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Celebrating 507 years of afrocuban jazz influence, jazzed & rarin’ to go in january 2025, spellbound in the music nation.

If Cuba were the only country in the world, Earth would be known as the music planet. That’s why global celebs and jazz aficionados flock to legendary Cuba like pilgrims to Mecca for the Havana International Jazz Festival.

Sensuous Cuba is a nation of intense rhythms, colors, emotions, aromas, and flavors. What travelers remember most is its ubiquitous pulsating music – and the passionate, friendly islanders who make and revel in it.

Cuba’s a music machine pumping out a wall-to-wall sound that fuels the global music scene. Come visit Cuba. Jump into an audio inferno of Afrocuban beats, Latin jazz and swirling salsa, and dizzying son and rumba.

The original Havana Jazz Festival tours . We’ve been helping music lovers experience the richness of Cuban life and culture since 1997.

January 2025 Havana Jazz Festival tours – too much fun

Your 2025 jazz festival bucket list dream trip begins here, just the havana jazz festival.

January 28 to February 3, 2025 Focused on Havana’s vibrant pulsating music and arts scene, this tour provides an opportunity to rub shoulders with musicians and know …

Havana jazz festival plus

January 26 to February 3, 2025 Experience acclaimed jazz musicians and get to know Cuba for nine rocking days. Enjoy great food and learn all about island culture …

Private custom Cuba travel

Tell us the Cuba trip of your dreams. We’ll make it happen. Ideal for family and friends deserving something special. Free, fast, no-obligation itineraries designed by you together with Cuban experts in Havana.

Study abroad options in Cuba

Cuba provides the most engaging and rewarding study abroad possibilities in Latin America. Cuba Explorer has helped thousands of students delve into Cuba’s rich cultural roots and unique social fabric. We’re eager to assist teachers and students with experiential learning tours.

Fast online Cuba visitor visas

Official Cuba visitor visas for US travelers delivered to your home. Note This service is for independent Cuba travelers. All Cuba Explorer packages include a free Cuban visa.

Video: Jazz master Chucho Valdés serenades Havana Cuba

Chucho Valdés musical ode for Havana’s 500th birthday

Multiple Grammy, Latin Grammy Award winner and living jazz master Chucho Valdés pays musical tribute to Havana and its people for the city’s 500th anniversary. The video is dedicated to the National Ballet of Cuba’s prima ballerina Alicia Alonso (December 21, 1920 – October 17, 2019).

Havana jazz fest plus review

What an incredible holiday. The best I have had! My impressions of Havana and the places we visited during the Cuba Jazz tour are all positive. I thoroughly ... read more

Deborah Gunter Kew, Undefined

The music was excellent. The people of Havana are lovely, warm, and friendly, and a great collective soul. I wish they had more money to lead a more ... read more

Deborah Weldon Vancouver, Bc

Just the jazz festival review

The people we met were warm and welcoming. We were blown away by the music and art. Everything was fabulous! I really appreciated the small group size and ... read more

Gael O'Sullivan Bethesda, Maryland

Loved the tour and the opportunity to get to know Cuba and experience the stellar Havana Jazz Festival. Our daily schedule went smoothly. All the activities began and ... read more

Sara August St. Petersburg, Florida

Very impressed with every aspect of Havana, and the Jazz Festival. Loved the historical information provided by our tour guide Norberto.

Robert Clark Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This was my third trip to Cuba. As with previous trips, I thoroughly enjoyed the country and its people. Especially the music. The tour was well planned and ... read more

Keith Hill Waggaman, Louisiana

Friendly and welcoming. I appreciated seeing the pros and cons of socialism. The structure of the itinerary was perfectly paced for mornings and afternoons, and then evening music ... read more

Robert Kiefner Concord, New Hampshire

I was impressed with the people of Cuba as well as the culture. I observed that the culture of music, as well as art and dance, flows through ... read more

Michael Innis Far Rockaway, New York

I loved the opportunity to visit Cuba and learn more about its history and culture. I enjoyed interacting with the Cuban people, who were very friendly and welcoming. ... read more

David Kinzler Bloomington, Indiana

Beautiful country, friendly and funny and warm people. The Havana jazz fest plus tour was very educating and interesting.

