Festival goers react from their seats during Jazz in the Gardens at Hard Rock Stadium Arena in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Saturday, March 9, 2024.
D.A. Varela
dvarela@miamiherald.com
The 2024 Jazz in the Gardens bet heavy that this year’s lineup would attract more people.
With hip-hop heavyweights like Jeezy, Lil Kim and Scarface, R&B stars like Maxwell, Summer Walker and Jazmine Sullivan as well as a sprinkle of gospel and Afrobeats thanks to Kirk Franklin and Davido respectively, the 17th annual JITG was one of the best yet. The numbers certainly bear that out too: about 30,000 people attended the festival, roughy double that of last year.
“That’s really what Black culture is about: family, togetherness,” Black Promoters Collective CEO Gary Guidry told The Miami Herald. “We’re the kings and queens of backyard barbecues – that is multi-generational loving on each other. You got to give a platform for people to party together and love on each other and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
And that’s exactly what happened. Franklin stepped into the crowd and had the whole audience turning up for Jesus. Jeezy did for it the trappers and the the the block. Sullivan had men and women picking up their feelings.
If you missed out, have no fear — JITG will be back next year. In the meantime, checkout a few flicks from the show.
North Carolina native Trudie Bennett, 59, dances to the music as she celebrates her birthday during Jazz in the Gardens at Hard Rock Stadium Arena in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Saturday, March 9, 2024. D.A. Varela dvarela@miamiherald.com
Festival goers listen to live music from their seats during Jazz in the Gardens at Hard Rock Stadium Arena in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Saturday, March 9, 2024. D.A. Varela dvarela@miamiherald.com
Andrea Nicoleau-Register, 37, right, and Courtney Johnson, 30, left, dance to the music during Jazz in the Gardens at Hard Rock Stadium Arena in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Saturday, March 9, 2024. D.A. Varela dvarela@miamiherald.com
Festival goers watch the performances during Jazz in the Gardens at Hard Rock Stadium Arena in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Saturday, March 9, 2024. D.A. Varela dvarela@miamiherald.com
Musical artist Trick Daddy, center, is honored with the key to the city alongside Mayor Rodney Harris, far left, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, second from left, Commoner Chair Oliver G. Gilbert, III, third from right, Jazz in the Gardens at Hard Rock Stadium Arena in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Saturday, March 9, 2024. D.A. Varela dvarela@miamiherald.com
American singer Jaheim performs during Jazz in the Gardens at Hard Rock Stadium Arena in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Saturday, March 9, 2024. D.A. Varela dvarela@miamiherald.com
Festival goers Otilia Fritz, Islande Youth and Danielle Fleurme take a selfie during Jazz in the Gardens at Hard Rock Stadium Arena in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Saturday, March 9, 2024. D.A. Varela dvarela@miamiherald.com
People order plates of jambalaya and Caribbean seafood broil during Jazz in the Gardens on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com
Babyface performs during Jazz in the Gardens on Sunday, March 10, 2024 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com
Marsha Ambrosius performs during Jazz in the Gardens on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com
Tamia performs during Jazz in the Gardens on Sunday, March 10, 2024 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com
Scarface performs during sunset at Jazz in the Gardens on Sunday, March 10, 2024 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com
Jeezy performs during Jazz in the Gardens on Sunday, March 10, 2024 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com
Jeezy performs during Jazz in the Gardens on Sunday, March 10, 2024 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com
C. Isaiah Smalls II is a sports and culture writer who covers the Miami Dolphins. In his previous capacity at the Miami Herald, he was the race and culture reporter who created The 44 Percent, a newsletter dedicated to the Black men who voted to incorporate the city of Miami. A graduate of both Morehouse College and Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, Smalls previously worked for ESPN’s Andscape.
