One of Panama's most significant cultural events, the Ninth Annual Panama Jazz Festival will be held on January 16-21, 2012. Already a reference in the global jazz calendar and attracting more than an estimated 100,000 people since its inception, this year's festival is dedicated to tenor saxophonist Carlos Garnett, one of the most prolific Panamanian-Americans in jazz, known for working with artists such as Miles Davis, Charles Mingus and Art Blakey, among others. 

Among this year's headliners are a Cuban duo featuring world renowned vocalist Omara Portuondo, whose career has spanned over half a century (known for her work with Buena Vista Social Club™, among others), with multi-GRAMMY® Award winning pianist Chucho Valdes; guitarist John Scofield, a stylistic chameleon consistently expressing himself in the vernacular of bebop, blues, jazz-funk, organ jazz, acoustic chamber jazz and orchestral idioms; drummer and bandleader Tito Puente, Jr., presented by ACER - son of legendary mambo musician Tito Puente with the Panama Jazz Festival Ensemble, under the direction of La Riqueña; Costa Rican trombonist Luis Bonilla with the New England Conservatory Jazz Ensemble; Puerto Rican, latin jazz trumpeter Charlie Sepulveda; Carlos Garnett's ensemble; saxophonist Jed Levy and his quartet, presented with the support of the U.S. Department of State and Jazz at Lincoln Center; and a duo featuring vocalist Teri Roiger and bassist John Menegon. 

"For a week in January, Panama is the capital of jazz in Latin America," states Festival founder & Artistic Director Danilo Pérez. "The festival continues to flourish and is now becoming an event that is a cultural reference in Latin America, with some of the biggest supporters of jazz music on the planet." 

Reflecting on this year's honoree Pérez states, "Carlos Garnett is one of the best jazz saxophonists that came from Panama, who has played with some of the most important icons of jazz." 

Who is Carlos Garnett? Born and raised in Red Tank, Panama Canal Zone, Garnett taught himself to play saxophone as a teenager and played with soldiers from the nearby United States Army base. He moved to New York City in 1962, where he began to teach himself music theory (originally playing music by ear). In 1968, trumpeter Freddie Hubbard hired Garnett, introducing him to many distinguished New York-based jazz musicians. Hubbard's 1969 album A Soul Experiment served as Garnett's first recording session, contributing two compositions to the project. His career took flight following the session, working with Andrew Hill, Blakey's Jazz Messengers, Davis and Mingus, through the mid-1970s. He also recorded three projects as a leader during the same time period, which collectively featured artists such as Dee Dee Bridgewater, Billy Hart, Norman Connors, Buster Williams, and Anthony Jackson. In 1982, Garnett took a hiatus from music for personal reasons until 1991. He then returned with a new group and released several albums as a leader in the 1990s. In 2000 he moved back to Panama, where he continues to contribute to the country's music community. 

Garnett is the festival's second living honoree; the first living honoree was trumpeter Victor "Vitín" Paz, celebrated at last year's festival. Garnett will actively participate in educational programs/events.