Olufemi David Oladehin Calgary, Ab

It was beyond my expectations. I absolutely loved visiting Cuba. I enjoyed the history, the architecture, the people, the culture, the natural beauty, the arts, and of course, ... read more

Nancy Chiesa San Francisco, California

Very impressive trip. I loved touring modern Havana and old colonial city, the mojitos, charming natives. A bit expensive when compared to other Caribbean counties, but I find ... read more

Niurka Gonzalez Forest Hills, New York

The itinerary was just perfect, filled with a cultural, historical and social understanding of Cuba. Plenty of free time for the phenomenal Jazz Festival. Jazz Plaza 2019 was amazing. ... read more

Julie Hagigeorges Winthrop, Massachusetts

My family and I thoroughly enjoyed our Cuban vacation. Everyone was so friendly and hospitable. Our tour guide, Marianna, was exceptional, and our driver, Ray, made sure we ... read more

Claudia Haines Columbus, Georgia

What a fantastic introduction to Cuba, its people, culture, history, music, and more? The excellent tour itinerary offered a variety of activities and inside views of aspects of ... read more

Peggy Gennatiempo Bellevue, Washington

We felt very safe in Cuba. There was so much to learn. We'll certainly return. We were very impressed with the Cuban people and their culture and friendliness. ... read more

Farrokh Mahmoudi Encinitas, California

I want to return one day. I am deeply impressed with the spirit of this generation of Cubans. They are making the best of their homeland. I am ... read more

M Frances Manning-Fontaine Palm Coast, Florida

We'll be back. We fell in love with Havana! Great music everywhere you went. The people we met were very friendly, and the hotel Meliá Cohiba was tremendous ... read more

Charles Washington Wickenburg, Arizona

I have become an envoy to pass the message to many about your beautiful country! Your informative guides were a highlight.

Heyward Johnson Kenner, Louisiana

I couldn't have been more impressed by the Cuban people and their culture. The well organized Jazz Festival venues were the highlight. Indeed the whole trip experience was ... read more

Sol Wald Boynton Beach, Florida

My company, African Venture Inc., has hosted four previous tours to Cuba. We travel by road from Santiago to Camaguey, Trinidad de Cuba, Cienfuegos, Perico, and Havana. One ... read more

Marlene Melton New York, New York

Beautiful people, all very kind and welcoming. Our tour guide Mariana and our bus driver were outstanding.

Vinod Khilnani Gulfport, Florida

I was very impressed with my travel to Cuba. So impressed I will be returning in July or September. The people were very engaging and always willing to ... read more

Dessie Andrews Tallahassee, Florida

The people and culture are vibrant and lively. Our local guides were informative, charming, funny. I wish I could have seen it in its prime. The beautiful architecture ... read more

Valerie Schwartz L.a., California

The country was fascinating, the people were friendly and helpful, and the culture has similarities to other countries of Hispanic origin. Our tour guide Linett was excellent. She ... read more

Daniel Diaz San Antonio, Texas

Amazing extraordinary culture, unparalleled arts, music, dance, fine arts and beautiful family centric people. Cuba's the poorest richest country we have ever visited! Infrastructure in disrepair, lack of ... read more

Michael Wymes Berkeley, California

Friendly and optimistic, hardworking, very eager to please tourists and earn money. I liked the jazz concerts and most of the organized excursions: the organic farm, Fuster's mosaic ... read more

Steven Guberman St. Paul, Minnesota

Cuba is a wonderful place to visit and enjoy its rich and diverse culture. Everyone was friendly and we were impressed by the many talents they possessed. Cuba ... read more

Walter Reed Missouri City, Texas

My husband and I enjoyed our trip to Cuba very much especially because it reminded us of Puerto Rico where we were born. The architecture, the history, the ... read more

Noemi Figueroa Lutz, Florida

The Jazz Festival was phenomenal, the people very gracious and friendly, and the culture fascinating. I absolutely loved Cuba and look forward to a return trip. This trip ... read more

Ruth Michelson Placerville, California

Under adverse conditions the culture and people have remained resilient and retained their identity. Music, food, outlook on life is very positive. Everyone was pleasant, helpful and eager ... read more

Valerie Moss Washington Bronx, New York

Loved the Havana Jazz Festival and our trip to Las Terrazas. Cubans are clearly proud of their island and culture. People were friendly and eager to help.

