What is Jazz in the Gardens?
Is their anything better than a little weekend getaway to Miami? If there is I don’t want to hear anything about it. I went to Jazz in the Garden Music Festival, in Miami Gardens, Florida this month and it was nothing short of amazing like usual. My mother had been a couple of years ago and saw Earth, Wind, & Fire. One of the best, muscle groups of all time. After my grandfather’s death last January, I knew it would be a great chance to connect and let loose.Grown & Sexy Crowd
The “Grown and Sexy” crowd is code for 30 and up in age. I will be their very soon in fact. Trust and believe older people have the most fun. No standing on the walls, staring at each other or mean mugging. It is so refreshing to be around positive people just there to have a good time and listening to amazing music. The music is a gateway to uplift the city as well. The City of Miami Gardens which is a historically African American city 15 minutes outside the city of Miami. The city is building, expanding, and becoming a city to support economic advancement of the residents.
The Line Up: Opening Act
The festival’s doors open at 3:00pm every day and the first acts come out at 5:00pm. The opening acts are great to listen to while you are shopping and enjoying the delicious food vendors. This year was a new element with actual live bands, in between each set of performers. It added a new element of entertainment that I can truly appreciate. So in between the acts Bigg D & Da Band performed, old school songs, as well as other local Florida artists and DJ’s.
First Act: Black Violin
Black Violin is a hip-hop duo who hail from the Miami area. It was very poignant for them to be in their home town. They did a variety of original songs as well as beautiful tribute to hip-hop icon Notorious B.I.G. It happened to be the 22nd anniversary of his death, the first day of the festival. The duo also had positive words for the crowd about not being afraid to defy stereotypes. Which is a big part of their mission as a group to encourage arts and poetry in public schools and see more images of African Americans playing classical instruments. Both musicians met at Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale, FL. They have performed with many artists such as Kanye West, Alicia, Aerosmith and many others. They definitely rocked the crowd and made their set memorable.
Second Act: Stephanie Mills History
Stephanie Mills is a national treasure, and most be protected at all costs. I can not lie, I knew a couple of her songs and knew her history but was not expecting to be on my feet singing along to her songs. She became well known in the early 1970’s appearing in the classic stage production turned movie “The Wiz.” She was just 16 years old playing the role of Dorothy which was famously portrayed by Diana in The Wiz (film) in 1978. Let me tell you, she brought the show “home.” She put on a show that was incredible. My mother was truly so excited to see her and made me more excited. She is truly one of those unsung artists, who’s voice is so incredible she should be more well known.
Stephanie Mills Hits: Power of Love
But something about “I Have Learned to Respect the Power of Love” hit me. The song written by Angela Winbush from Mill’s self titled album in 1986. I think as we get older we appreciate those who are around us and care for us. You loose people close to you and gain new people in your lives. I truly connected to that song and how love comes in all forms. It must be respected in all forms, one of the first being the love you have for yourself. The Power of Love literally brought tears to my eyes. Plus nothing beats an artist that can sing the roof off. She sounds better than the records. So this helps as well. She truly was the shining star of the first night.
Act 3 Teddy Riley & Friends
The next acts were all apart of Teddy Riley & Friends portion of the show. Teddy Riley is a huge Grammy winning, songwriter, composer, and producer. The groups came out pretty consecutively and let the party flow. The Saturday night show, is known to go until after mid-night and be the real party all night crowd.
First Up: Jagged Edge
Jagged Edge started the party. They sang their ballads as well as their uptempo songs. Recently, a friend and I were talking about the lyrics to their R&B hit “Let’s Get Married” from 2000. Which is a song I loved as a kid and still rock to but they lyrics “We ain’t getting no younger, we might as do this.” No thank you, to any gentlemen who is approaching his lady with this, will must likely get a rejection. There is no romance or sense of urgency in this lyric, but a lovely song indeed. Jagged Edge did their thing, and had the crowd grooving.
En Vogue
En Vogue gave us something we can feel. They did many of their early 90’s hits. I remember their iconic videos from my childhood. They are the perfect mix of sexy without being too vulgar. A sentiment that is lost on many of the music of today. The group looked wonderful and their gold and black outfits lit up the stage. They perform as a trio now without original members: Dawn Robinson and Maxine Jones and replaced with singer Rhona Bennett. They performed my favorite song of theirs “My Lovin’ (Never Gonna Get It)” as their opening song and I enjoyed them. They also performed a new song called “Rocket” it sounded wonderful. The ladies are like fine wine, they just get better with time.
Blackstreet
Where can I begin? He is the creator of New Jack Swing, and many of the biggest hits in the 80’s and 90’s with his groups as well as many other hit makers. Teddy Riley is that dude. He really brought out all the group members of all his groups. I truly enjoyed Blackstreet with Dave Hollister. I did not even know the R&B singer was a former member of the group. We were jamming to “No Diggity (No Doubt).”
Guy
Guy performed their hit “Groove Me, “A Piece of my Love” and my Guy favorite “I Like.” I truly think I love that song because it was in one of my favorite movies, Love & Basketball. They did a great job but the set went on until around 11:30. We were still anticipating Bobby Brown and Doug E Fresh.
Cardinal Sin of Concert Watching
We all come to the concert to watch it and enjoy it. People did what I have yet to understand, go home early. Why? Why would you leave a concert you paid good money for early? I get the let out is not fun, but come on, leave before the entire concert is over? It just doesn’t make sense to me. Life is so short, just enjoy!
Final Act: Doug E Fresh
Doug E Fresh closes out the show and boy does he put on a show. I had seen him before at the Funk Fest in Orlando, FL and I knew how he rocked the crowd. He is an unstoppable beatboxing machine. It’s nothing short of amazing in to see a person make every sound possible with their voice. He then played all the old school hits and love songs. It was best ending to a perfect night. I would suggest this show to anyone. It is one of the best concert series around. Part II coming soon.
-Truly Dorcas
