Havana Jazz Festival 2018 Part One

I have just returned from attending the 2018 Havana Jazz Festival in Cuba which was officially named the 33rd Festival Internacional Jazz Plaza which took place from January 16th through the 21st.  I was warned about delays in shows, last minute cancellations and the lack of organization of this festival.  So I travelled to Havana prepared for the worst and hopeful for the best.  I was delighted to have been pleasantly surprised with great shows from tremendous musicians from both Cuba and abroad that ran on time at a variety of different venues.  The festival is similar to South By Southwest in the US where multiple shows are presented at the same time at different venues.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t great weather in Havana during my stay: it was wet, rainy, windy, cold and overcast for almost the entire week of the festival.  But I didn’t let that stop me for taking in the wonderful music and culture of Cuba.

I was fortunate to catch the following shows during my week stay in Havana: Bobby Carcasses with guests Maraca, Yosvanny Terry, Don Poncho Terry and Roberto Carcasses, Chucho Valdes with his band and special guest Joe Lovano, Timbalaye, Pablo Menendez and Mezcla with special guest John Calloway, Edsel Gomez Triumvirate with Maraca, Pancho Amat with Javier Colina and Julio Padron, Yosvanny Terry Quintet, Pupy Y Los Que Son Son, Orquesta Aragon collaborating with Michel Herrera with special guests Alain Perez, El Noro, Maraca among others, Roberto Carcasses & Trio Salvage, Ocho Y Mas with Bobby Allende, Marc Quinones, Jimmy Bosch, Haila, Alain Perez, Alexander Abreu and Osain Del Monte, Alain Perez and Orchestra, Alejandro Falcon with special guest Michel Herrera, Ramon Valle Trio, Elito Reve Y Su Charangon, Rumberos De Cuba, the Cesar Lopez Havana Ensemble, Roberto Fonseca with special guests Eliades Ochoa, Maraca and X Alfonso.

I had a phenomenal time as I discovered the city of Havana, met musicians, reunited with friends from the SF Bay who made the trip and musicians that I met in the US,  attended extraordinary concerts, researched the music, production and folklore of Cuba and connected with professionals, journalists, musicologists and the people of Cuba who shared their warmth and knowledge with me.  I will go into details of my musical adventures in my next posts.