Gorgeous weather, beautiful people, good food and great music all describe this year’s 6th Annual Jazz in the Gardens held in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Hosted by the bad boy of radio and Miami resident, Michael Baisden, day one of the two-day music festival featured Lalah Hathaway, Al Jarreau, Charlie Wilson, Heads of State and Lauryn Hill. There were an estimated 50,000 people in attendance at the Sun Life Stadium to sing along and dance to tunes from some of their favorite old school artists.
Jazz in the Gardens started out with a few unfamiliar opening acts. Prince Markie D of the Fat Boys introduced the artists and got the crowd hyped. The energy was electric. Everyone was excited to see Lalah Hathaway step onto the stage and belt out her hits with her dad’s, Donny Hathaway, soulful sound that only she can bring. Following Hathaway, jazz legend Al Jarreau took over the stage and rocked the crowd with his eclectic performance.
The act that everyone was waiting for, Heads of State, comprised of R&B artists Johnny Gill, Ralph Tresvant and Bobby Brown, made their way to the stage around 7:30 p.m. Even after almost 30 years in the business, these gentlemen know how to work the crowd and the stage. Singing hit after hit, from “Roni” to “My, My, My,” “Sensitivity” and even “Mr. Telephone Man,” their performance was reminiscent of the days when New Edition ruled the charts. As this writer witnessed men, women and children sing the words to all of the songs, it reminded me of how much people really loved New Edition.
I was convinced that Heads of State had put on the best show of all the artists that performed until Charlie Wilson’s set. If you haven’t seen “Uncle Charlie” live, then you’re depriving yourself of a wonderful experience. Wilson is one of the most talented, gifted and incredible R&B artists of all time and his show is exciting.
Finally, after being an hour late for her set, Lauryn Hill performed. I wasn’t sure what to think of Hill prior to seeing her, because she hasn’t come out with an album in years. Not to mention the fact that she’s formed quite a reputation for being late and difficult to deal with. And after seeing her, I’m still perplexed. Her show gets a score of “OK,” because she still doesn’t seem to have it all together.
All in all, the first day of Jazz in the Gardens was a lovely experience and I can’t wait for day two. –christa e. jackson
