Beaches Fine Arts continues its collaboration with the UNF Jazz Studies Program, UNF School of Music and UNF Great American Jazz Series with the presentation of the internationally renowned New York Voices (NYV) in their final year of touring.

The performance will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 5, at Lazzara Hall, UNF Fine Arts Center. Admission is free. Doors open at 7 p.m.

The NYV will spend the week prior to the concert working with UNF Jazz Ensemble 1, a unique opportunity for the band to work closely with this internationally respected ensemble.

New York Voices

As a band leader, NYV has released 10 studio albums featuring their signature sound and eclectic musical choices. They follow their passions on choosing repertoire and how to write for the human voice. They were special guests on two Grammy-winning projects with The Count Basie Orchestra and Paquito D’Rivera.

A contemporary classical record, “Visions Within, A Meeting of Minds” with the Bob Mintzer Big Band and a soon-to-be released collaboration with Ivan Lins rounds out the large projects in their catalogue. Too numerous to mention guest artist appearances flesh out a long career of recording, collaborating and being in demand for projects looking for their special sound and refined artistry.

New York Voices recently announced their plan to retire by the end of 2026.

In a farewell video, they expressed the following:

“We have some momentous news to share with you that has come to us over time, reflection and huge amounts of affection given to making the decision. New York Voices has decided to hang up our mics and retire our band. Having created and nurtured this musical family for the past 38 years, it has taken us all over the world to stages large and small, and created projects near and dear to us. We are incredibly grateful for the opportunities our voices have afforded us and will be forever indebted to our fans, bands, labels, agents, managers, lawyers, promoters, sound persons, education colleagues, students, friends and families for sharing the adventures with us. It has taken a village to manifest our good fortune and we know it! While this may come as a shock to many, the four of us want to retire the group on a high note. We are excited to say we will continue working through the end of 2026, which will allow us plenty of time to perform and take one last lap around the planet as the ‘The Four and Only,’ as Paquito D’Rivera lovingly calls us. Importantly, you should also know individually we will continue to work as solo artists and educators until our own devised destinies reach their peaks. In that sense, NYV will always be, in some part, still out there. We look forward to making this time very special and savoring every moment.”

For more information about this concert and Beaches Fine Arts Series, go to https://beachesfinearts.org or call the office at 904-270-1771.