Miami, FL – November 1, 2013 – The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts tapped into its jazzy side with its Jazz Roots season opener last week. Celebrating Henry Mancini and Pink Panther at 50, the homage to the legendary Oscar and Grammy-winning composer featured jazz and pop vocals from Monica Mancini, Jon Secada, Nicole Henry and Grammy-winning saxophonist Tom Scott. It also featured the Miami debut of Cyrille Aimee, who performed with the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra. Jazz Roots was presented by the Arsht Center and Wells Fargo in collaboration with University of Miami Frost School of Music. The one-night only tribute celebrated the life and times of Mancini’s career in a multi-media setting with music and film projections from the composer’s films and TV shows, including The Pink PantherPeter GunnDays of Wine and RosesMr. Lucky and Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Secada, a Frost School of Music alumnus, and Monica Mancini, Henry’s daughter, performed solo’s with Monica singing from the family songbook. The Jazz Roots series runs through April 2014 in the John S. and James L. Knight Concert Hall.

Jazz Roots: Sound Check

Jazz Roots also features Jazz Roots: Sound Check, an educational partnership with Miami-Dade County Public Schools. High school music students can enjoy a complimentary behind-the-scenes experience that includes a pre-concert sound check, a Q&A session with featured artists followed by a workshop with a local jazz expert , as well as free entry to the evening’s performance.

Nicole Henry

Nicole Henry

Nicole Henry