From January 21st to 28th, Havana will be all about jazz. Yes, the 39th edition of the Jazz Plaza International Festival is taking place in Havana and, as in previous years, this year's program promises to be very diverse, with a significant increase in artists from outside. In fact, musicians from around twenty countries, including the United States, Brazil, Colombia, France, Holland, the Dominican Republic, Spain and Trinidad and Tobago, will make the trip: Arthur O'Farrill, Ted Nash, Aaron Goldberg, Victor Goines, Étienne Charles, Emmet Cohen, Pablo Fagundes, Marcus Moraes, not to mention Cuban jazz musicians such as the legendary Roberto Fonseca, Rolando Luna, Ernan Lopez Nussa, José Maria Vitier and Bobby Carcassés (the founder of the festival). For the first time, a dance company (classical and contemporary), the Malpaso Company, will take part in the event, while the closing of the festival will take place at the Nacional Theater with a performance by the renowned National Ballet of Cuba.
This internationally recognized festival aims to showcase how Cuban music lends its salt to a musical genre born in the United States. At all times, throughout the 20th century and the first decades of the 21st, Cuban and American musicians have maintained connections and exchanges across borders, keeping alive the words of the Cuban writer Alejo Carpentier: “Jazz fills us with enthusiasm, Because ultimately it is one of the most spontaneous forms of expression of our time. »
The concerts take place mainly indoors – in the two halls of the Teatro Nacional, the Marti Theater, the Cuba Pavilion, the Theater of the National Museum of Fine Arts, the Mella Theater Gardens, the Maison de la Culture Plaza and the Fabrica de Arte Cubana – at a ridiculous price, but during the day you can also catch musical performances by new talent in the capital's many parks. To fully immerse yourself in Cuban music and culture in the warmth of the Caribbean, this is the perfect and unique opportunity.
For jazz enthusiasts, musicians and professionals, the program also includes symposiums, exchanges, conferences, workshops, film screenings, piano and drum lessons and book presentations, each morning and afternoon in the Fabrica de arte cubano. in the Vedado district.
To view the full schedule of indoor shows, here is the link: https://magazineampm.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/0-Jazz-Plaza-2024.pdf
Enjoy it. Currently, Montreal-Havana flight prices with Air Transat are rather low. And all of this in less than four hours of flight.
Photo Jacques Lanctôt
National Geographic
Meanwhile, the prestigious National Geographic magazine has just named Cuba America's top cultural destination for 2004. This article states that the country's capital, Havana, is a potpourri of diverse cultures from Africa, the Caribbean and Spain. “Walking through the colorful colonial-era streets is the best way to learn about the city’s long and turbulent history,” it says.
Varadero is not left out as, according to 750 international judges, travel agents, journalists and other tourism experts, its beaches are among the fifty best beaches in the world, ranking 48th between India and New Zealand.
However, for Tripadvisor, Varadero is among the top ten beaches in the world, ranking 9th, with its sandy beaches, turquoise and crystal clear waters, modern facilities, activities and excursions on offer, nightlife and restaurants. Three foreign hotel chains – Melia, Iberostar and Blue Diamond – share 64% of the hotel supply there.