Marilyn Arp Mccall, Idaho

We went to the amazing Havana Jazz Festival! My Latina partner and I love the music of Latin America. This is the largest event in the world for ... read more

Bruce Smith Sacramento, California

The Havana Jazz Festival! Everything here exceeded expectations: music, art, food and how nice everyone was.

Kevin Costa New York, New York

What I liked best were the tours through places I would never have found on my own going to the countryside and seeing the artistry was excellent. The ... read more

Carmen Monedero Foster City, California

Very interesting history and culture! A great mix of people, music, religion, architecture and vehicles for transportation! The tour was well organized by the tour leaders and of ... read more

Eivind Lande Oslo, Norway

I love Cuba. The people. I really liked the breakfast manager at the hotel Habana Libre. His customer service was EXCELLENT! Thought the overall food quality could have ... read more

Diane Smith San Francisco, California

Very friendly people. Many people live in poverty, but don't seem to blame the US for it, even though decades of sanctions has taken a severe toll. Can't ... read more

Jim Smith Key West, Florida

My impressions were very positive. The warmth and kindness of every person I came in contact with was very positive. The culture was very welcoming and non-judgemental. Loved ... read more

Kenneth Fullmore Rio Vista, California

Music everywhere was so much fun. I learned a great deal and had fun while learning. The ballet school was so heartwarming and special. I had a great ... read more

Daphne Moss Yonkers, New York

It was an incredible trip. The music, the people, the architecture, the Museums. I felt welcomed by Cuban's. Our guide, Linette Brown, made all the difference. She was ... read more

Margaret Suits Great Falls, Montana

The people, entertainment and history of the island exceeded our expectations. The music was the best! Our tour guide was exceptional in providing help with the different venues ... read more

Carlos Vargas Bronx, New York

The Cuban people are the friendliest people of all the people my wife and I have met in the various countries we have traveled to including most of ... read more

Robert Pokress Andover, Massachusetts

I loved the music, found it amazing there are so many fabulous musicians. Was also impressed with the arts and thought people were very friendly and gracious. Great ... read more

Olga Pomar Camden, New Jersey

Personally I loved Cuba and the people and their unity. My tour guide Laura was very professional and down to earth I can't say enoughabout her, she was ... read more

Rodney Smith Los Angeles, California

Loved the people, food, and the music, but went for the Havana Jazz Festival. Would have liked to have spent more time in Afro-Cuban cultural environment. Definitely a ... read more

Russell Jackson Houston, Texas

The tour could not have been better organized. You gave us more to see and to learn about Cuba than we ever expected! Thank you! The tour could ... read more

Siegfried Gerstung Baltimore, Maryland

I loved meeting the Cubans we encountered. They were gracious, generous, helpful, and shared our fun-loving nature. I also adored the sense of quality music and art being ... read more

Bart Schneider Berkeley, California

Amazing experience of immersion in the Cuban culture and the Cuban people. I loved everything! Our guide, Claudia was superb. The historical architecture of the hotel was amazing. ... read more

Susan Cauthon Denver, Colorado

The Havana Jazz festival was wonderful. I thoroughly enjoyed every venue that we caught. Cubans are wonderful, kind, fun, warm and gracious people despite the very considerable difficulties ... read more

Elliott Blass Newton Center, Massachusetts

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Don't miss your favorite Smooth Jazz, Pop and R&B stars at the stunning back bay amphitheater at Hyatt Regency Newport Beach ! This year catch performances by  SPYRO GYRA & LEE RITENOUR , WILL DOWNING , JAZZ ATTACK :  RICK BRAUN RICHARD ELLIOT & PETER WHITE , CHRIS BOTTI , FOUR TOPS ,  NAJEE  &  BRENDA RUSSELL , BONEY JAMES ,  ERIC BENÉT & PAUL TAYLOR , BRIAN CULBERTSON ,  COLBIE CAILLAT ,   SHEILA E. & CANDY DULFER !

