The Story
THE FLORIDA SMOOTH JAZZ WEEKEND and daytona Jazz weekend
The Florida Smooth Jazz Weekend provides an incredible beachside weekend for smooth jazz lovers to enjoy amazing artists and first-rate hospitality in an intimate oceanfront resort setting - a unique “Cruise On Land” experience to share with other smooth jazz lovers and friends.
After careful planning and preparation, the first annual Florida Smooth Jazz Weekend was launched in January 2015 at the Crowne Plaza Melbourne Oceanfront. Drawing fans from throughout the United States and internationally, the Florida Smooth Jazz Weekend quickly found its way to be a “must attend” event for smooth jazz fans from throughout the United States and beyond.
A sell out since the second annual Florida Smooth Jazz Weekend in 2016, the fourth Florida Smooth Jazz Weekend was moved to Daytona Beach in January 2018 followed by the fifth event in January 2019. The sixth event date was pulled forward to November 2019, continuing to sell out every time. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the postponement of the November 2020 event to November 2021 which became sold out five months before the scheduled event. The ninth event Nov. 2-5, 2023 was sold out before July 1. The 10th Anniversary event, Oct. 31-Nov. 3, 2024, sold out in January of 2024!
The Daytona Jazz Weekend at One Daytona was created in 2021 as a complimentary Spring event to The Florida Smooth Jazz Weekend in the Fall. An exclusive, intimate smooth jazz getaway with seating for less than 330 guests in an outdoor tent, it is located at One Daytona, the exciting new restaurant and shopping complex. Guests enjoy accommodations at The DAYTONA, a Marriott Autograph Collection hotel, and at The Fairfield Inn & Suites, combining unique activities at Daytona International Speedway with our “Cruise on Land” philosophy. Despite the challenges of development during the COVID-19 pandemic, the inaugural event debuted in May 2021 as a sell out and again in March 2022, March 2023, and February 2024. The Fifth Annual Daytona Jazz Weekend March 27-30, 2025 is certain to be sold out again!
Daytona Beach has proven to have the perfect sites to provide the hospitality and quality that the Florida Smooth Jazz Family has come to enjoy!
The Florida Smooth Jazz Foundation
The Florida Smooth Jazz Foundation Inc., a Florida nonprofit corporation, is a 501(c)(3) public charity that was founded by Cathy Powers in 2005, organized and operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. The Foundation promotes and produces music events for the greater good of the community, and supports activities fostering music education and other charitable organizations.
Annual merit scholarships are directly sponsored by the Foundation for music students of Daytona State College (DSC) as were previously provided for students of Eastern Florida State College (EFSC) since 2016. Donations to HAPCO Music Foundation and the Clearwater Jazz Holiday Foundation enable these organizations to provide music education and other programs for the youth of Central Florida and the Tampa Bay region. Donations to the Marcus Anderson Endowment Fund at North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina and to the Marcus Anderson Foundation support students in the Jazz Studies program. Donations to Closing the Gap in Health Care in Charleston, South Carolina support the programs of Dr. Thaddeus Bell and minority students in health care. Direct donation and proceeds of the Rick Braun New Year’s Eve auction to the West Virginia Autism Training Center at Marshall University provide support to individuals with autism spectrum disorder. In addition, charitable donations have been made to Ruth Eckerd Hall in support of the Marcia P. Hoffman School of Arts and to the Jeffrey Osborne Foundation for support of youth music education.
The Foundation has been involved in the promotion, production, and financial support of numerous concerts throughout Florida since 2005, including artists such as David Sanborn, Marcus Miller, Jeffrey Osborne, Vanessa Williams, Chris Botti, Boney James, Brian Culbertson, the Rippingtons featuring Russ Freeman, Dave Koz, Sheila E, David Benoit, Gerald Albright, Selena Albright, Basia, Norman Brown, Kirk Whalum, Mindi Abair, Chuck Loeb, Richard Elliot, Kim Waters, Peter White, Jonathan Butler, Najee, Everette Harp, Rick Braun, Jeff Golub, Nick Colionne, Paul Taylor, Jeff Kashiwa, Brian Simpson, Acoustic Alchemy, Ottmar Liebert, Keiko Matsui, Maysa, Warren Hill, Euge Groove, Gerald Veasley, Jackiem Joyner, Steve Oliver, Marion Meadows, Eric Darius, Vincent Ingala, Marc Antoine, Michael Lington, Jessy J, Paul Brown, Adam Hawley, Jazmin Ghent, Steve Cole, Dan Siegel, Michael Paulo, Blake Aaron, Brian Simpson, Joey Sommerville, Will Donato, Marcus Anderson, Nicole Henry, Chieli Minucci, Lao Tizer, the Yellowjackets, Eric Marienthal, Jimmy Haslip, and Jeff Lorber, as well as Charlie Daniels, Peter Frampton, Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard. Major events include The Florida Smooth Jazz Cruises of 2009 and 2011 on Royal Caribbean, The Florida Smooth Jazz Festival in 2014, The Florida Smooth Jazz Weekend since 2015, the Daytona Jazz Weekend since 2021, and the Clearwater Smooth Jazz Jam at Ruth Eckerd Hall and Rick Braun’s New Year’s Eve since 2023.
