For him, it’s a rhythmic alternate steeped in melodies and beats that bounce off his viewers and displays again on his soul.
“It’s extremely religious,” he says.
Of course, those that hear are an important a part of the method.
“I wish to take them someplace else for some time, and that is what I like to do.”
The Harlem-based, internationally acknowledged pianist plans to proceed his mission by bringing his musical magic to the Betsy Hotel’s Eleventh annual Overture to Overtown Jazz Festival in April.
Mixon, who’s serving because the Betsy Hotel’s artist-in-residence, appears to be like ahead to the occasion.
“I really feel blessed. And this will likely be my third time, so no matter I did the primary time is working,” says Mixon. “I’m going to convey my greatest.”
Danny Mixon is the Betsy’s artist-in-residence for the 2023 Overture to Overtown Jazz Festival.
The Betsy Hotel photograph
This yr the pageant will function a whole community of gifted artists who will carry out at taking part venues, together with Lummus Park in Miami Beach, Hampton Art Lovers’ Ward Rooming House in Overtown, Barry University in Miami Shores, and the Betsy Hotel Lobby Salon.
Carole Ann Taylor, a jazz vocalist and the pageant’s coproducer, says the occasion has grown up to now decade.
“Every yr, we have expanded increasingly,” she says.
Taylor performs with Mixon and his trio, together with vocalist Kayla Nicole, on Friday, April 21, on the Hampton Art Lovers’ Historic Ward Rooming House, 249 NW Ninth St., in Overtown. On Saturday, they will carry out collectively within the Lobby Salon of the Betsy Hotel.
“This yr, we are literally having a efficiency every day. We’re additionally together with different places, particularly in Overtown, which is named the ‘Harlem of the South,'” says Taylor. “And we’re excited to work with a few venues in Overtown that will likely be included in our itinerary for the primary time. We’re simply joyous in regards to the fabulous musicians that will likely be performing every day.”
Following a month-long tribute, the pageant will wrap up with the Betsy’s worldwide jazz day applications on April 30. Tal Cohen, an everyday on the Betsy and an Australian-Israeli pianist with Miami as his base, will kick off the finale contained in the Betsy at 11 a.m. Spoken phrase artist Rebecca “Butterfly” Vaughns opens for the Melton Mustafa Jr. Quartet on the Ocean Drive Promenade in entrance of the resort at 7 p.m., offered in partnership with town of Miami Beach and the Ocean Drive Association. The Edgar Pantoja Latin Jazz Trio rounds out the actions by enjoying till 11 p.m.
Jazz singer Carole Ann Taylor is in her third yr as coproducer of the Betsy’s Overture to Overtown Festival.
The Betsy Hotel photograph
“It is, what I’d name, a communion between Miami Beach and Overtown and the connections that they’ve had up to now with jazz musicians,” says Taylor.
In truth, it’s the examination of the musical roots of this style, coupled with a more in-depth take a look at its native taste, that has helped to launch their occasion.
Deborah Briggs, the resort’s vice chairman of arts and group, and Jonathan Plutzik, who owns and operates the Betsy Hotel, recall the way it all started.
“Jonathan and I took a tour of Overtown about ten years in the past with some people that have been desirous to convey consideration to the jazz historical past in Overtown,” says Briggs. “It was then that I actually discovered in regards to the wealthy historical past of Overtown because it pertains to jazz.”
She recollects that the resort had already begun its jazz program. “So that first yr, we introduced in singers from Overtown. And three of them got here in and stayed on the Betsy. We invited all kinds of scholars within the jazz applications on the schools as a result of we wished to rejoice their tales and allow them to carry out.”
Organizers additionally acknowledge how a lot Overtown has cemented its position in historical past because it was a well known refuge for artists like Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne, and Josephine Baker. At the time, Black musicians and artists have been affected by segregation legal guidelines that made it unlawful for them to stay on Miami Beach after their performances.
Spoken-word artist Rebecca “Butterfly” Vaughns opens for the Melton Mustafa Jr. Quartet for the finale on Sunday, April 30.
The Betsy Hotel photograph
“It was a gorgeous historical past between the communities of Miami Beach and Overtown, however there have been some realities as to why Overtown happened as a result of Black musicians could not sleep in Miami Beach,” mentioned Briggs. “So we wished to revisit it in a constructive manner.”
Their efforts haven’t been in useless.
“It has grown up to now ten years from 5 performances to what it’s this yr, which is 48 performances, most of them on Miami Beach, however a few of them in Overtown. And we’re sharing musicians forwards and backwards,” says Briggs. “We’re revisiting that legacy and celebrating it.”
Mixon believes that the style’s cultural and historic components ought to be handed on to future generations.
“The United States of America must embrace this music and put it on the market for our kids,” says Mixon. “Our kids must learn about Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie, Frank Foster, and the massive bands: Art Blakely and the Jazz Messengers and Louis Armstrong. It’s very, crucial that kids know the historical past of this music. They do not must be a musician, however they should know that this music was born within the United States and that that is our music.”
Plutzik believes that the pageant performs a component in passing on that custom. He has seen firsthand the way it has affected those that simply occur to be within the rapid space.
“What I actually enjoy is watching the individuals who uncover the live performance by strolling by,” says Plutzik. “And to see these younger folks of all ages and all colours stopping and out of the blue spending 45 minutes listening to folks that if they’d seen on a program, I’m undecided they’d have mentioned, ‘Yeah, I would go to that live performance.’ Our hope is that folks are available and uncover it.”
Visual arts are a part of the multidisciplinary facet of the Betsy’s Eleventh-annual Overture to Overtown. The Betsy Orb, a piece of public artwork put in within the passageway between Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue, will show a projection curated by Miami’s collaboARTive. Art on the Betsy Orb will function a visible montage of historic pictures and pictures of paintings by Overtown artists of as we speak on Thursday, April 20, from 7 to 11 p.m.
– Sergy Odiduro, ArtburstMiami.com
Overture to Overtown Jazz Festival. Through April 30, at varied places, together with the Betsy Hotel, 1440 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach; thebetsyhotel.com. Admission is free.