13th Annual Jazz In The Garden

Jazz In The Garden Brought In It's 13th Annual Music Fest To Miami Gardens, Florida. Once More Having Great Performers Such As; Anita Baker, Chaka Khan, Smokey Robinson, Fantasia, Joe, Salt-N-Pepa, Kid 'N Play & Many More.

Journalist: Mark Simmonds | Photographer: Johnny Jules

MARCH 17 - 18, 2018 | AUTHOR: MARK SIMMONDS |

13th Annual Jazz In The Gardens: Review

It was an average 80 degree high in Miami Gardens this weekend and the self-proclaimed Mayor of Miami, Trick Daddy, told the crowd “Welcome to Paradise” as he shut down the 13th annual Jazz in The Gardens Music Festival. Welcome to Miami is the name of Trick Daddy’s new single that features the Queen of Miami, Trina. The 13th annual Jazz in the Gardens music festival headliners included Chaka Khan, Smokey Robinson, Fantasia, Anita Baker and The “I Love the 90’s” tribute that highlighted the All-Star line up of Kid N Play, Biz Markie, Salt-N-Pepa and Miami’s own Trick Daddy and Trina.

Jazz in the Garden is a two-day event that features various genres’ of music such as jazz, funk and R&B. Radio personality Rickey Smiley hosted this years’ event at the Hard Rock Stadium. Other key acts included: Trombone Shorty, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Pieces of a Dream, Walter Beasley, Joe and Avery Sunshine. R&B legend Anita Baker announced to the 65,000 plus crowd this was going to be her farewell concert tour. The Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter also mentioned she is 60 years young so she plans to retire after her three-decade career. She blessed the crowd with classic hits such as Giving You the Best That I Got, Sweet Love and Just Because.

Motown legend Smokey Robinson performed his classic hits such as Tears of a Clown, The Tracks of My Tears, I Second That Emotion and You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me.” If you missed this living legend perform, you missed a treat. The crowd, especially the ladies went absolutely crazy for Smokey as he showed off his dance moves. The dude’s still “Got it.”

My favorite performance of the weekend was Fantasia! The R&B singer blessed the crowd with gospel and her classic hits Bittersweet, I Believe, Truth Is, When I See U, Free Yourself and Baby Mama.

Chaka Khan struggled to move the late night crowd, but gave us her Grammy Award winning hits Disrespectful, What’s Going On, The Woman I Am, I’ll Be Good to You, Tell Me Something Good and I Feel for You.

I have to include the Jazz Legend Trombone Shorty, the New Orleans musician entertained the crowd with sounds from the Big Easy. If you are not familiar with his music download these titles For True, Say That to Say This and Parking Lot Symphony. Trombone Shorty is Jazz!

The 2018 Jazz in the Garden Music Festival was Amazing to say the least. Food, friends and entertainment made for an absolute remarkable weekend. I am already anticipating 2019!