Two Grammy-Recognized Artists, One Evening of Latin Jazz
Wednesday, October 21, 2026 | 8 PM
Sammy Figueroa
& Aymée Nuviola
A Celebration of Latin Jazz
at
Faena Theater
3201 Collins Avenue • Miami Beach, FL 33140
Box Office: (786) 655-6500
Faena Live continues its 9th Annual Faena Jazz Series on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, with A Celebration of Latin Jazz featuring Grammy-winning Cuban vocalist Aymée Nuviola and multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy nominated percussionist Sammy Figueroa at the intimate Faena Theater in Miami Beach. The evening brings together two internationally recognized artists for a program celebrating the musical connections among Miami, New York, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. The audience will enjoy a tour of Latin jazz featuring compositions by Mongo Santamaria, Dizzy Gillespie, Michel Camilo, and others. The program will be performed by some of the finest musicians in jazz today.
The concert opens with Sammy Figueroa & His Latin Jazz Explosion, the twice Grammy-nominated ensemble led by the Bronx-born, Puerto Rico-raised percussionist. A longtime presence in both jazz and Latin music, Figueroa has built an extensive career performing and recording with internationally recognized musicians, including Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, and Herbie Mann.
After establishing himself as a leading percussionist in New York, Figueroa relocated to South Florida in 2001, where he found a thriving community of Latin jazz musicians representing Cuba, Venezuela, Brazil, Colombia, and other countries. That environment helped inspire the formation of his Latin Jazz Explosion, an ensemble combining Afro-Caribbean rhythms, jazz improvisation, and original compositions.
Figueroa's recordings ...And Sammy Walked In and The Magician both received Grammy nominations for Best Latin Jazz Album. His career also includes international touring with saxophonist Sonny Rollins and years of work as a recording and performing percussionist. South Florida listeners also know him as the host of Social Music with Sammy Figueroa on Miami's WDNA 88.9 FM.
Aymée Nuviola, known internationally as La Sonera del Mundo, brings a musical background deeply rooted in Cuban traditions, including son, bolero, and the expressive vocal style known as filin. Born in Havana and trained as a classical pianist, composer, and vocalist, Nuviola has developed a career incorporating traditional Cuban music, Latin jazz, salsa, and contemporary musical influences.
Her recording achievements include the Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Album for A Journey Through Cuban Music and Latin Grammy recognition for her recordings. She has also collaborated extensively with acclaimed Cuban jazz pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba, including their Grammy-nominated recording Viento y Tiempo — Live at Blue Note Tokyo.
Following the opening set by the Latin Jazz Explosion, Nuviola and Figueroa will join forces to perform selections from their Latin Grammy-nominated album Searching for a Memory (Busco Tu Recuerdo). Released in 2023, the recording pays tribute to the music of Figueroa's father, Puerto Rican singer Charlie Figueroa, whose interpretations of boleros helped establish his musical legacy.
The album reimagines those classic songs through contemporary Latin jazz arrangements, incorporating elements of Cuban son, samba, cha-cha-chá, plena, bomba, and danzón. The recording features Nuviola alongside pianist and musical director Gonzalo Rubalcaba, with contributions from internationally recognized jazz musicians including Miguel Zenón and John Daversa. The project received a 2024 Latin Grammy nomination for Best Jazz/Latin Jazz Album.
The October 21 concert brings this collaboration to the stage, connecting the music of an earlier generation with the improvisational approaches and rhythmic traditions of contemporary Latin jazz.
As the second presentation of the 2026–2027 Faena Jazz Series, A Celebration of Latin Jazz highlights the musical traditions and artistic relationships linking South Florida with the broader Caribbean and international jazz communities. The performance offers Miami Beach audiences an opportunity to hear two established artists whose careers reflect the continuing influence of Cuban and Puerto Rican music on jazz.
Curated and produced by Grammy-nominated producer Rachel Faro, the ninth annual Faena Jazz Series continues through June 2027, presenting internationally recognized jazz artists at the Faena Theater
Featured Artists & Band:
Sammy Figueroa: Percussion
Aymée Nuviola: Vocals
The Latin Jazz Explosion:
Bill O'Connell: Piano
Agustin Conti: Bass
Ludwig Afonso: Drums
Felipe Lamoglia: Saxophone
Cisco Dimas: Trumpet.
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES - 2026–2027 SEASON
Wednesday, November 25, 2026: Reginald Policard with Special Guest Jean Caze
Pianist and composer Reginald Policard is a representative of modern Haitian jazz. The leader and founder of Haiti’s Caribbean Sextet, Policard has released 17 solo albums. Joining him is Haitian American trumpeter Jean Caze, who has performed with Herbie Hancock, Al Jarreau, Roy Hargrove, Arturo Sandoval, and George Duke. Caze has also toured worldwide with Michael Bublé as a featured soloist. His music blends Haitian heritage with American jazz influences.
