The Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series will return to Fort Mose Historic State Park, the site of the first legally sanctioned free African settlement in what is now the United States, from February 8-17, 2023. The third installment of the series will comprise five unforgettable performances by some of the most recognized jazz, blues, R&B, and soul artists in the industry.
In a continued effort to honor the history and historical significance of the site, the Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series 2023 will welcome multi-Grammy Award-winner, rapper, actor, ... view more »
The Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series will return to Fort Mose Historic State Park, the site of the first legally sanctioned free African settlement in what is now the United States, from February 8-17, 2023. The third installment of the series will comprise five unforgettable performances by some of the most recognized jazz, blues, R&B, and soul artists in the industry.
In a continued effort to honor the history and historical significance of the site, the Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series 2023 will welcome multi-Grammy Award-winner, rapper, actor, and writer Common, New Orleans-based Preservation Hall Jazz Band, the Lincoln Center Orchestra led by trumpet virtuoso and Grammy winner Wynton Marsalis, the “future of blues” Mississippi-born, and Grammy Award-winning guitarist Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, and multi-Grammy winner and modern master of American roots music, Keb’ Mo.
Tickets for the Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series in February 2023 go on sale Friday, November 4 at 10AM via The St. Augustine Amphitheatre Box Office, online at Ticketmaster.com and DiscoverFortMose.com.
In its inaugural year in 2022, the Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series set a high bar, garnering overwhelming praise for its powerful performances in a unique setting. Attracting over 3,000 attendees, the series featured a lineup of acclaimed artists such as Gregory Porter, The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra, and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue. Building on this success, the 2023 series elevated the experience by welcoming over 4,200 attendees and a star-studded roster, including Gladys Knight, Mavis Staples, and Rhiannon Giddens, among others.
Over these two years, the Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series has not only celebrated musical excellence but also focused on bringing awareness to the historic site and supporting the Fort Mose Historical Society in its goal to reconstruct a representation of Fort Mose. This goal, pursued since the mid-1990s, is closer to realization. With the backing of the Florida State Parks Foundation, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Recreation and Parks, and other generous donors, groundbreaking for the 1738 Fort Mose reconstruction project is set to begin in early 2024. In total, the Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series has raised over $97,000 in support of Fort Mose Historical Society’s ongoing efforts.
Fort Mose is the site of the first legally sanctioned free African settlement in what is now the United States. In 1738, an estimated 100 Africans made Fort Mose their home and sanctuary in seeking liberation from English enslavement amidst a large-scale power struggle between European powers in the New World. Pulling from Native American, Spanish and English cultural customs, the founding residents of Fort Mose created a new cultural community. In 1994, Fort Mose was designated a Historic National Landmark.
CONCERT SCHEDULE:
Common: Thursday, February 8
Preservation Hall Jazz Band: Friday, February 9
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis: Saturday, February 10
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram with special guest Taj Farrant: Friday, February 16
Keb’ Mo: Saturday, February 17
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