Don't miss the 4th Annual music series at Tuolumne Trails, with a top-of-the-line sound system and accessible seating, this brand-new performance space allows talented performers and guests of all needs to enjoy the gift of music, making music more accessible to all! This year's line-up features ADAM HAWLEY , VINCENT INGALA , THE BONESHAKERS feat Randy Jacobs & Jenny Langer and REBECCA JADE & JEFF RYAN . Proceeds benefit Tuolumne Trail's summer programs.

Presented by Foster Perry Travel & Events, Jazz on the Water by Land and by Sea Concert Series presents the biggest stars in Smooth Jazz!  RICK BRAUN, JESSY J, GERALD ALBRIGHT & WALTER BEASLEY ! Bringing the best of jazz to San Antonio! Tickets & Travel : JazzOnTheWaterUS.com

Get ready for smooth sailing and explore romantic ports of call in the Caribbean on board world-class cruise lines with acclaimed jazz host  BILLYRAY SHEPPARD  on his SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE  sailing from Galveston to Cozumel, Grand Bahama and Coco Cay! For travel arrangements including cruise, air, hotel and transportation visit JazzOnTheWaterUS.com!

Get ready to be swept away by an evening of undeniable talent with jazzy and soulful melodies that will leave you spellbound Saturday's line-up features MAYSA , CHELSEY GREEN and THE GREEN PROJECT , CHRISTIE DASHIELL and THE PAMELA HART QUINTET , while   Sunday includes KIM SCOTT , KYLE TURNER , PHYLICIA RAE , KERRY WILKINS and ANGE K. Tickets Available @  WomenInJazz.org

The nonprofit  Monterey Jazz Festival is the longest continuously-running jazz festival in the world and has been held annually on the 20-acre, oak-studded Monterey County Fairgrounds since 1958. The 67th lineup features STANLEY CLARKE N•4EVER , MAVIS STAPLES , SAMARA JOY , ROBERT GLASPER FEAT YEBBA , JOSÉ JAMES , CORY HENRY , BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA w/BOBBY RUSH , EASTWOOD SYMPHONIC , HIROMI'S SONICWONDER , JOSHUA REDMAN GROUP FEAT GABRIELLE CAVASSA , and more!   MontereyJazzFestival.org  

There has been a JOHN SCOFIELD TRIO at play since the late 70’s and it undisputedly remains his favorite format. The newest incarnation – Scofield on guitar, bassist VICENTE ARCHER and drummer BILL STEWART  are having fun. They sail through tightly knit sets that typify the musical diversity that has colored Scofield’s long career. More than just a collection of tunes, they play music that embodies the spirit that has kept improvisational jazz vigorous and visceral since its start.  RidgefieldPlayhouse.org . 

Hosted by ERIC DARIUS , includes performances from BRIAN CULBERTSON, JEFFREY OSBORNE, JONATHAN BUTLER & MARCUS MILLER, BOB JAMES, CANDY DULFER, RNR FEATURING RICK BRAUN & RICHARD ELLIOT, PETER WHITE & VINCENT INGALA, MARION MEADOWS, BRIAN SIMPSON & ALTHEA RENE, AND ERIC DARIUS with special guest REBECCA JADE . 386-681-7007 FloridaSmoothJazz.com

The 12th Annual Gala Weekend features BRIAN CULBERTSON , VICTOR WOOTEN & THE WOOTEN BROTHERS , ALTHEA RENE , JJ SANSAVERINO ,  ACOUSTIC ALCHEMY , LAKESIDE , ADAM HAWLEY , PAUL TAYLOR , JACKIEM JOYNER , THE FELLAS w/ NATHAN MITCHELL , LIN ROUNTREE , NICHOLAS COLE , M ARCUS ANDERSON & JULIAN VAUGHN , AVERY SUNSHINE & WILL DOWNING , CON-FUNK-SHUN , DAMIEN ESCOBAR , PATRICE RUSHEN , WALTER BEASLEY , RICHARD ELLIOT , ZAPP feat BOOTSY COLLINS , LINDSEY WEBSTER , MARION MEADOWS and many more!  JazzLegacyFoundation.org

