19th Annual Melton Mustafa Jazz Festival
Thursday, 02/25/2016 – 02/28/2016 07:00 pm – 09:00 am
The Black Archives Historic Lyric Theater Cultural Arts Complex
819 NW 2nd Avenue,
Miami, Florida 33136
Eventbrite
Cost: $22.09–$106.49

About: The Melton Mustafa Jazz Festival is a four-day music festival, featuring a selection of the best jazz musicians in the world. This year #MMJF welcomes Trombonist of the Year Wycliffe Gordon; Virtuoso Drummer Winard Harper; International Jazz Trumpeter Melton Mustafa & his 18-piece Big Band; The legendary FAMU Jazz Band under the direction of Robert Griffin, Lindsay Sarjeant, Longineu Parsons, Carlos Vega, Bryan Hall and The Young Lion Ray Nelson; The Broward College Jazz Band under the direction of Jason Hainsworth; The Tri-County Honors Big Band; The winners of the Melton Mustafa Jazz Festival Combo Competition; The Florida Memorial Jazz Band and Gospel Choir under the direction of Mel White; selected middle and high school bands, local bands, accomplished Authors, artist, vendors and more.

Previously, #MMJF has been hosted at Florida Memorial University in Miami Gardens. This year, the Festival will be hosted by the Black Archives History & Research Foundation of South Florida, Inc., at the 103-year old Historic Lyric Theater in Overtown. In its heyday, Overtown was called, “The Harlem of the South,” and was home to night life which rivaled the biggest, hottest clubs around the country. Musical greats such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Aretha Franklin and more graced the stages of the nightclubs, theaters and hotels that lines Northwest Second Avenue, known then as “Little Broadway.”

In partnership with MSM Arts and Florida Memorial University, the Melton Mustafa Jazz Festival is joining with host location sponsor, The Black Archives, to bring the swing back to Overtown!
“The Melton Mustafa Big Band is keeping the jazz tradition alive,” said Melton Mustafa, Sr., Founder & Director of the Melton Mustafa Jazz Festival. “The Ellington Band did, Count Basie and Charles Mingus did, and now I’m paving the way for young musicians to get on board and carry the torch.”

The 19th Annual Melton Mustafa Jazz Festival Schedule:
2/25 The Opening FMU VIP Reception 7-9PM,
2/26 Artists, Authors, Live jazz, Vendors & Film presented by the Miami Jazz & Film Society 6-9PM
2/27 Workshops, Master Class, Tri-County Honors Big Band, Featured Bands, Vendors 8AM-7:30PM
2/28 Final Concert 6PM-9PM