Jazz to Junkanoo is a three-day program led by Albert Gomez and the FIU Public Humanities Lab that explores the enduring relationship between The Bahamas and Miami through music, migration, cultural memory, and community. For more than a century, Bahamian settlers helped shape the foundations of Miami. They built homes, churches, schools, businesses, and civic institutions while bringing with them traditions of craftsmanship, faith, music, food, celebration, and community life that remain deeply embedded in the identity of South Florida.
Little Bahamas in Coconut Grove stands as one of the most important physical and cultural expressions of that history. Yet much of that history has become increasingly threatened by redevelopment, lot splitting, cultural displacement, the loss of original Bahamian clapboard homes and fruiting tree landscapes, and the gradual erosion of the living cultural memory that has defined Little Bahamas for generations.
Jazz to Junkanoo responds by using performance as an act of preservation. Through original composition, historical narration, Junkanoo, Rake-and-Scrape, dance, jazz, youth education, and international collaboration, the program celebrates the Bahamian people who helped found and build Miami while creating new pathways for cultural preservation, education, community advancement, and heritage tourism.
At the center of program is an original musical suite composed and arranged by Russ Spiegel, D.M.A., bringing Bahamian musical traditions into dialogue with gospel, blues, calypso, and American jazz.
Our program begins with a fundraiser on November 12, 2026, at the Sanctuary of the Arts St. Mary Campus (formerly St. Mary’s Missionary Baptist Church). The evening will include performances by FIU Faculty and Student Jazz Musicians, Platinum Knights Junkanoo Group, Creative and Performing Arts School of The Bahamas, Miami Junkanoo Artists and special guest musicians.
On November 13 the program continues at FIU’s Modesto Maidique Campus starting with a Junkanoo Rush across campus. This will be followed by a series of panel discussions held at the Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs. The day concludes with dinner and an encore performance of Russ Spiegel’s original score for Jazz to Junkanoo.
On November 14, we move to the Marshall Davis African Heritage Cultural Arts Center in Liberty City for a pop up exhibition and cultural fair. We will be joined by representatives of organizations that include the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, and the Digital Library of the Caribbean.
Jazz to Junkanoo Partners: Marshall L. Davis Sr. African Heritage Cultural Arts Center, Bahamas Diaspora Association, NABHOOD, Ten North Group, Exceptional Education Outreach Bahamas, Platinum Knights Junkanoo Group.
For information about sponsorship packages, in-kind opportunities, or participating in any way with this program, please contact Aarti Mehta-Kroll, FIU Public Humanities Lab amehtakr@fiu.edu and Albert Gomez, Executive Producer of Jazz to Junkanoo, albert@gravity.miami