• February 7: Gary Clark Jr. Clark, a four-time Grammy winner, brings a guitar-driven sound shaped by blues, rock and contemporary Black music traditions.
• February 13: Robert Cray Band and Ruthie Foster The Robert Cray Band offers five decades of acclaimed blues and soul recordings, paired with Ruthie Foster, a recent Grammy winner celebrated for her powerful blend of blues and gospel influences.
• February 14: Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble Don Was performs with a collective of leading Detroit jazz artists whose work reflects the city’ s long musical legacy.
• February 15: Samara Joy Samara Joy, a rising star in jazz and twotime Grammy winner, closes the series with her classic vocal style and modern interpretation of traditional jazz.
2026 Fort Mose Jazz and Blues Series line-up. Photo credit: SJC Cultural Events, Inc.
Connecting Arts, Heritage and Community
The Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series continues to demonstrate how cultural programming can honor history while celebrating artistic excellence. For Black arts and heritage in particular, the series provides a platform that acknowledges lineage, creativity and cultural contribution in a setting that reflects their origins.
As the series enters its fifth year, it continues to deepen public understanding of Fort Mose while offering audiences meaningful engagement with the music that has shaped American culture. It stands as a reminder that the arts are not only entertainment but also a way to remember, interpret and carry forward stories that define communities.
Fort Mose fort during the Fort Mose Jazz and Blues Series. Photo credit: Tucker Joenz
Elesha Mavrommatis serves as Chief Content Officer for TouchPoint Innovative Solutions and Managing Editor of EVOLVE and Estebana magazines.
Fort Mose Jazz and Blues Series featuring Mavis Staples on Stage. Photo credit: Tucker Joenz
VOLUME II 2025 | 9 |