Jazz to Junkanoo

Drawing the Line from Rake-and-Scrape, through Junkanoo, to American Jazz

An evening of music, memory, movement and the enduring bond between The Bahamas and Miami.

Before Miami became a city of towers and bright lights, there were Bahamian hands building its foundations, Bahamian voices filling its churches, and Bahamian families planting roots in the soil of Coconut Grove.

Across the Gulf Stream came more than people. They carried their faith, their craftsmanship, their stories and their music. The heartbeat of the goombay drum, the ringing of the cowbell, the rhythm of Rake-and-Scrape, and the joyful spirit of Junkanoo became part of the cultural fabric of a growing city.

Jazz to Junkanoo invites us to hear that history.

The evening begins with the ancient call of the conch shell, summoning us to gather, remember and celebrate. An original musical invocation gives way to a powerful Junkanoo Praise Rush, as the Bahamas National Junkanoo Unity Ensemble brings the living rhythms of The Bahamas into the heart of Little Bahamas.

Act I — Cornerstone honors the Bahamian people who helped build Miami. Through Dr. Russ Spiegel's original compositions, jazz performance and A'Keitha Carey's interpretive dance, we remember the journeys, sacrifices and enduring contributions of the families who laid the foundations of Coconut Grove.

Act II — Sloop Songs | The Crossing takes us across the waters that have connected our shores for generations. From the familiar melodies of Sloop John B. to the unmistakable rhythms of Rake-and-Scrape, the music recalls the vessels, voices and traditions that traveled between the islands and the Florida coast.

Act III — Legacy | From Junkanoo to Jazz celebrates what these traditions continue to inspire. Brass, percussion, blues, island rhythms and jazz improvisation come together in a musical conversation that honors their distinct origins while revealing the connections between them. The evening builds toward a joyful finale, uniting Dr. Russ Spiegel and the Bahamas National Junkanoo Unity Ensemble in a celebration of our shared history and enduring friendship.

This is more than a concert. It is an invitation to remember those who came before us, to recognize the local Little Bahamas' Bahamian founding families and their descendants, and to ensure that their stories, music and traditions continue to live in the community they helped build.

Two shores. Generations of history. One enduring connection.

Join us as we celebrate the people, music and living heritage that connect The Bahamas and Miami.

Provisional Program Order

1. Conch Call
2. Official Welcome & Opening Remarks — Albert Gomez
3. Distinguished Addresses — Government Officials
4. Historical Reflection — Dr. Rebecca Friedman, FIU Public Humanities Lab
5. Invocation — Original Composition by Dr. Russ Spiegel, performed by the Bahamas National Junkanoo Unity Ensemble
6. Second Conch Call
7. Junkanoo Praise Rush — Bahamas National Junkanoo Unity Ensemble, inspired by the Invocation

The Bahamian Foundation of Miami

1. Spoken Introduction: The Miami–Bahamas Connection — Special Guest
2. Coconut Grove — Dr. Russ Spiegel & Band
3. The Crossing Within: Memory in Motion — A'Keitha Carey | Original Choreography & Interpretive Performance

Across the Gulf Stream

1. Spoken Introduction: Sloop Songs
2. Sloop John B. — Bahamas National Junkanoo Unity Ensemble
3. Rake-and-Scrape Performance — Guest Bahamian Band
4. Island Fish Fry — Dr. Russ Spiegel & Band

The Music Lives On

1. Spoken Reflection: The Future of the Miami–Bahamas Connection
2. Finale Introduction: Obeah da Bahama Blue Medley — Dr. Russ Spiegel & Band
3. Grand Finale — Dr. Russ Spiegel & the Bahamas National Junkanoo Unity Ensemble

Program order and participating artists are subject to change.

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Should you need an ADA accommodation to participate in a University event, program, or activity or need to request materials in an accessible format, please contact FIU’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) at 305-348-2785 or [email protected]. All requests for ADA accommodation or accessible materials for this event must be submitted to OCR at least seven (7) business days prior to the event or at the earliest possible opportunity.

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