Miami Beach Jazz Festival's 2015 Lineup: Bucky Pizzarelli, Monty Alexander, Four Others

"This is a music festival that can truly call itself jazz." For a second-consecutive season, Miami Beach Jazz Festival founder Carmen J. Cartiglia has indeed assembled a fine lineup of modern masters. Last year, celebrating the inaugural edition of the fest, he tapped headliner Michelle Coltrane, the only daughter of...

By S. Pajot

October 29, 2014

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"This is a music festival that can truly call itself jazz."

For a second-consecutive season, Miami Beach Jazz Festival founder Carmen J. Cartiglia has indeed assembled a fine lineup of modern masters.

Last year, celebrating the inaugural edition of the fest, he tapped headliner Michelle Coltrane, the only daughter of jazz giants John and Alice Coltrane.

And this year, Cartiglia has assembled an even more impressive roster for a show dubbed Living Legends of Jazz.

Leading the 2015 lineup is Bucky Pizzarelli, an 88-year-old jazz-guitar virtuoso who's been playing the instrument for seven decades. And he's jammed with everybody, from Benny Goodman to the inventor of the electric guitar, Les Paul.

Meanwhile, rounding out the roster, there's Jamaican-born jazz pianist Monty Alexander, noted bassist Rufus Reid, versatile vocalist Giacomo Gates, and Latin American master Frederico Britos, as well as swing and bebop singer Aria Hendricks, daughter of Jon Hendricks, the Poet Laureate of Jazz.

Miami Beach Jazz Festival's 2015 Lineup

-Bucky Pizzarelli

-Monty Alexander

-Rufus Reid

-Giacomo Gates

-Aria Hendricks

-Federico Britos

-Randy Weston

Leading into the Miami Beach Jazz Fest's 2015, Cartiglia and company will also be hosting a Thursday Night Concerts series, with monthly shows set in the swanky confines of South Beach's Raleigh Hotel.

"We're bringing the people of South Florida a true jazz event that they can be proud of!" the fest founder enthuses. "This is the second year of an annual jazz festival that will continue to grow and establish Miami Beach as the home for true jazz."

Miami Beach Jazz Festival 2015. Saturday, January 10. New World Center, 500 17th St., Miami Beach. The event begins at and tickets cost $46.50 to $176.50 plus fees via newworldcenter.com. All ages. Visit miamibeachjazz.com.

Miami Beach Jazz Festival's Thursday Night Concerts. Thursday, November 20, Thursday, December 18, and Thursday, January 8. Raleigh Hotel, 1775 Collins Ave., Miami Beach. Call 305-534-6300 or visit raleighhotel.com.

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