Dario Flota Ocampo, director of the Tourism Promotion Council of Quintana Roo, gave a press conference to present details of this artistic event that brings together some the most important groups and soloists in jazz music worldwide.
Flota Ocampo informed that for the first time this event will feaure 5 solo singers and 5 musical groups, selecting some of the most outstanding musicians of this important genre.
He noted that, when celebrating the XVI edition, the organizing committee has worked hard to maintain the quality of the artists, as well as the inclusion and a greater presence of female soloists. In this way, the cast that will be presented at this festival will have a marked quality, voice tones and musical inspirations.
Dario Flota informed that on Friday, November 30, Kike Pat will be on stage, with his show “A Maya in Jazz“, a talented artist on keyboards, rooted in the Maya culture from which he comes from, Pat is a peninsular musician based in Cozumel who has distinguish himself as a significant value of music from Quintana Roo for the world.
In that same role will be Lori Williams, originally from Washington, who will be playing with the New York arranger, Bob Baldwin, together they will present a mix of Latin, Brazilian and Afro rythms.
On Friday night, Bebel Gilberto will present a modern, electronic version of bossa nova and modern beats that he has integrated to his music, with a deep Brazilian flavor.
On Saturday, December 1, an American band will open, Mr. Drew Tucker and the New Standard, a surprise band, who will also bring a contemporary, out of the ordinary Jazz proposal.
Drew, apart from directing the band, plays the tuba, has directed community projects to establish music schools, uses this instrument to get the kids away from the streets, and has worked in cultural art centers in different cities of the United States.
The singer Cristina Morrison, will continue on stage that Saturday. Born in Miami, of Ecuadorian family, Cristina is a multifaceted talent; actress of television series, theater, Jazz singer, has collaborated with musicians Bebel Gilberto.
Awarded for the best Jazz vocal song, she has an educational program in public schools in the United States. His presentation will include some theater with the interpretation of his first two albums.
In third place, on Saturday, December 1, the band of Paco Rosas, one of the most recognized guitarists of our country, will take the stage. He has recorded with almost all the important artists in Mexico, and he will present a blues project. Rosas currently works in the tour of the Mexican vocalists Emmanuel and Mijares.
The spectacular Norah Jones, winner of 9 Grammy awards and with sales of over 47 million albums worldwide, will wrap up the Saturday’s presentation. This superstar of Jazz music is the main event of the festival.
For Sunday 2, the last day of the festival, Mexican bass player Pepe Hernández, will open the show with a funk project. Then, another great star, Lalah Hathaway, five time Grammy award winner will perform, and for the closing of this great Jazz event, we have Bobby MC Ferrin, who has accumulated 10 Grammy awards, and who last year had to suspend his participation in the festival because of the heavy rain.
(Photo: yucatan.com.mx)
Flota Ocampo said that this event in its 15 years of existence has brought together the most important exponents of this musical genre, so he invited all residents of the Yucatan Peninsula to attend and enjoy the excellence of the artists, since all the presentations are free addmission.
He explained that in previous years the festival has received about 18,000 people in its three nights and it is expected that this year the number of spectators will be greater, since this three-night brings together super stars and award-winning jazz players.
The festival also promotes ecology and sustainability, therefore, garbage bags will be distributed during the event, so that the public keeps the beaches clean and contributes to raise awareness on the importance of environmental care.
Also, the festival will have the support of both public safety and civil protection of the Municipality of Solidaridad (Playa del Carmen).
RMT Newsroom with information from: yucatan.com.mx
