Two Friday nights of live jazz are coming to the WDNA 88.9FM Jazz Gallery at 2921 Coral Way, with a Taiwanese-Afro-Cuban fusion concert on Aug. 7 and a homegrown modern jazz showcase on Aug. 14, according to the station's announcement.

Both shows start at 8 p.m.

The Aug. 7 performance features bassist and composer Vincent Tsung-Yu Hsu with the Soy La Ley Afro-Cuban Jazz Band. Hsu, born and raised in Taiwan, holds a master's in jazz performance from New York University and has played Blue Note New York, Festival Internacional Jazz Plaza in Havana and Taipei Jazz Festival. His program draws from an upcoming album, "Spirits from Both Sides," exploring parallels between Taiwanese folk culture and Afro-Latin spiritual beliefs, plus new works inspired by a recent trip to West Africa.

Joining Hsu on stage are Reinaldo Melian on trumpet, David Fernandez on saxophone, Shih-Chun Lee on guitar and Kuan-Liang Lin on drums. The concert doubles as a fundraiser for WDNA, with support from the Taipei Cultural Center in New York and Taiwan's Ministry of Culture.

DownBeat Magazine gave Hsu's 2023 album "Music for the River Jazz Suite" a four-star review, praising him as a commanding bassist whose playing bridges New Orleans and Taiwan.

The following Friday, Aug. 14, the Jazz Encounters series presents Abstract Citizen, led by guitarist Aaron Lebos. A Miami native active in South Florida's music scene for more than 25 years, Lebos has toured internationally with jazz vocalist Nicole Henry and composed for Nu Deco Ensemble. He founded Abstract Citizen by recruiting younger Miami musicians to channel the city's multicultural energy into original compositions, according to WDNA's event listing.

The Aug. 14 lineup includes Lebos on guitar, Marty Quinn on bass, Vania Junco on vocals and Lucas Apostoleris on drums. Quinn is a full-time professor at the University of Miami.

Ticket holders for the Aug. 14 show can arrive at 7 p.m. for a pre-show reception catered by The Fish House. Students can claim a limited number of free tickets and are invited to a post-show jam session. The Jazz Encounters series is supported by Musicians Discount Center and the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs.

WDNA is a listener-supported public radio station on Coral Way that focuses on jazz, blues, Afro-Caribbean and world music. Tickets for both shows are available through VenuePilot.

Upcoming at the WDNA Jazz Gallery, 2921 Coral Way

  • Friday, Aug. 7, 8 p.m.: Vincent Hsu & Soy La Ley Afro-Cuban Jazz Band (fundraiser)
  • Friday, Aug. 14, 7 p.m. reception / 8 p.m. show: Jazz Encounters presents Abstract Citizen (free student tickets available)
  • Monday, Aug. 31: Arsht Center Jazz Roots concert