The final round of artists is in, and three additional acts have been added to the already impressive line-up for the 10th Annual Jazz in the Gardens (JIG) — Erykah Badu, Run DMC and Sheila E.
The trio will join Maxwell, Toni Braxton, R. Kelly, Men of Soul (Jeffrey Osborne, Peabo Bryson and Freddie Jackson) and Brian Culbertson for the March 20-22 event that will be co-hosted by comedians and syndicated radio personalities D.L. Hughley and Rickey Smiley at SunLife Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Erykah Badu, who is on the Sunday lineup, is best known for her song “Tyrone”. She is an icon in the neo-soul genre. No stranger to the JIG stage, she performed at the fourth concert in 2009.
Run DMC, one of the first most influential acts in the history of hip hop, will perform on Sunday, and of course one of their biggest hits was “Walk This Way”. They were the first group in the hip hop genre to have a gold record, to be nominated for a Grammy, have videos on MTV and be on the cover of Rolling Stone.
Sheila E. will bring the glamorous life to the stage on Saturday. The longtime protégé of Prince is a world-class drummer and percussionist.
Jazz, rhythm and blues and funk saxophonist Ronnie Laws; funk, soul and jazz composer and vibraphone player Roy Ayers; funk soul and jazz performer Lonnie Liston Smith and jazz trumpeter Tom Browne are on the card for Sunday.
Maxwell, the sexy ambassador of soul, will be taking to the JITG stage on Sunday after an extended hiatus with a brand new look and a fresh, yet deliciously vintage sound. The artist who gave you classic songs like “Sumthin’ Sumthin”, “Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder)” and “Lifetime” not to mention “This Woman’s Work” is back with a challenging, mature, sensual, courageous and emotionally open sound on his new album entitled “BLACKsummer’s night”.
Toni Braxton, who has the voice that is recognized as one of the most outstanding voices of this generation, will bring her distinctive sultry vocal blend of R&B, pop, jazz and gospel to the JITG stage that can be heard in her classics “Another Sad Love Song”, “Breathe Again”, “You’re Makin’ Me High”, “Unbreak My Heart”, and “He Wasn’t Man Enough” on Saturday.
Then of course there’s R. Kelly whose tasty array of hit singles include “Bump n’ Grind”, “Your Body’s Callin’”, “I Believe I Can Fly”, “Gotham City”, “If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time”, “The World’s Greatest”, “I’m a Flirt” and “Trapped in the Closet” commands Saturday’s stage.
The Men of Soul — Jeffrey Osborne, Peabo Bryson and Freddie Jackson — individually are outstanding in their own right — babies were made to their music, brides walked down the aisle to their music, and lovers have been brought together because of them. The quiet storm format on radio stations would be non-existent without their unforgettably timeless, chart-topping classic love songs. They will take to the stage on Saturday.
Osborne is known for hit solos “On the Wings of Love”, “Don’t You Get So Mad”, “Only Human” and crowd favorite “The Woo Woo Song” to name a few; while Bryson has given the world “Feel the Fire”, “Reaching for the Sky”, “I’m So into You”, and “Can You Stop the Rain”; Jackson dominated the R&B charts in the early 80s and 90s with music like “Rock With Me”, “Jam Tonight”, “You are My Lady” and “I Don’t Want to Lose Your Love”.
Contemporary jazz/R&B/funk artist Brian Culbertson brings to the stage on Sunday songs such as “Let’s Get Started”, “Skies Wide Open”, “Hookin’ Up”, “Sensuality” and ”Dreaming of You.”
But before any musical act takes to the stage, the festival weekend will officially kick off with the Women’s Impact Conference and Luncheon on Friday, March 20 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Miramar Cultural Center. The theme for the conference is “”There’s no ‘S’ on my chest but a hero lives within”.
And the Friday night official pre-party will feature JIG staple, Doug E. Fresh, and will be hosted by Rickey Smiley.
“The talent lineup is awesome,” said Tony Williams, programming director at Star 106.5 FM and Hot 91.7 FM, the official station for JIG in The Bahamas. “The 10th anniversary of Jazz in the Gardens is shaping up to be very exciting. There is something for everyone. The grown folks will surely love Men of Soul — Peabo Bryson, Freddie Jackson and Jeffrey Osborne, and when you add Toni Braxton and Maxwell you add another level of excitement to the festival. Of course, R. Kelly and all the others have their following, so I think attendees are in for the time of their lives.”
And as has been the norm for the past six years of the 10-year music festival, The Nassau Guardian, Star 106.5 FM and Hot 91.7 FM will partner with Bahamasair, Dollar-Thrifty and their hotel partner to give Bahamians the opportunity to take in the festival with complete weekend getaway packages.
Williams encouraged Bahamians to read The Nassau Guardian and tune in to Star 106.5 and Hot 91.7 for their chance at winning tickets.
Jazz In The Gardens
When: March 20-22
Where: SunLife Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
Saturday, March 21 line-up (Doors open at 3 p.m.)
Act to be determined
Act to be determined
Sheila E.
Men of Soul (Jeffrey Osborne, Peabo Bryson and Freddie Jackson)
Toni Braxton
R. Kelly
Sunday, March 22 (Doors open at 3 p.m.)
Valerie Tyson, local artist
Act to be determined
Brian Culbertson
Run DMC
Erykah Badu
Maxwell
Co-hosts: D.L. Hughley and Rickey Smiley
Ticket prices:
Gold Ambassador: $1,110 (2) 2-day front row tickets; 2 VIP experience tickets for JITG pre-party with reserved seating; (2) 2-day wristbands for VIP restroom facilities; 1 parking pass for Saturday and Sunday; plus exclusive JITG merchandise inclusive of a one-of-a-kind JITG laminate and T-shirt.
Silver Ambassador: $1,009 (2) 2-day platinum tickets in Row 2 or Row 3; 2 tickets to the JITG pre-party; (2) 2-day wristbands for VIP restroom facilities; 1 parking pass for Saturday and Sunday plus exclusive JITG merchandise inclusive of a one-of-a-kind JITG laminate and T-shirt.
Platinum: 2-day advanced ticket purchase - $195, 2-day (day of show) purchase $215, 1-day advanced ticket purchase $120, 1-day (day of show) ticket purchase $140.
Prime: 2-day advanced ticket $135, 2-day (day of show purchase) $155, 1-day advanced ticket purchase $80, 1 day (day of show purchase) $92.
Reserved: 2-day advanced ticket $115, 2 day (day of show purchase) $135, 1-day advanced ticket $70, 1-day (day of show purchase) $82.
General admission: 2-day advanced ticket $85, 2-day (day of show purchase) $105, 1-day advanced ticket $55, 1 day (day of show purchase) $67.
Ten (10) percent discount available for groups of 20 or more in all sections, excluding Platinum.
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