Once a year, jazz pianist/composer Danilo Pérez organises one of the country’s flagship events, the Panama Jazz Festival. Uniting internationally acclaimed jazz musicians, renowned educators and jazz fans from around the world, next year’s 15th Annual Jazz Festival will be held from January 15-20, 2018 at ATLAPA Convention Center, The City of Knowledge and the historical district of Casco Antiguo in Panama City.
Among the headliners for this year’s festival is the Wayne Shorter Quartet featuring Pérez on piano, bassist John Patitucci and drummer Brian Blade; Afro-Cuban jazz legend Chucho Valdés; legendary pianist Ran Blake and Brazilian singer Luciana Souza. Additional headliners include Danilo Pérez special guest pop icon Miguel Bosé and The Global Jazz Big Band directed by Bill Dobbins.
Furthermore, the festival will host the 6th Latin American Music Therapy Symposium, bringing music therapists from Chile, Argentina, Panama, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Colombia, USA, Canada, among other countries to present on the therapeutic effects of music; and the 2nd Symposium of the cultural, artistic and musical expressions of the Afro-descendants of Panama.
Since its inception in 2003, the Panama Jazz Festival has attracted over 300,000 jazz fans worldwide and announced over 4.5 million dollars in scholarships on an international level. Its educational component brings 5,000 music students from all over the world every year and in 2018 the festival expects over 30,000 people from all over the world to attend.
Participating educational institutions include Boston-based institutions, Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory, which will be holding auditions for admission and scholarships. Other institutions include the Thelonious Monk Institute, Crossroads High School, and New York Jazz Academy. The Berklee Global Jazz Institute will hold master classes, perform social work with Panamanian youth and perform in various settings throughout the festival.
Plan your visit for the upcoming Jazz Festival with Ancon Expeditions of Panama and experience the country far beyond the musical highlights this fantastic week will offer. Travel before, during and after the jazz events to Panama’s most stunning historical, natural and cultural sites and enjoy the best time of the year in this tropical paradise! Contact us at info@anconexpeditions.com for your travel planning.
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