Havana Jazz Festival

The Havana International Jazz Festival (Cuba Jazz Festival) was born in 1978 when Bobby Carcasses, and other well known Cuban Jazz musicians, presented the first Jazz concert at the Casa de la Cultura de Plaza in downtown Havana. This is the origin of the title 'International Jazz Festival Plaza' because it finds its birth in this open-air venue. The Casa de la Cultura de Plaza hall, with its pleasant intimate outdoor terrace, is still one of the places where concerts and jam sessions take place. Based on this success, another Jazz festival was organized the following year, featuring pianist Chucho Valdes. Renowned artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach, Charlie Haden, Roy Hargrove, Jack DeJohnette, Danilo Perez became part of the Havana scene on a regular basis.

In 1996 Chucho Valdes became artistic director of the Havana International Jazz Plaza Festival and president of the Organizing Committee with Alexis Vazquez Aguilera as the vice president. The festival has since expanded to include all the main concert halls in downtown Havana, not to mention impromptu street jam sessions along the Malecon.

Among the 2009 performing artists were Chucho Valdes, Michael Legrand, Mayra Caridad Valdes, Bobby Carcases, Bellita & Jazztumbata, Cesar Lopez & the Habana Ensemble, Francia, Maraca & Otra Vision, Roberto Carcases, Javier Salva & Temperamento, Diakara, Ernan Lopez-Nussa Trio, Peruchin, Elmer Ferrer, Jorge Reyes, Pasaje Abierto, Gala Mayor, Rembert Duarte, Cubajazz, Lazaro Morua, Las Canelas, Conga Latina, Lazaro Valdez & Son Jazz, Chispa & Complices, Giraldo Piloto & Klimax, Rogelio Napoles, Yasek Manzano, Harold Lopez Nussa, Tamara Castaneda, Alejandro Vargas & Oriental Cuartel, Sexto Sentido, Rolando Luna, Roberto Martinez, Alfredo Rodriguez, Luis Monge & Swing en 4, Guido Lucarelli & Negras Musas, Mauricio Torres, Jump4joy, Daniel Martina, Ernesto Jodos, Sergio Monroy, Lex Estet, Darwin Silva Trio, Jazz Tunkul, Gaspare Di Lieto and George Haslam.

The 26th Annual Havana Jazz Festival is held December 16 to 19, 2010.

Related Links:
• Other Jazz Festivals - AP4J Festival Guide