Jazz at the Circuit copy

Jazz Appreciation Month

Many of you may not know, but my background and area of study in college was jazz piano. Prior to moving to Broward County, I worked for a jazz arts non-profit organization in St. Louis,…

Phillip Dunlap, Director of Broward Cultural DivisionMany of you may not know, but my background and area of study in college was jazz piano. Prior to moving to Broward County, I worked for a jazz arts non-profit organization in St. Louis, where I played jazz within the community (and around the world), and also taught jazz at area universities. It is certainly something that I miss, but beyond performing on stage, I miss listening to jazz music in a small venue like a jazz club.

From its origins in speakeasies and juke joints, jazz was brought into the concert hall setting by Norman Granz whose Jazz at the Philharmonic series began in 1944. In 1946, Woody Herman performed at the famed Carnegie Hall. Today, jazz can regularly be heard in our community in concert halls, outdoor amphitheaters and other large venues. There are also a handful of local restaurants that present jazz, listening rooms along the lines of Village Vanguard in New York, the Dakota in Minneapolis and Jazz St. Louis in St. Louis.

Grammy Award-nominated jazz saxophonist

April is Jazz Appreciation Month, and to help celebrate, the Cultural Division is partnering with multi-talented jazz artist Nicole Yarling to launch the new concert series, Jazz at The Circuit. Located in the Destination Sistrunk Cultural Center (1033 NW 6th Street) in Fort Lauderdale’s Sistrunk neighborhood, Jazz at The Circuit kicks off with two free sets by GRAMMY Award-nominated jazz saxophonist Marcus Strickland and his quartet on the evening of Friday, April 21. Save your spot here.

We are excited to bring this new jazz listening experience to Fort Lauderdale for the community to enjoy. More concerts for the series are currently being scheduled. 

Jazz at the Circuit identity