Don't miss this highly acclaimed saxophonist, composer, and bandleader, who emerged onto the Brooklyn jazz scene in the 1990s upon winning the Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition. Over the past three decades, the multi-hyphenate musician has consistently demonstrated the art of honoring jazz history while expanding its reach in contemporary settings. The JOSHUA REDMAN GROUP is praised for their charismatic performances and innovative approach to jazz music. RidgefieldPlayhouse.org

Rick Braun's New Year's Eve Getaway starring RICK BRAUN and featuring GERALD ALBRIGHT , RICHARD ELLIOT , PETER WHITE , LINDSEY WEBSTER , MARCUS ANDERSON , JULIAN VAUGHN & NATHAN MITCHELL ! Ring in the New Year with music, dining, dancing & hotel accommodations at Rosen Shingle Creek Orlando! 386-681-7007 | FloridaSmoothJazz.com

Enjoy two full weeks of HOT jazz at the Premiere Jazz Festival in the Southwest featuring SHEILA E. AND THE E-TRAIN , CHARLES LLOYD OCEAN TRIO feat GERALD CLAYTON & ANTHONY WILSON , DELFEAYO MARSALIS AND THE UPTOWN JAZZ ORCHESTRA , BRIAN BROMBERG'S UNAPOLOGETICALLY FUNKY BIG BAND w/Special Guest MICHAEL PAULO , NEW BREED BRASS BAND and many more! Beyond the concert hall with 80+ artists performing on stages all over Downtown Tucson , plus Jazz Jams , Late Nite Sessions and the Downtown Jazz Fiesta  (free to the public)!  TucsonJazzFestival.org

Host MINDI ABAIR is joined by  GERALD ALBRIGHT, KEIKO MATSUI, RANDY JACOBS, RICK BRAUN, VINCENT INGALA & PETER WHITE, PAUL TAYLOR  & ADAM HAWLEY and BRIAN SIMPSON & JESSY J . Packages include Concerts, Hotel, Dinners, Brunches and Activities. 386-681-7007 FloridaSmoothJazz.com

This week-long cruise aboard the AMADEUS BRILLIANT begins and ends in Amsterdam. Visit peaceful fishing villages, observe old windmills, and sample delicious Edam cheese and world-famous Belgian chocolates. Cities such as Bruges, Maastricht, Rotterdam, and Antwerp, with their unique culture and architecture, may cause you to lose track of the day as you meander their charming streets and alleys. Every day is rounded off with the masters of Smooth Jazz live on stage in the Panorama-Lounge including ERIC DARIUS , KEIKO MATSUI , KIRK WHALUM , PETER WHITE and more to be announced.
 A limited festival experience with only 130 guests!

JAZZIZ Travel Guide: 20 Jazz Festivals That Should Be On Your Bucket List

The Saint Lucia Jazz Festival (pictured) is among the many fests that should be on any serious jazz traveler’s bucket list.

There’s no denying that jazz is a global phenomenon, with a network of artist and fans that extends to every corner of the world. Dispersed as we are, we’re also more connected than ever, convening on sites like JAZZIZ.com to discuss, celebrate and occasionally argue over the music that binds us.

Occasionally, we even get to congregate in person, and jazz festivals, like the ones we list in this guide, allow us to connect to the music — and each other — on a deeper level.

Attending a festival is certainly one of the most exciting ways to experience jazz, but it’s also a way to interact with a new place and culture. Jazz festivals afford attendees the opportunity to hear familiar sounds in a far-off setting, but they also encourage festivalgoers to taste new foods, see new sights and meet new people. So, in the spirit of making the jazz world seem a little smaller, we’ve compiled a list of festivals that should be on any jazz fan’s bucket list. These are the festivals that, for reasons musical and historical, have made an impression on the jazz world that endures to this day. Of the 20 festivals listed, 10 are in the United States and Canada and 10 are international. Their start dates range throughout the year, so no matter when or where you’re planning your trip, you’ll be sure to find some jazz nearby.

United States and Canada

International Fest de Jazz de Montréal Downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada Next Edition: June 27 – July 6, 2019

Ranked as the world’s largest jazz festival in the Guinness Book of World Records, the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal is among the very best celebrations of jazz anywhere on the planet. Every year for 10 days, the French-speaking metropolis of North America becomes a living, breathing jazz venue, where fans of all types rub shoulders with aficionados of jazz in its purest form. Concerts take place on free outdoor stages in Montreal’s beautiful downtown business corridor, as well as in intimate clubs, swanky jazz venues and historic concert halls across the city. This is one festival you absolutely can’t miss.

