Jazz Festival adds musical flourish to Panama historical celebrations

THE PANAMA Jazz Festival, 2014, is less than two weeks away and with musical talent from around the world will pay tribute to two defining events in the history of the Isthmus.

The events to receive high end musical recognition are the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the South Sea (Pacific Ocean) and the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Panama Canal o August 14, 2014.

Jazz artists of international renown, renowned educators and jazz fans from around the world, will be at the 11th Annual Jazz Festival January 13-18, in The City of Knowledge in Panama.
Among the artists participating in the festival this year are the founder and director Artísitico Danilo Perez and his newly assembled band: Panama 500, with violinist Alex Hargreaves, bassist John Patitucci , drummer Adam Cruz and percussionist Roman Diaz . The group will perform music from their upcoming album (February 4 , the Mack Avenue Records) .
" The re- discovery of the Pacific Ocean by Balboa and the Panama Canal construction have had an enormous importance in the world , because they create and connect the new high water route between the Americas, Europe and Asia ," says Perez. “Panama has become a path of adventure that unites the world and it makes sense to celebrate with Jazz. Panama's history is connected with globalization as any other country and we want to celebrate the unique contributions of Panama through the jazz world. "
0ther stars of the festival include vocalist Lizz Wright, Kenny Garrett Quintet , HBC Fusion band Trio ( guitarist Scott Henderson , bassist Jeff Berlin and drummer Dennis Chambers ) , the Peruvian drummer Jorge Perez with guest saxophonist special George Garzone , Nedelka Prescod vocalist , guitarist Shea Welsh, vocalist Michelle Coltrane (daughter of John Coltrane ) , and pianist Kevin Harris.
Other actions include the Puerto Rican percussionist Castrillo and special guest, vocalist Wichy Camacho, along with the Latin Jazz Project John Patitucci in collaboration with the Berklee Global Jazz Institute. Four local bands will perform at the festival this year: Osvaldo Ayala trans-isthmus Project Luci and the Soul Brokers, Mr. Loop and bands of the Danilo Perez Foundation.
In addition, the festival will host the Second Latin American Symposium on Music Therapy with music therapists from Chile, Argentina, Panama, Venezuela, Costa Rica (including Latin America) and the United States to present the therapeutic effects of music.
Since its inception in 2003, the Panama Jazz Festival has attracted more than 200,000 jazz fans worldwide and has announced more than $3 million in international scholarship.
Last year, the festival welcomed 1,700 students worldwide who participated in educational events. This year, the festival continues its commitment to education by hosting the Golandsky Institute, a non -profit organization based in New York. They will offer master classes for classical and jazz pianists and other instrumentalists, emphasizing the application of the Taubman approach to build technique and explore musical performance easily. This approach has proved very effective in solving the technical and artistic limitations as well as in the healing and prevention of repetitive strain injury in musicians.
Other educational institutions involved include schools based in Boston, The Berklee College of Music and New England Conservatory. Both will be holding auditions for admission and scholarships. The Berklee Global Jazz Institute will organize lectures, and will be participating in different stages throughout the Festival.