Gold Coast Jazz Society Is At It Again: Celebrating The Art Form Of Classical Jazz And The Great American Songbook

September 15, 2022

Thirty years ago, Frederick G. Ruffner, Jr. had a vision to bring more jazz to the “Gold Coast” area of South Florida. In 1992, Fred and a group of avid Jazz buffs made this vision a reality by forming a Non-Profit Organization called the Gold Coast Jazz Society. Over the years following its formation, the society developed a concert series, which was presented in the main dining room of the historic Riverside Hotel, located on the famous Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. As the concert series continued to grow and expand, a larger venue was required and eventually moved to the Amaturo Theater at The Broward Center For The Performing Arts. Today, the Seven-Concert Jazz Series continues to be presented each year from November through May.

The 2022-2023 musicians promise to enchant and uplift with a fabulous array of incredible, classical Jazz that is innovative and creative; some straight-ahead, some variations of old favorites and some modern interpretations, conducted by a cast of international artists and outstanding local musicians. Tickets are on sale now so it’s time to plan your Concert Season with the Gold Coast Jazz Society.

Wednesday, November 9th, 2022
Chuchito Valdés Quartet "88 Keys of Latin Jazz." We missed him last season, so we asked him back! Following in the footsteps of his famed father Chucho Valdés and grandfather Bebo Valdés, Chuchito Valdés continues the legacy of great piano players from Cuba. With influences of Caribbean Rhythms and Jazz, Valdés III creates an exciting and energetic blend of spicy music.

Wednesday, December 7th, 2022
Emmet Cohen, Piano; Russel Hall, Bass; Kyle Poole, Drums - "Thirty years old and one of the finest piano players to emerge in decades,” says Zachary Weg/All About Jazz. Emmet Cohen, a Jazz sensation, with over 70K subscribers and followers on YouTube and Facebook. He has accompanied numerous Jazz luminaries and plays with the command of a seasoned veteran. His trio is one of the hottest young trios in Jazz today and melds all styles of Jazz, Stride, Swing, Bebop, Free and Contemporary with an emphasis on the Great American Songbook. For more information, go to http://emmetcohen.com.

Wednesday, January 18th, 2023
"The Best of Broadway" - The Shelly Berg Trio is always a favorite with the listeners. A Steinway Piano Artist and Five-Time Grammy-Nominated Arranger, Orchestrator and Producer, Shelly Berg carries numerous recordings to his credit, this Dean of the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music. The All Music Guide says that Shelly “is one of the finest pianists around in the Early 21st Century playing Modern Mainstream Jazz.

Wednesday, February 8th, 2023
"An Evening with the Delfeayo Marsalis Quintet" - “Delfeayo is, in many ways, the most fun of the Marsalises. He’s the family Trombonist and Record Producer and he seems to be the family wise guy too,” says The Buffalo News, Marsalis has toured internationally with Jazz Legends such as Ray Charles, Art Blakey, Max Roach, Elvin Jones and Slide Hampton, as well as leading his own groups. As an acclaimed Trombonist, Composer and Producer, he has also dedicated his prolific career to music theater and education. Back by popular demand. Don’t miss him!

Wednesday, March 8th, 2023
Stacey Kent Trio “Songs From Other Places” - Vocalist Stacey Kent has “charm to burn, a smile that could give you hope in February and sings like nobody's business,” says the Wall Street Journal. Billboard calls her "Thoroughly captivating... (Kent's) voice has a startling clarity, turning phrase-after-phrase with subtlety and an impeccable feel for the music.” Her albums have sold over 2 million copies and have been Number 1 on the Jazz Charts.

Wednesday, April 12th, 2023
Jeff Hamilton Trio "Rim Shots" - Jazz Journal International says Hamilton is “a most driving, technically accomplished Drummer” and the Denver Post cheers that “he brought the crowd to its feet.” Jeff Hamilton/Drums Tamir Hendelman/Piano and Jon Hamar/Bassist comprise the Jeff Hamilton Trio whose recordings have received numerous awards. Hamilton has recorded and performed with Diana Krall, Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown and countless others.

Wednesday, May 10th, 2023
Frank Derrick Big Band "Count Basie Tribute" - Drummer, Frank Derrick, has led a multifaceted national and international music career. He is a Virtuoso Performer, Composer and Educator. Derrick toured worldwide for ten years with Cab Calloway, he has performed with numerous Legends and Artists and was the Drummer for “The David Letterman Show” on NBC.

The Gold Coast Jazz Society is a Non-Profit Organization that is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Jazz Music through a mainstage concert series, free community concerts, educational programs, a Jazz Scholarship program and musical services provided by the Gold Coast Jazz Society Band. For more information go to www.goldcoastjazz.org

The Jazz Concert series includes seven concerts. Full season subscriptions are available for $280 (Member Price) - $315 per person and Jazz Trio subscriptions (3 concerts of your choice) are available for $129 (Member price) - $150. If you become a member of Gold Coast Jazz, you’ll get the significant discount on a full subscription or Jazz Trio subscription. Single tickets for each concert are now available for $65 plus applicable fees and can be purchased online at: www.browardcenter.org Or through Ticketmaster at: (954) 462-0222. For subscription information and to become a member, go to: www.goldcoastjazz.org Student and teacher tickets are $15 with a valid ID. A discount for groups of ten or more is also available.

All concerts will be presented at the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 Southwest 5th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33312 and begin at 7:45pm.