Come for the Sun! Stay for the Jazz!
South FloridaMostly No Real Jazz Artists Performing at the Upcoming "Jazz in the Gardens" Music Festival
Article by
Bobby Ramirez
Founder and President
JazzonianAn event held in Miami, South Florida called “Jazz in the Gardens” has announced its artist lineup for its upcoming festival. Only, there are mostly no real Jazz artists (local or otherwise) as part of this event.
Now in its seventh edition, it seems that the public is being misled--especially Jazz music fans and tourists visiting Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and surrounding areas—into thinking that the music performed will be “Jazz.” Nothing could be further from the truth.
What is being billed as a weekend of festivities using “Jazz” as part of its name, is a music festival composed of mostly R&B and Soul music artists, that in the past have included Boyz II Men, John Legend, Cassandra Wilson, Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, En Vogue, DJ Irie, and other related artists.
This event is misrepresenting Jazz and misleading the public about an artform proclaimed by the United States Congress as a rare and valuable American national treasure. I am dishearten by events like this that demonstrate no regard for the integrity and deep legacy of this artform. (also see HR 2823, National Jazz Preservation and Education Act of 2011)
While the real Jazz music is suffering from lack of fans and very few places in the area where local musicians get to perform, “Jazz in the Gardens” has managed to attract big money sponsors using “Jazz” as part of its Brand—including the Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB, The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood, Shula’s Hotel and Golf Club, Macy’s, Comcast, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, American Airlines, the Miami Dolphins, the Fairmont Turnberry Resort, and others.
We are constantly in the trenches educating kids about Jazz heritage and helping build the next generation of Jazz musicians and fans; and here we have this event that is miseducating children on what Jazz is really about.
This event shows no respect for the heritage of Jazz and the people that went through great pains to pass this artform onto us so we can enjoy the fruits of their hard labor—including: Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Kenton, and many others.
As a destination attraction, “Jazz in the Gardens” is sending a negative signal about Miami and Fort Lauderdale to people around the world that enjoy this artform.
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