9th Annual Panama Jazz Festival Led By Artistic Director Danilo Pérez Announces 2012 Lineup!

Hi everyone! There's no doubt in my mind that most of us should try to make this festival. Why? Not only because of the intriguing line-up but also because by the time January rolls around, we will be tired of wintry weather. Go south - where it'll be warm and sunny! 

Festival Dates: January 16 - 21, 2012

Headlining Artists Include:
Omara Portuondo & Chucho Valdes, John Scofield, Tito Puente, Jr., 
Luis Bonilla, Charlie Sepulveda, Jed Levy, Teri Roiger & John Menegon

Festival Dedicated To Saxophonist Carlos Garnett 

 

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. 

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Music Review ~ Harold Lopez-Nussa "El Pais De Las Maravillas"

Harold Lopez-Nussa Trio Harold Lopez-Nussa is an up and coming Cuban pianist whose unique style has garnered international attention.  As a winner at the Montreux Jazz Festival’s Solo Piano competition in 2005 and a visible figure on the European jazz scene, Lopez-Nussa asserts his own perspective on Afro-Cuban music.  He is at the forefront of a fast growing trend of bridging the gap between the old and the new by adding a modern approach.

 In his latest album release, El Pais de las Maravillas, he pushes all musical boundaries in pursuit of this new vision.  His uncompromising, innovative compositions combined with spontaneous, percussive improvisation reflect a combination of notable iconic pianists like Chucho Valdes and Chick Corea.

El Pais de las Maravillas (Spanish for “The Wonderland”) is H. Lopez-Nussa’s second U.S. release. His trio includes his younger brother, drum prodigy Ruy Adrian Lopez-Nussa and bassist Felipe Cabrera.  GRAMMY award-winning saxophonist David Sanchez joins the trio on selected tracks.

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