Winter Jazzfest kicks off with an unforgettable performance by aja monet, the Grammy-nominated Surrealist Blues Poet whose artistry has been called “spellbinding” and “revolutionary.” Known for her groundbreaking debut album, when the poems do what they do, aja blends poetry and music in a way that transcends traditional boundaries, weaving together raw emotion, history, and deep social consciousness. As NPR describes it, her work is “a blend of blues and resistance,” uniting themes of love, liberation, and the relentless pursuit of joy in the face of adversity.