Plus Sophye Soliveau, Fay Victor's Herbie Nichols SUNG

This opening night at Winter Jazzfest is more than a show—it’s a collective journey, a celebration of community, healing, and resilience, featuring aja monet, plus Faye Victor and Sophye Soliveau.

The evening kicks off with an unforgettable performance by aja monet, the Grammy-nominated Surrealist Blues Poet whose artistry has been called “spellbinding” and “revolutionary.” Known for her groundbreaking debut album, when the poems do what they do, aja blends poetry and music in a way that transcends traditional boundaries, weaving together raw emotion, history, and deep social consciousness. As NPR describes it, her work is “a blend of blues and resistance,” uniting themes of love, liberation, and the relentless pursuit of joy in the face of adversity.

On the Grammy nominated album, aja collaborates with world-class musicians like Lonnie Holley and Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah to create a soundscape that is both haunting and uplifting. The album explores the ancestral roots of blues and jazz, infused with a modern poetry edge that reaches into the soul of contemporary struggles and resilience. Okayplayer praised her poetry for its ability to “draw you into a place of profound empathy and connection,” while the LA Times recognized her as an artist whose words “pulse with the rhythm of resilience.”

But beyond the album, it’s aja’s live performances that truly leave an indelible mark. Her shows are immersive, communal experiences where every poem is a call to belonging, solidarity, and transformation. Audiences have been deeply moved by her ability to create an inclusive, intimate space; as one attendee noted, “you belong here too.”  Joined by Marcus Strickland on alto sax, Javier Santiago on piano, Ben Williams on bass, and Justin Brown on drums, aja monet invites you to “lean in” and feel the power of art to soothe and ignite the spirit.

Sophye Soliveau is a singer, harpist, and choir conductor with a deep-rooted passion for African-American music, spanning R&B, soul, and gospel. Her classical training shapes a unique sound where creative improvisation meets a pursuit of healing and freedom.

Singer-soundartist-lyricist-bandleader Fay Victor performs Herbie Nichols SUNG — a loving celebration of jazz composer Herbie Nichols' rich legacy & powerful work. Victor's innovative arrangements are brought to vibrant life by a gifted quintet of veteran jazz artists Michaël Attias, Anthony Coleman, Ratzo Harris, and Tom Rainey.

6:30 PM: Doors

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