Newport Jazz Festival Fort Adams State Park, Newport, Rhode Island, United States Next Edition: August 2-4, 2019

The granddaddy of American jazz festivals, the Newport Jazz Festival was founded in 1954. The first edition, organized by jazz impresario George Wein, featured performances by the likes of Billie Holiday and Stan Kenton. In the years since, the festival has played home to some of the most iconic live performances in jazz. Sixty-five years since the festival’s inception, Wein still stands prominently at Newport’s helm — though he’s aided in his duties by modern bass phenom Christian McBride. Live music by the biggest names in jazz, together with Fort Adams’ scenic seaside beauty, make this a festival that should be on any serious jazz fan’s bucket list.   

Monterey Jazz Festival Monterey, California, United States Next Edition: September 27 – 29, 2019

Monterey Jazz Festival is much more than a series of concerts. It’s a full-blown jazz experience. Now in its sixth decade, the festival offers 20 acres of magnificent oak-studded grounds for fans to enjoy, featuring films, lectures, exhibitions, food and beverages, an international shopping bazaar and 8 stages of live jazz entertainment. More importantly, the festival is a major proponent of ensuring safe spaces for all musicians, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity and culture. With stellar musical programming, a stunning natural landscape and an inclusive social outlook, Monterey is leading the way in a new jazz fest culture.

New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival New Orleans, Louisiana, United States Next Edition: April 2020

It only makes sense that the birthplace of jazz would be home to one of the most exciting music festivals in the world. The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival has made its mission to blend a wide mix of artists and genres, attracting some of the biggest names in modern music to its legendary stages. Historically, those acts have included Aretha Franklin, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughan, Dave Brubeck and many others. Today, you’re just as likely to see performances by modern stars like Trombone Shorty and Branford Marsalis as you would Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Wonder.

Litchfield Jazz Festival Washington, Connecticut, United States Next Edition: July 26-28, 2019

The Litchfield Jazz Festival is one of the most scenic festivals in jazz, taking place amid the rolling hills of the Connecticut countryside. No surprise, then, that the festival continues to be a major draw for local jazz fans and touring musicians alike. For this year’s edition, the festival has relocated to The Gunnery in Washington, Connecticut, a move that coincides with the conclusion of the four-week-long Litchfield Jazz Camp. Featuring local food, top-flight jazz acts and performances by extremely talented campers, Litchfield is a feel-good fest worth seeking out.

Detroit Jazz Festival Detroit, Michigan, United States Next Edition: August 30 – September 2, 2019

The Detroit Jazz Festival is among the largest free outdoor festivals in the country. Taking place over Labor Day, the festival has been a staple of the Midwestern jazz circuit for nearly four decades. Every year, in addition to booking international jazz icons as headliners, the festival also designates an artist-in-residence. Previous artists-in-residence include Pat Metheny and Wayne Shorter. For the 2019 edition, the festival has brought in electric bass innovator Stanley Clarke. For a free festival, the experience is priceless.

San Jose Jazz Summer Fest San Jose, California, United States Next Edition: August 9-11, 2019

San Jose Jazz Summer Fest truly embodies the Silicon Valley start-up spirit. The first San Jose Jazz Festival took place in 1990 over two days in August at the Plaza de César Chavez, attracting 10,000 attendees. (The festival organizers doubled as the clean-up crew.) Thirty years later, the plaza remains the festival’s epicenter, but the magnitude of the festival has grown exponentially, becoming one of the West Coast’s foremost jazz fests, with more than 100 acts taking place across 12 stages. This year’s lineup represents the very best in vocal jazz, with headliners including Diane Reeves, Gregory Porter, Pink Martini and The O’Jays.

Chicago Jazz Festival Chicago, Illinois, United States Next Edition: August 23-September 1, 2019

The Chicago Jazz Festival is the most anticipated jazz event in the Windy City. This free, outdoor celebration of jazz takes place every year in downtown Chicago’s beautiful Millenium Park, as well as in additional venues throughout the city. The fest features artists from across the musical spectrum, with a special focus on the city’s homegrown avant-garde and blues artists. With the beautiful Chicago skyline as a backdrop, and with food and beverages from local eateries available onsite, this festival represents the very best of Chicago’s incredible jazz history.

