The fifth annual Fort Mose Jazz and Blues Series will take place from February 6 to 15 at St. Augustine's Fort Mose Historic State Park in Florida. The event features a lineup of Grammy-winning artists including Ledisi, Gary Clark Jr., Robert Cray Band, Ruthie Foster, Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble, and Samara Joy. It celebrates the site's history as the first legally sanctioned free African settlement in the United States.
The Fort Mose Jazz and Blues Series, now in its fifth year since launching in 2022, honors the legacy of Fort Mose Historic State Park through performances blending history, community, and music. Produced by SJC Cultural Events Inc., the series receives support from organizations such as the St. Johns County Tourist Development Council, Fort Mose Historical Society, City of St. Augustine, and Florida State Parks Foundation.
The 2026 edition kicks off on Friday, February 6, with Ledisi at 7 p.m., gates opening at 6 p.m. The New Orleans-born artist has earned multiple Grammy nominations and a win for Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Anything for You” from her album “The Wild Card” at the 63rd Grammy Awards. Her recent releases include “Good Life” in 2024 and “The Crown” in 2025, following earlier works like “Lost & Found” in 2006.
On Saturday, February 7, Gary Clark Jr. performs, known for fusing blues, rock, soul, and hip-hop. He secured his first Grammy in 2014 for “Please Come Home” from “Blak and Blu” and multiple awards in 2020 for “This Land,” including Best Rock Song and Best Contemporary Blues Album. His latest album, “JPEG RAW,” arrived in March 2024.
Friday, February 13, brings the Robert Cray Band, with over 50 years in blues and soul, 19 studio albums, and five Grammys. Cray has collaborated with Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, and Stevie Ray Vaughan, earning induction into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2011 and an Americana Music Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017. Ruthie Foster, a Texas native with five Grammy nominations and a 2025 win for “Mileage,” rounds out the evening's highlights, drawing from her gospel roots and albums like “Healing Time” in 2022.
Saturday, February 14, features Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble, showcasing Detroit-born Was's career as producer for artists including The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan, with honors like a BAFTA and an Emmy. The group includes musicians such as saxophonist Dave McMurray and vocalist Steffanie Christi’an.
The series closes on Sunday, February 15, with Samara Joy, a Bronx native whose debut album in 2021 earned her Best New Artist from JazzTimes. Her follow-up “Linger Awhile” won Grammys for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best New Artist, while “Portrait” secured an NAACP Image Award for Best Jazz Album.
Ticket prices vary by show, ranging from $50.31 to $212.16, available through AXS.
