The daylong celebration kicks off with The Spirit of Goodwill Band, an ensemble of singers and musicians who live with varying degrees of physical and mental disabilities. These inspiring musicians are part of Goodwill South Florida’s acclaimed music program. 

Brandon Goldberg Trio at 1 p.m.

The Brandon Goldberg Trio will bring piano mastery to the final day of performances with Goldberg’s command of jazz harmony and technique. A piano prodigy since age 3, the 17-year-old Goldberg, who’s from Miami, will play selections from his two acclaimed albums.

The Smoogies at 2:30 p.m.

Layering Brazilian, Afro-Cuban and funk, The Smoogies, a South Florida-based quartet, will entertain audiences with their soulful sound.

Tal Cohen at 4:30 p.m.

Grammy Award-winning jazz pianist Tal Cohen, touted as one of jazz’s brightest stars, is a must-see for curious music enthusiasts. Cohen, who’s from Miami, blends Jewish harmonies with traditional jazz.

South Florida Jazz Orchestra at 6:30 p.m.

The grand finale will be a concert by the South Florida Jazz Orchestra under the leadership of bassist Chuck Bergeron. With accompanying special guests, the orchestra will deliver the rhythm of South Florida mixed with a big band sound.

By: Tremene T. | November 30, 2023

About South Beach Jazz Festival:

South Beach Jazz Festival Mission Statement

The South Beach Jazz Festival takes place in multiple venues throughout Miami Beach over four days in January. The mission of disability awareness is projected through a festival that takes pride in presenting world-renowned musicians 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 and draw residents and tourists to listen, learn and celebrate accessibility and inclusion for persons with disabilities. From disability to serendipity.
More About the Festival

The festival attracts locals, tourists, serious jazz fans, beachgoers and Lincoln Road shoppers. We are pleased to report that 2022 was an amazing success. Approximately 63% of attendees are from Miami-Dade County and 65% of our out of county visitors stay overnight in the area. 81% of attendees are over the age of 35 and over. The average income of attendees is $72,000 with 39% over $100,000. 99% of attendees rate the festival good and excellent! (2020 Survey Results provided by Touch Poll South Florida)

The Annual South Beach Jazz Festival takes place in January with multiple performances throughout Miami Beach. There are opportunities to sponsor as a Festival Title Sponsor, as a Headliner Sponsor and as a Spotlight sponsor.

Power Access Mission Statement

The South Beach Jazz Festival is the annual signature event of Power Access, a 501(c) 3 non-profit, humanitarian organization. Our mission is to bring awareness to the community about people living with disabilities and to provide opportunities for those people. To realize that we all have challenges and that tolerance and understanding is paramount. To fulfill that mission, the organization celebrates inclusion, awareness and accessibility in the arts by presenting high-quality programming in all its variations throughout the City of Miami Beach and showcasing the abilities of amazing artists.

Our programs include collaborations with corporations, other non-profits, local business associations, neighborhood associations and local government. Events have included Dining in the Dark, Disability Awareness Day, the annual Power Access Scholarship Jazz Brunch, Miami Beach On-Stage!, pop-up performances and our signature event, the South Beach Jazz Festival. We are continuously looking to develop partnerships and programs to further our mission and provide opportunities to showcase artists with disabilities in all areas – in the performing arts from music to dance, in the fine arts from painting to sculpture, and more. If you would like to discuss how you or your organization can become involved in our current programs as well as future new program possibilities, please send us a message.

For more information on Power Access, please click here.

About The Festival

The South Beach Jazz Festival takes places in venues throughout Miami Beach over three days during January. 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.

The festival attracts locals, tourists, serious jazz fans, beachgoers and Lincoln Road shoppers. We are pleased to report that 2022 was an amazing success. Approximately 63% of attendees are from Miami-Dade County and 65% of our out of county visitors stay overnight in the area. 81% of attendees are over the age of 35 and over. The average income of attendees is $72,000 with 39% over $100,000. 99% of attendees rate the festival good and excellent!

The Annual South Beach Jazz  Festival takes place in January with multiple performances throughout Miami Beach. There are opportunities to sponsor as a Festival Title Sponsor, as a Headliner Sponsor and as a Spotlight sponsor.

“From Disability to Serendipity”

*2020 Survey Results provided by Touch Poll South Florida

About The Founder

R. David New
President of the Board & Founder, Power Access
Artistic Director, South Beach Jazz Festival

Twenty years ago, a rare disease rendered David New deaf, blind, and paralyzed from the waist down. Rejecting his doctors’ terminal diagnosis, defying all odds, David learned to walk again and gradually regained his hearing, though he did not regain his sight.

Multi-talented, he has since become a steadfast advocate for people with disabilities, creates glass sculptures, founded several companies and non-profits, and has embarked on an exciting venture, the South Beach Jazz Festival, www.sobejazzfestival.com.

David was born and raised in Philadelphia and began his university studies at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. He continued his education at the Tyler School of Art, Temple University, the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City and the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. An artist at heart, David worked in his family’s furniture business while creating his own interior design firm, R. David New Interior Design. He relocated to South Florida in 2000 and continued pursuing his passion for art and design.

“As a visual artist my whole life, I was missing a component. I had to rethink everything. I got more involved in the community. I started new organizations and non-profits,” adds David.

David works tirelessly to break down barriers and to educate people about living and working with people with disabilities.  In addition to serving as president of Power Access Inc. and Ability Explosion®, he was chairman of the Miami Beach Disability Access Committee for six years until January 2016, where he is still instilled as a member. David was the founder of the Miami Beach Council of the Blind, an affiliate of the Florida Council and the American Council of the Blind.  In 2012, he took over Access Now Inc., which is an advocacy organization for enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act. With Access Now, David is working to build the first fully accessible art museum in the world located in Philadelphia Pennsylvania.

Through Power Access and Access Now, his two non-profit organizations, David provides programs and produces experiential events centered around building awareness of the challenges faced by people with disabilities, including Dining in the Dark, Disability Awareness Day and the South Beach Jazz Festival.

David recently reignited his lifelong passion for creating art when he learned about a new 3-D laser technology for creating laser-etched glass sculptures, a perfect medium for his visionary mind and imagination. He was introduced to the machinery, serendipitously located in Miami – the only one of its kind in the country. He designs the concept, the imagery, dimensions, and presentations, as well as the polished stainless-steel bases and glass specifications. David’s work has been exhibited in art galleries, at Art Basel Miami and he has plans to open a gallery on Miami Beach.