Telluride Jazz Festival Telluride, Colorado, United States Next Edition: August 9-11, 2019

Since 1977, Telluride’s majestic perch high in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado has been the site of an annual jazz fest combining breathtaking natural landscapes with the captivating music. Concerts take place in an intimate format, with abundant musical offerings from nationally touring acts on outdoor stages during the day and historic venues at night. Paired with alpine recreational activities and local food and wine, the result is an immersive live music experience that has attracted audiophiles from around the world for four decades.

Rochester International Jazz Festival Rochester, New York, United States Next Edition: June 21-29, 2019

Honorable Mentions

Biamp PDX Jazz Festival Portland, Oregon, United States Next Edition: February and March, 2020

Nationally and regionally supported as a cultural tourism initiative in celebration of Black History Month, PDX Jazz Festival is dedicated to preserving America’s indigenous art form by presenting internationally recognized jazz masters alongside local jazz musicians.

Atlanta Jazz Festival Atlanta, Georgia, United States Next Edition: May 25-26, 2019

Over its more than 40-year history, the Atlanta Jazz Festival has been the backdrop to musical legends such as Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie and Nina Simone. This free outdoor fest, held inside the beautiful Piedmont Park, is the perfect way to spend your Memorial Day weekend in ATL.

Jacksonville Jazz Festival Jacksonville, Florida, United States Next Edition: May 23-26, 2019

At the Jacksonville Jazz Fest, attendees will experience two stages of live jazz, local food, drinks, shopping and entertainment. Since first taking place in 1981, the Jazz Fest has become one of the largest jazz festivals in the country, offering a fun and vibrant street festival atmosphere in downtown Jax.

New York Winter Jazzfest New York City, New York, United States Next Edition: January 9-18, 2020

Winter Jazzfest is New York City’s premiere showcase for improvised music, practically unrivaled in size and scope. The festival’s signature event is the Winter Jazzfest Marathon.  These endurance-listening sessions offer up to six hours of continuous music by performers from across the jazz spectrum.

Clearwater Jazz Holiday Clearwater, Florida, United States Next Edition: October 17-20, 2019

The Clearwater Jazz Holiday is a four-day and four-night, world-class, live, music festival, enjoyed by over 35,000 people the third week of every October and now in its 40th year. The music festival has evolved from a series of concerts on the back of a flatbed truck and at venues around Clearwater into an annual, international, music festival that draws tens of thousands of visitors each year.

Iowa City Jazz Festival Iowa City, Iowa, United States Next Edition: July 5-7, 2019

The Iowa City Jazz Festival is a three-day weekend of live jazz performances and delicious local dishes, capped off with a full-blown fireworks display over the University of Iowa Pentacrest.

International Festivals

Montreux Jazz Festival Montreux, Switzerland Next Edition: June 28 – July 13, 2019

The Montreux Jazz Festival is one of the world’s most important fests, founded in 1967 on Switzerland’s Lake Geneva shoreline. The festival — the world’s second largest — was founded on a philosophy of pure jazz, and memorable performers from years past include Miles Davis, Keith Jarrett and Bill Evans. Today, jazz is still the festival’s guiding light, but its musical palette has expanded to include artists on the pop side of the musical spectrum. For the 2019 edition, that includes Sting, Elton John, Slash and ZZ Top.

North Sea Jazz Festival Rotterdam, The Netherlands Next Edition: July 12-14, 2019

The Netherlands’ North Sea Jazz is the largest indoor music festival in the world, known for its pan-generational view of jazz and eclectic musical bookings. Visitors are regularly treated to new and emerging acts in the genres of jazz, blues, avant-garde rock, funk, soul and R&B, and the fest regularly accommodates more than thousand musicians spread out over 150 performances and fifteen different stages. But for such a large-scale event, the North Sea Jazz Fest in Rotterdam still manages to maintain an intimate character, reminiscent of its early days at the Hague, when legends like Count Basie and Stan Getz  graced its stage.

