Welcome to the Overture to Overtown Jazz Series 2024!
Music, Poetry, and Conversation Honoring the Legacy of the "Harlem of the South"
Friday, April 19, 2024 celebrates National Poetry Month with the LeNard Rutledge Jazz Duo as part of the Overture to Overtown Jazz Series Progressive Jazz Night.
Geoffrey Philp and L. Lamar Wilson are the poets for the evening.
Hosted by Carl Juste, Co-Founder of the Iris Photo Collective.
Get ready for a toe-tapping, finger-snapping good time as we bring you the best of jazz in person. Join us for a series of unforgettable performances by talented musicians that will have you grooving all night long.
Get ready for a toe-tapping, finger-snapping good time as we bring you the best of jazz in person. Join us for a series of unforgettable performances by talented musicians that will have you grooving all night long.
Experience the magic of live jazz , where the music comes alive and the vibes are always right. Whether you're a jazz aficionado or just looking for a fun night out, this series is not to be missed.
Mark your calendars and gather your friends for a musical journey like no other. Let the smooth sounds of jazz transport you to a place where the music is king and the good times never end. See you there!
LeNard Rutledge – Vocalist - Often compared to Lou Rawls, he grew up in Overtown and began his vocal career performing with the Melton Mustafa Orchestra. He was named The Miami New Times Best Jazz Artist early in his career and is still recording and performing new songs across myriad jazz-infused musical genres.
Jim GASIOR – Piano - has performed with Ricky Martin, Kelly Clarkson, Alih Jey, Chayanne, Little Richard, Michael Bolton, Jose Feliciano, Smokey Robinson, Benny Golson, Slide Hampton, Freddie Hubbard, Terell Stafford, Patti Austin, Duffy Jackson, Jason Marsalis, etc. Jim in the final stages of his Doctorate in Jazz at U Miami.
Carl-Philip JUSTE is a Haitian born, politically active photographer. Since 1991 he has been working with the Miami Herald and has been showcasing his work throughout the world. He is co-founder of the Iris Photo Collective, the site of this series’ Little Haiti programming in 2024.
Geoffrey Philp - is a Jamaican born, award-winning poet with many publications whose work appears on The Betsy Poetry Rail.
The Betsy Hotel’s 2024 Community Partners for the Overture to Overtown Jazz Series
Project co-producer Carole Ann Taylor, The Betsy Community Fund @ The Miami Foundation, PG Family Foundation, The Betsy Writers Room, LT Steak and Seafood, WDNA Jazz Radio, Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, Ocean Drive Association, City of Miami Beach, Miami Beach Classical Music Festival, Iris Photo Collective, FIU Miami Beach Urban Studios, Wolfsonian Public Humanities Lab and the Jorge M. Perez Family Foundation CreARTE program.