African Heritage Cultural Arts Center | Night at the Sir John’s Knight Beat, February 27

Step into the vibrant legacy of Sir John’s Knight Beat, transported through a portal of timeless jazz hits performed by the Marshall L. Davis Sr. African Heritage Cultural Arts Center Artist In Residence, Idyllic Funk Band. Once a cornerstone of Miami’s Black cultural scene and a legendary stop on the Chitlin’ Circuit, Sir John’s—also known as The Lord Calvert—was featured in The Greenbook, the essential guide for African American travelers. Idyllic Funk’s reprise of A Night At The Sir John’s is more than just a performance; it’s a celebration of the sounds and spirit that defined an unforgettable era. So grab your friends, lace up your dancing shoes, and get ready for a night to remember!

The Chitlin’ Circuit was a network of performance spaces that provided crucial platforms for African American musicians and artists during the Jim Crow era. It played a transformative role in shaping genres like jazz, blues, soul, and R&B. Influential jazz greats graced its stages, with the music serving as a powerful reflection of the dynamic and evolving Black communities of the time.

But jazz on the Chitlin’ Circuit was more than just entertainment; it was a cultural force intertwined with the social and political shifts of the era. The sounds emerging from these venues blended soulful innovation with bold experimentation, from hard bop to modal jazz, soul-jazz, and jazz fusion. These performances were not just artistic expressions; they were a resonant voice for the Black community, capturing both its struggles and triumphs