Rosslyn Jazz Fest 2025

Southern Avenue, the Blues Music Award-winning, Grammy-nominated Memphis-based family band, plays original Memphis blues, modern soul, and gospel-infused roots music that is uplifting and timeless. They are known worldwide for their inclusive, message-driven songs fueled by hard-hitting grooves and electrifying guitar. The band is unlike any other on the scene today, featuring lead vocalist/songwriter Tierinii Jackson, her husband, guitarist/songwriter Ori Naftaly, and her sisters, drummer/vocalist/songwriter Tikyra “T.K.” Jackson and percussionist/violinist/vocalist Ava Jackson.

The inspiring harmonies of the church-raised Jackson sisters are fueled by guitarist Naftaly, whose passion for blues and soul music led him to Memphis from his birthplace in Israel. Together, they blend the city’s musical traditions with their own thoroughly modern worldview. Their authentic and unfiltered original songs are a bold step in defining the future of Memphis music.

New Breed Brass Band presents a brand of second line music in conversation with everything from Caribbean music to No Limit Records to modern R&B in the vein of Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak’s Silk Sonic. It’s joyful and vital and distinctly of the moment — music for and by New Orleans’ next generation.

Though the young musicians were ensconced in second line culture — band leader Jenard Andrews’ father is the great trumpeter James Andrews, and his uncle is Trombone Shorty, the New Orleans scene lynchpin — it took something of an intervention to help them find their own sound. Trombone Shorty began coaching them up, and their sound took shape: The rhythmic versatility of the local jazz and funk scenes — as well New Orleans hip-hop from Cash Money to bounce — fused with second line culture to create something distinctly theirs.

The Sensational Barnes Brothers are a melting pot of the old and the new. As Pop Matters states, “The brothers run through a spectrum of moods and modes in their gospel soul, often bridging the gap between, say, the Soul Stirrers and Stax, all the while keeping a local flavor.”

The brothers are able to dive deep into their roots, creating a sound that reflects the music of their history, all the while drawing in a modern-day audience. Inspired by their shared past, fueled by harmonies that resonate with both their blood and their kindred souls, The Sensational Barnes Brothers see themselves singing, playing, and dancing for a long time coming.

Son Cubano Subterraneo brings the musical sounds of Cuba’s golden era (1950-60's) to life, right here in the nation’s capital. They are a six-piece ensemble of top-notch musicians and entertainers with a shared passion for Cuban “Son”, the musical style at the core of latin Salsa dance music.

Led by sonero Gerardo Contino, a Cuban native and singer extraordinaire who has performed around the world with some of the greats of Cuban Son including NG La Banda and the Grammy-award winning Larry Harlow’s Latin Legends Band.

Bandleader and Cuban tres player Josh Schneck has been performing in latin, jazz and rock ensembles for over thirty years before taking up the Cuban Tres - an instrument at the heart of Cuban son. He’s joined by Jimmy Rioja on upright bass, Jorge Aranya on guitar and vocals, Michael McSweeny on congas and bongos, and Maksim Tsvetovat on flute.