Jazz Event: Josephine Baker Homage w/ Nicole Yarling & Jim Gasior Trio

The Betsy Live Jazz is the longest-running live music series on Miami Beach - 7 days a week, 9 times a week. No Cover. No Minimum. Come at your leisure for drinks in the Lobby or call LT Steak & Seafood to book a table for dinner.

Jim Gasior plays 6PM to 11PM, Nicole performs 8PM to 11PM.

Josephine Baker Homage is 8PM to 9:30PM

In two words, Josephine Baker was a trailblazer and a rule breaker! She was a fabulous dancer playing with the norms or “codes” of her time to make her own, a wonderful singer with a timeless performances in many languages including French, Spanish, Portuguese and even Yiddish, the first black actress to star as the main character in major motion pictures, a great humanist, a War hero, and a Civil rights fighter … (in 1951) she was credited with desegregating audiences on Miami Beach.

JOSEPHINE BAKER … will forever be THE first black international star! During her 50-year-career, she never hesitated to reinvent herself. In France, then in the United-States, she used her fame and her talents to support great humanist causes: giving food and resources to the poor in the 30s, helping war refugees and saving Jews during WWII, raising fund for the Resistance, supporting the French troops and the Allies – mostly with her own money-, influencing foreign leaders to help the General de Gaulle in the process of becoming the future Leader of Free France, and while in the United States, by supporting the Civil rights activists. One of the pinnacles of her advocacy for equality – and the most recorded- was at the March on Washington in 1963, where she addressed the quarter million persons present on the National Mall, just before the famous speech of Martin Luther King Jr. She gave her speech in her French military uniform, a strong symbol of her fight against discrimination, while stating that it was the “best day of her life” and a day that she waited for so long. Josephine Baker is remembered on Miami Beach for refusing to perform at the COPA if black audiences could not attend; as this was during the time of Jim Crow when black artists were permitted to perform, but only for white audiences. (FIU, 2021)

JIM GASIOR is a titanic figure in Miami jazz. Gasior has performed with Ricky Martin, Kelly Clarkson, Alih Jey, Chayanne, Little Richard, Michael Bolton, Jose Feliciano, Smokey Robinson, Benny Golson, Slide Hampton, Freddie Hubbard, Terell Stafford, Patti Austin, John Fedchock, Duffy Jackson, Jason Marsalis, Donald Harrison, Robin Eubanks, Jeremy Pelt, Jay Leonhart and the Jaco Pastorius Reunion Big Band. Jim holds a Bachelor’s degree in Studio Music and Jazz Performance, and a Master’s degree in Jazz Pedagogy - both from the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, where he is in the final stages of his Doctorate in Jazz.

NICOLE YARLING – Vocals and Violin - Nicole is a rich velvet voice with technical skill and personality to boot! She is a star in the jazz community who, like many others, has been at it for years. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, a musical household laid the groundwork for Nicole's career. She is an Assistant Professor of Music at Florida Memorial University and a lecturer at Frost School of Music, a protégé of the late Joe Williams, and she is also a gifted violinist, educator, and mentor to countless admirers. @knickee1

Community partners: The Betsy Hotel, PG Family Foundation, The Betsy Community Fund, CreARTE/Perez Foundation,FIU Wolfsonian Public Humanities, City of Miami Beach, Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Join us in The Piano Bar for drinks and appetizers, and/or make reservations for dinner at

The Betsy Hotel is a family-owned and operated luxury resort hotel located at1440 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139. For more information visit www.thebetsyhotel.com or call 305-760-6900

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