Artscape Concert Series Opener in Collins Park: Feb 23 FREE!

FEATURING SPECIAL GUEST VOCALIST ALISON WEDDING Multi-Grammy winner John Daversa is one of the leading forces of large ensemble jazz today. Composed of the world's finest musicians, Daversa’s Large Jazz Orchestra explores the vast catalog of The Beatles through Daversa's imaginative, genre-fusing, Grammy-nominated arrangements. Special Guest vocalist Alison Wedding will be featured for this performance of Kaleidoscope Eyes. Daversa is also Chair of Studio Music and Jazz at The Frost School of Music, University of Miami. Daversa’s celebrated and distinctive musical perspective has been a passport to performances on world stages such as The Today Show, Late Nite with David Letterman, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Live 8 (Berlin), Hamburg Music Festival, Java Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, Montreux Festival, and the Playboy Jazz Festival.  He has also had the opportunity to perform or record with artists such as Fiona Apple, Michael Bublé, Dori Caymi, Andraé Crouch, Sheryl Crow, Herbie Hancock, Bob Mintzer Big Band, and The Yellowjackets. “Daversa's fearless exploration...takes him off the beaten path, as he creates bold and ballsy big band music for the modern epoch.”-- AllAboutJazz.com         Daversa’s big band release, Kaleidoscope Eyes: Music of the Beatles (2016), reverently twists and melts the iconic Beatles songbook with a 40+ orchestra featuring vocal artists Renee Olstead and Katisse Buckingham, and garnered three Grammy nominations.  "This is art. This is what music should be. No re-creation. No mimicking. Just honesty. Fearless honesty."  -- Terence Blanchard Daversa’s 2018 release, American Dreamers: Voices of Hope, Music of Freedom, won three Grammy awards. In addition, Daversa leads the John Daversa Small Band.This powerhouse ensemble transitions with ease from sections of incredible sensitivity to vignettes of intensity rivaling that of his own Big Band. DJ Adora will open the show with her popular act, combining music and comedic chatter. In addition there will be food vendors, a pop-up performance by Dance NOW! Miami, and, for the kids, painted contortionists by Kreatuerez and lots of activities by Painting with a Twist. It is also the Bass Museum’s Family Day (10 AM – 5 PM) with still more activities for the children. All of this is FREE! Click HERE for a video