Miami Dade College’s Jazz at Wolfson Presents is the only continuously running jazz series in Miami-Dade County, offering a free, year-long jazz concert series to residents, students and music lovers of all ages. The series was founded in 1998 by jazz studies professor Dr. Michael Di Liddo and inspired by MDC's Lunchtime Lively Arts concert series of the 1970s. Running from September through April
, Jazz at Wolfson Presents has featured live performances from world-renowned jazz artists such as bassist and Jazz Humanitarian Award winner Rufus Reid; saxophonist and educator Jamey Aebersold, an inductee into the International Association for Jazz Education's Jazz Hall of Fame; four-time Grammy- nominated guitarist Mike Stern; and saxophonist James Moody, a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master. Additional artists include drummers Nate Smith, Ed Soph, Adam Nussbaum and Danny Gottlieb; violinist Sara Caswell; saxophonists Eric Alexander, Don Braden and Bobby Watson; trumpeters Ira Sullivan, Scott Wendholt, Barry Ries, Terell Stafford and Jim Rotondi; pianists Dan Haerle, Mike Gerber, Andy LaVerne and David Hazeltine; bassists Lynn Seaton and David Friesen; and vocalists Wendy Pedersen and Kate Reid. The series features a range of jazz styles, including swing, hard bop, cool, modern, Latin, fusion and avant-garde. Distinguished members of MDC's jazz music faculty perform with the guest artists. The five-member Jazz Faculty Quintet includes Michael Di Liddo, guitar; Ed Calle, saxophone; Jim Gasior, piano; Rick Doll, bass; and Rodolfo Zúñiga, drums. Voluntarily investing their expertise and inspiration in the present and future cultural life of Miami-Dade County, visiting jazz artists also conduct workshops and master classes for MDC music students. This series is produced by MDC's Wolfson Campus Arts and Philosophy Department, which is responsible for all program logistics. Cultural Grants Program of Miami-Dade County. Concerts are held in the recently renovated, 440-seat Wolfson Auditorium, Suite 1261, in Building 1 at MDC's Wolfson Campus, 300 N.E. Second Ave., Miami. All concerts are free and open to the public. For information, call 305-237-3930 or 305-237-3721.