Wednesday, December 9, 2026: Etienne Charles presents A Creole Christmas
Trinidadian trumpeter, percussionist, and composer Etienne Charles returns to Faena Theater with A Creole Christmas. Charles and his band Creole Soul will reimagine traditional selections from Caribbean, American, and European holiday songbooks. The program includes holiday favorites, Venezuelan parang, regional seasonal songs, American gospel, and variations on selections from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite.
Thursday, January 14, 2027: Bebel Gilberto
In collaboration with the South Beach Jazz Festival. Ticket Information.
Bebel Gilberto combines bossa nova with contemporary electronic sounds. The daughter of João Gilberto and singer Miúcha, and niece of Chico Buarque, she has developed a career through her original compositions and performances. Gilberto will appear solo in a first-time collaboration with the Faena Jazz Series. Her performance will also serve as the debut concert for the South Beach Jazz Festival.
Wednesday, February 24, 2027: Nicole Zuraitis
The Faena Jazz Series welcomes back Grammy-winning vocalist Nicole Zuraitis. Since her February 2024 appearance at Faena Theater, she has received two Grammy Awards and appeared at the Newport Jazz Festival, Melbourne International Jazz Festival, Saratoga Jazz Festival, Ronnie Scott’s, and Tanglewood, as well as New York venues including Dizzy’s Club, Birdland, and the Blue Note.
Wednesday, March 3, 2027: Danielle Angrand featuring Shelly Berg
The Faena Jazz Series introduces vocalist Danielle Angrand in her first official public concert. A recent graduate of New World School of the Arts and a recipient of the YoungArts First Prize in Vocal Jazz, Angrand will be accompanied by pianist Shelly Berg.
Wednesday, April 7, 2027: VARI (Varijashree Venugopal)
VARI (Varijashree Venugopal) draws on Carnatic Indian music and jazz in her performances. She received a Grammy nomination for her recording of “A Rock Somewhere” with Jacob Collier and Anoushka Shankar. She has also collaborated with Michael League and Snarky Puppy, appeared at Miami’s GroundUP Music Festival, and recorded for GroundUP Music.
Wednesday, May 12, 2027: Pablo Ziegler Jazz Tango Trio
Argentine pianist, composer, and arranger Pablo Ziegler brings his Jazz Tango Trio to Faena Theater. For more than a decade, Ziegler performed in Astor Piazzolla’s quintet and appeared on recordings including Tango: Zero Hour, La Camorra, and Central Park Concert. He later led his own ensembles and won a Grammy Award for his album Jazz Tango.
Ziegler has performed at Royal Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Ravinia Festival, SFJAZZ, the Montreal Jazz Festival, New York’s Blue Note, and Birdland, among other venues. He has also taught masterclasses at Yale University, Harvard University, New England Conservatory, Berklee College of Music, and Eastman School of Music.
Wednesday, June 16, 2027: Nicole Henry
Nicole Henry began as a Miami-area artist and has gone on to perform at festivals and headline shows in 20 countries. Her repertoire includes the American Songbook, classic and contemporary jazz, popular standards, blues, and original music.
Henry has raised more than $1.25 million for local Miami charities and served on the boards of the Miami Music Project, YoungArts, the Miami Children’s Initiative, and the Florida Chapter of the Recording Academy. Her philanthropic work includes a yearly benefit for the Children’s Trust. On four occasions, the mayors of Miami Beach and Miami-Dade County have declared February 17 “Nicole Henry Day.” Her performance closes the ninth annual Faena Jazz Series.
Sponsors & Collaborators
The Faena Jazz Series partners with organizations supporting music education and live performance in South Florida. WDNA 88.9 FM serves as a media partner, and Young Musicians Unite! participates through student internship opportunities connected to the concert series.
Additional listed sponsors and collaborators include Miami Piano Center, Steinway Pianos, Frost School of Music, and Young Musicians Unite.
Tickets:
www.faenatheater.com
|
Box Office: (786) 655-6500
About Faena
Founded by Alan Faena and Len Blavatnik in 2000, Faena is a global hospitality and lifestyle brand focused on luxury hospitality, residences, arts programming, and cultural experiences.
About Faena Theater
Inspired by European opera houses and classic Hollywood design, Faena Theater is an intimate Miami Beach performance venue seating approximately 150 guests. The venue regularly presents live music, cabaret, and the annual Faena Jazz Series.
About Faena Miami Beach
Faena Miami Beach is a beachfront hospitality property within the Faena District, offering guest accommodations, dining, wellness, retail, and cultural programming in Miami Beach.
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