Miami, Sept. 7, 2022 – Miami Dade College’s (MDC) Arts and Philosophy Department is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its popular Jazz at Wolfson Presents, the longest continuously running free jazz series in Miami-Dade County. The 2022-23 season will kick off at noon, Wednesday, Sept. 14, with NEA Jazz Master saxophonist Jamey Aebersold, at MDC Wolfson Campus in downtown Miami. The series will continue through April 2023 with monthly concerts that are free and open to the public. The concerts will also be livestreamed.
“The fact that we have remained strong for 25 years, offering significant jazz performances, has been, I believe, truly a wonderful thing for the community, MDC, and jazz music.” said Dr. Michael Di Liddo, program director and MDC jazz faculty member.
This series is funded in part with the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County mayor and the Board of County Commissioners through the Hannibal Cox Jr. Cultural Grants Program.
The concerts are held in person at the Wolfson Campus, 300 N.E. 2nd Ave, Building 1, Auditorium (Room 1261). Concerts are also available via livestream at www.mdc.edu/livestream.
View the 2022-23 Jazz at Wolfson Presents season below:
Jamey Aebersold
Saxophone
Wednesday, Sept. 14, noon
For over 60 years, Aebersold has been a leader in jazz improvisation and jazz education. His renown weeklong Summer Jazz Workshops have been held in seven countries and his jazz quartet has performed dozens of programs that encourage students to play music and make healthy lifestyle choices. He has produced 133 book/audio jazz Play-A-Longs. Aebersold is the recipient of the 2014 A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Award for Jazz Advocacy, bestowed upon an individual who has contributed significantly to the appreciation, knowledge, and advancement of jazz.
MDC Jazz Alumni
Wednesday, Oct. 19, noon
Made up of some of MDC’s most celebrated music graduates from Wolfson Campus’ Arts and Philosophy department, MDC Jazz Alumni includes pianist Kemuel Roig, saxophonist Hery Paz, and guitarist Richard Padron. These amazing musicians will come together to perform several original compositions. They will be accompanied by MDC’s jazz faculty musicians Ludwig Afonso on drums and Gary Thomas on bass.
Wolfson Jazz Ensembles
Tuesday, Nov. 1, 5:40 p.m.
The Wolfson Jazz Ensembles consist of three groups of exceptional music students. The Horace Silver group takes its name from the legendary pianist and composer of the 1950s and ’60s. The Blue Note group pays tribute to the famed jazz record label of numerous groundbreaking recordings. Both groups help young musicians develop by presenting a wide range of jazz styles. The program’s most mature group, the Hard Bop Jazz Ensemble, has included some of South Florida’s finest emerging musicians. Over the years the ensemble has performed at jazz festivals in Switzerland, Italy and the Netherlands. The group has received DownBeat magazine awards in both composition and performance.
MDC Jazz Faculty Quintet
Wednesday, Nov. 2, noon
Individually heralded as some of South Florida’s finest musicians, the MDC Jazz Faulty Quintet features Grammy award winning saxophonist Ed Calle, guitarist Mike Di Liddo, pianist Jim Gasior, bassist Gary Thomas and drummer Ludwig Afonso. As diverse musicians with a variety of musical backgrounds, their performances project a blending of styles that possibly only come together with jazz.
Jim Gasior
Piano
Wednesday, Dec. 7, noon
Gasior is a Miami-based pianist and jazz educator. He has performed and/or recorded with international pop artists and groups – Ricky Martin, Kelly Clarkson, Alih Jey, Chayanne, Jose Feliciano, Little Richard, Smokey Robinson, as well as jazz artists – Benny Golson, Slide Hampton, Freddie Hubbard, Terell Stafford, Patti Austin, John Fedchock, Duffy Jackson, Jason Marsalis, Donald Harrison, Robin Eubanks, Jeremy Pelt, Jay Leonhart and the Jaco Pastorius Reunion Big Band. He is Associate Professor Senior of Jazz and Instrumental Studies at the New World School of the Arts, where he serves as the director of the national award-winning NWSA High School Jazz Ensemble.
Bobby Floyd
B-3 Organ
Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, noon
Grammy nominee and Emmy Award-winner, Floyd started his career traveling the world accompanying Ray Charles on piano and organ. He has also toured nationally and internationally as organist for the Grammy Award winning Dr. John. He was the featured pianist occupying the chair of the great late Count Basie accompanying his world-famous orchestra for six years. Floyd currently makes guest appearances with Maceo and is also featured with Byron Stripling, collaborating with some of the most distinguished orchestras, including the Boston Pops, Rochester Philharmonic, and Detroit Symphony.
Aaron Lebos and Abstract Citizen
Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, noon
Abstract Citizen is the newest group from Guitarist/Composer Aaron Lebos. The band’s genre can be categorized as “Modern Jazz” and all their music was originally written as a response to the pandemic. Lebos is a Miami native and has been an active member of the music scene since he was 16 years old. He performs with some of the biggest names in South Florida including Nicole Henry, Spam All-Stars, and Nu Deco Ensemble. In recent years, the band has performed at Miami hot spots Lagniappe House, Fish House, Heartland, and have begun touring. The band’s debut album was released earlier this year.
Wolfson Jazz Ensembles
Tuesday, March 14, 2023, 5:40 p.m.
The Wolfson Jazz Ensembles consist of three groups of exceptional music students. The Horace Silver group takes its name from the legendary pianist and composer of the 1950s and ’60s. The Blue Note group pays tribute to the famed jazz record label of numerous groundbreaking recordings. Both groups help young musicians develop by presenting a wide range of jazz styles. The program’s most mature group, the Hard Bop Jazz Ensemble, has included some of South Florida’s finest emerging musicians. Over the years the ensemble has performed at jazz festivals in Switzerland, Italy and the Netherlands. The group has received DownBeat magazine awards in both composition and performance.
John Fedchock
Trombone
Wednesday, March 15, 2023, noon
Fedchock’s illustrious career in jazz spans over four decades. An in-demand performer and writer in New York City, Fedchock’s multifaceted talents have led him to become one of NYC’s premier jazz artists. His critically-acclaimed John Fedchock New York Big Band has become a marquee group showcasing Fedchock’s trombone and arranging, as well as the band’s all-star soloists. The band’s recordings have appeared in jazz radio’s Top Ten and he is a two-time GRAMMY nominee for Instrumental Arranging.
John Riley
Drums
Wednesday, April 5, 2023, noon
Critically-acclaimed performer, author and teacher, Riley has worked with the world’s leading jazz musicians for over 40 years. A four-time GRAMMY award winner, has played on hundreds of recordings and at major venues with Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, Woody Herman, John Scofield, Joe Lovano, Bob Mintzer, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, and many others. Riley is the author of The Art of Bop Drumming, currently published in five languages, Beyond Bop Drumming, The Jazz Drummer’s Workshop and the DVD The Master Drummer.
For more information, please visit https://www.mdc.edu/jazzatwolfson/.