The Miami Downtown Jazz Festival, presented by WDNA 88.9FM Public Radio, will grace local stages from Thursday April 26 through Sunday April 28. Several fine artists are vying for the unofficial crown of who is most worth seeing, and of course, though taste may determine that, my meager money is on the Kurt Elling Quintet.
Elling and Dr. Lonnie Smith are the headliners at downtown’s gorgeous Olympia during Saturday’s portion of the festivities. Both artists are prolific and venerated. Since the release of his 1995 debut album, Kurt Elling has dependably explored new spaces and new ideas while reimagining old spaces and old ideas. The result has been a baker’s dozen Grammy nominations a tsunami of awards, consistent recognition, and an ever-morphing repository of material. This incarnation features a quintet with special drumming guest Jeff “Tain” Watts, who before flying on his own, was part of various Marsalis crews. Let’s say then there is no way of knowing whether somebody else might show up and contribute something given these: Elling’s rep and Miami’s magnetism. Elling’s most recent release, The Questions should be front and center. Expect this performance to begin somewhere around 9 p.m.
At 7, Dr. Lonnie Smith hits the stage. Before Lonnie Smith became Dr. Lonnie Smith, he wore a Kangol cap. By 1977, as Smith is playing jazzy funk like It’s Changed, all has changed. Now Dr. Smith is representing like a Sikh in robes, turbans, and a grand, gray beard. But don’t be fooled by the name or the fashion. There is neither religious nor medical underpinning here. He self-names himself Dr. and sports the clothing — just cause he can. Yet the Hammond B3 and repertoire is no joke, as Smith has been pioneering acid-jazz, soul, hip-hop, and funk stew for decades. That’s his work on Can I Kick It, by a Tribe Called Quest.
The Hammond Company has cool history, and the instrument served primarily as a substitute first for church pipe organs, or to come up with an alternative to a big band sound in one machine. Jimmy Smith came along and created a particular setting that jazz artists fall back upon to this day. Gregg Allman, Joey DeFrancesco, Booker T. Jones, Jack McDuff, Jimmy McGriff, Billy Preston, Gregg Rolie, and TV’s Paul Shaffer are among those who have played what Dr. Smith plays (though my favorite is Swedish legend Merit Hemmingson).
Four free concerts take place at the Government Center on Thursday’s first MDJF day. Also playing the Hammond will be Adam Scone, frontman of the funky Scone Cash Players who kick it all off at noon. Electric Kif, Aaron Lebos, and Tito Puente, Jr. follow till early evening. The price for such quality is generous, $0.00, so no excuses.
Sunday’s lineup starts gratis at Bayside Marina with the JECC Boot Camp Ensemble, Wendy Pedersen, Tim Jago, Leon Foster Thomas, and Oriente. Evening from Bayfront Park Amphitheater hosts jazz violinist Regina Carter at 6:30, followed by vocalist Lizz Wright, and finally our beloved Arturo Sandoval, whose Grammy nominations even top Kurt Elling’s.
All this loving music comes courtesy of our own marvelous 88.9, WDNA, to whom all in our right jazzy minds should generously and perpetually donate so that this and all the great ear candy will continue.
