International Jazz Day in Miami Beach at Collins Park

Two-time Grammy winner Will Calhoun brings his jazz trio to Miami Beach on April 30, as we join in the world-wide celebration of International Jazz Day. Famous for his drumming with Living Colour, Will has returned to his jazz roots in last year's release, “Life in This World,” featuring such luminaries as Marc Cary, Charnett Moffett, Ron Carter, Donald Harrison, and Wallace Roney. Not many artists have the vision and artistic energy to be Grammy winners and contribute to so many genres: jazz, rock, hip-hop, ambient, et al, while concurrently producing, touring, creating new projects, working on films, and continually pushing the envelope. Will Calhoun has this creative vision, and he is doing an extraordinary job keeping music a spiritual and motivating force in his life. Will has recorded or toured and performed with diverse artists including Mick Jagger, Mos Def, Oumou Sangare, Marcus Miller, and Wayne Shorter (on the Grammy-winning CD, High Life). Tonight he is accompanied by Brian Jackson on piano and Luques Curtis on bass. Brian Jackson is a keyboardist, flautist, singer, composer, and producer. He is best known for his collaborations with Gil Scott-Heron in the 1970s. The sound of Jackson's Rhodes electric piano and flute accompaniments featured prominently in many of their compositions, most notably on "The Bottle" and "Rivers of My Fathers" from their first official collaboration Winter in America. Luques Curtis is one of the most versatile bass players around.  His credits include working with Eddie Palmieri, Brian Lynch, Ralph Peterson, Christian Scott, Sean Jones, Gary Burton, Stefon Harris, Donald Harrison, Etienne Charles, Albert Rivera, Elio Villafranca, Francisco Mela, and others. ...

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Two-time Grammy winner Will Calhoun brings his jazz trio to Miami Beach on April 30, as we join in the world-wide celebration of International Jazz Day. Famous for his drumming with Living Colour, Will has returned to his jazz roots in last year's release, “Life in This World,” featuring such luminaries as Marc Cary, Charnett Moffett, Ron Carter, Donald Harrison, and Wallace Roney. Not many artists have the vision and artistic energy to be Grammy winners and contribute to so many genres: jazz, rock, hip-hop, ambient, et al, while concurrently producing, touring, creating new projects, working on films, and continually pushing the envelope. Will Calhoun has this creative vision, and he is doing an extraordinary job keeping music a spiritual and motivating force in his life. Will has recorded or toured and performed with diverse artists including Mick Jagger, Mos Def, Oumou Sangare, Marcus Miller, and Wayne Shorter (on the Grammy-winning CD, High Life). Tonight he is accompanied by Brian Jackson on piano and Luques Curtis on bass. Brian Jackson is a keyboardist, flautist, singer, composer, and producer. He is best known for his collaborations with Gil Scott-Heron in the 1970s. The sound of Jackson's Rhodes electric piano and flute accompaniments featured prominently in many of their compositions, most notably on "The Bottle" and "Rivers of My Fathers" from their first official collaboration Winter in America. Luques Curtis is one of the most versatile bass players around.  His credits include working with Eddie Palmieri, Brian Lynch, Ralph Peterson, Christian Scott, Sean Jones, Gary Burton, Stefon Harris, Donald Harrison, Etienne Charles, Albert Rivera, Elio Villafranca, Francisco Mela, and others. 

The ARAYA-ORTA LATIN JAZZ QUARTET is a group comprising two pairs of brothers; Michael Orta (Piano), Nicky Orta (bass), Ramses Araya (percussion) and Carlomagno Araya (drums). The chemistry shown on stage by these four artists is truly outstanding, not only because of their level of musicianship or because the fact that they share the same blood, but also because they have a history that goes back 20 years. Together, the members of this quartet hold an impressive list of touring and recording credits, as well as multiple Grammy awards and many Grammy nominations. They have worked with the biggest and most diverse names in the industry such as: Randy Brecker, Michael Brecker, Conrad Herwig, Adam Nussbaum, Dave Weckl, Eddie Daniels, James Moody, Ira Sullivan, Gary Campbell, Toots Thielemans, Nestor Torres, Arturo Sandoval, Ed Calle, Larry Coryell, Dave Valentin, Othello Molineaux, Mike Stern, Chick Corea, Paquito D'Rivera, and many more.

The show is free for all ages. The Araya-Orta Quartet will open the festivities at 7:30 PM, and the Will Calhoun Trio goes on at 9:00. Located in Collins Park, 2100 Collins Avenue, it is right behind the Bass Museum, which will feature the artwork of Ghanaian artist El Anatsui, for which occasion Will has composed new music. Anatsui's preferred media are clay and wood, which he uses to create objects based on traditional Ghanaian beliefs and other subjects. He has cut wood with chainsaws and blackened it with acetylene torches; more recently, he has turned to installation art. Some of his works resemble woven cloths such as kente cloth. Anatsui also incorporates uli and nsibidi into his works alongside Ghanaian motifs. Will Calhoun says: “This art is amazing, and I would love to have a photo/art/performance show at this museum. I will basically write a piece and dedicate to him and his work.”

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