WDNA 88.9FM Announces August Jazz Gallery Concert Lineup

South Florida jazz enthusiasts have two distinct live performances to add to their August calendars as community radio station WDNA 88.9FM hosts its monthly concert series in the station's Jazz Gallery at 2921 Coral Way in Miami. The August lineup features an international fusion of Afro-Cuban traditions alongside local modern jazz talent, expanding the venue's reputation for bringing diverse musical genres directly to the Coral Way arts corridor.

Vincent Hsu

The series opens on Friday, August 7, at 8 p.m. with bassist and composer Vincent Hsu leading the Soy La Ley Afro-Cuban Jazz Band. The ensemble, comprising musicians from Taiwan and the United States, will perform selections from Hsu's upcoming release, Spirits from Both Sides. The album explores parallels between Taiwanese folk culture and Afro-Latin spiritual beliefs, alongside new compositions inspired by Hsu's recent travels in West Africa. The lineup includes Vincent Tsung-Yu Hsu on double bass, Reinaldo Melian on trumpet, David Fernandez on saxophone, Shih-Chun Lee on guitar, and Kuan-Liang Lin on drums.

The August 7 performance serves as a special fundraising event for WDNA 88.9FM, supported by the Taipei Cultural Center in New York and the Ministry of Culture of Taiwan. Tickets for Vincent Hsu & Soy La Ley are available online.

Abstract Citizen

The station's monthly Jazz Encounters series continues on Friday, August 14, at 8 p.m. featuring Miami-based modern jazz quartet Abstract Citizen. Founded by guitarist and composer Aaron Lebos, a South Florida musician with 25 years of local history including tours with jazz vocalist Nicole Henry and compositions for Nu Deco Ensemble, the group mixes contemporary jazz influences with South Florida's multicultural sound. The band features Lebos on guitar, Marty Quinn on bass, Vania Junco on vocals, and Lucas Apostoleris on drums.

Guests attending the August 14 concert can access a pre-show reception at 7 p.m. catered by local restaurant The Fish House. Students can claim a limited number of free tickets and participate in a post-show jam session. The Jazz Encounters series receives support from the Musicians Discount Center and the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs. Tickets for Abstract Citizen are available through VenuePilot.

By ML Staff Photos courtesy of WDNA 88.9FM.