Umbria Jazz Festival Perugia, Italy Next Edition: July 12-21, 2019

The Umbria Jazz Festival in Perugia is Italy’s most famous jazz celebration, known throughout the region as the premier musical celebration of the summer. The fest began in 1973 as a showcase for Italian jazz artists but in the years since has grown to accommodate musicians and ensembles from around the world. Though it has a strong jazz flavor, the fest attracts artists and jazz fans from related genres like funk, soul, experimental music and R&B. All of it takes place amid the modern-meets-historical landscape of Perugia, one of the most beautiful cities in Umbria region of Central Italy.

Havana Jazz Festival Havana, Cuba Next Edition: January 1-19, 2020

Jazz in Marciac Marciac, France Next Edition: July 25 – August 15, 2019

Cape Town Jazz Festival Cape Town, South Africa Next Edition: March 2020

The Cape Town Jazz Festival is one of South Africa’s most anticipated musical events, drawing fans from around the world to this coastal city for two days of outstanding music and educational programming. The festival takes a wide-view when it comes to its lineup — past years’ headliners have included Chaka Khan and Jeff Lorber — but there’s also a strong focus on local artists, such as drummer Louis Moholo-Moholo and trumpeter Darren English. Next year, Cape Town will be the site of the International Jazz Day Global Concert, an event that will vault the city even further into the jazz spotlight.

Jarasum International Jazz Festival Jarasum, South Korea Next Edition: October 4-6, 2019

“Stepping onstage at the Jarasum Jazz Festival is like stumbling into an alternate universe where jazz is suddenly young, hip, sexy and cool,” says saxophonist Joshua Redman. The festival — which takes place on an island at the center of the Korean peninsula just a few hours from Seoul — attracts upwards of 100,000 attendees per year from countries far and wide. The headlining artists are equally vast and varied, with previous headliners including the Carla Bley Trio and saxophonist Grace Kelly. This is one fest where attendees aren’t afraid to get down and dance to the music, so if you’re planning a trip, be sure to bring your dancing shoes.

JazzFest Berlin Berlin, Germany Next Edition: October 31 – November 3, 2019

In 1964, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered the opening remarks at the Berlin Jazz Festival, honoring jazz’s role as a force of integration, progress and cross-cultural understanding. More than 50 years later, jazz musicians from Berlin and all over the world continue to come together to play at the Jazzfest, making the festival one of the oldest and most prestigious in Europe. The festival is jam-packed with music but well-distributed across town, with concerts taking place in intimate jazz clubs throughout the city, allowing you to sample all that Berlin has to offer as you take in sounds of international jazz artists.

Cheltenham Jazz Festival Cheltenham, England Next Edition: May 2020

Jamie Cullum is a fan. So is Moira Stuart. And it’s no wonder why. With over 20,000 music-fans getting in the festival swing every year, Cheltenham Jazz Festival has become one England’s most beloved jazz celebrations. Taking place amid the stunning Montpellier Gardens at the heart of Cheltenham, this fest is the perfect place to soak up the sounds of today’s biggest jazz stars (and to catch a glimpse of the jazz stars of tomorrow), while wining and dining on festival grounds. This fest is family- and foodie-friendly, with an array of vendors offering local fare and activities for kids. “The great thing about Cheltenham Jazz Festival is that it brings together so many genres under the umbrella of jazz,” says Cullum.

Melbourne International Jazz Festival Melbourne, Australia Next Edition: May 31 – June 9, 2019

Honorable Mentions:

Panama Jazz Festival City of Knowledge, Panama City, Panama Next Edition: January 13-18, 2020

The brainchild of pianist Danilo Perez, the Panama Jazz Festival is a much-sought-after jazz event in South America, attracting over 300,000 jazz fans worldwide and offering students more than 4.5 million dollars in scholarships on an international level. Its educational component — supported by Berklee College of Music — brings 5,000 music students from all over the world to perform with Berklee faculty and alumni every year.

Copenhagen Jazz Festival Copenhagen, Denmark Next Edition: July 5-14, 2019

Copenhagen has played an important role in the history of jazz, serving as home to American expatriates and Danish innovators alike. And since 1979, the Copenhagen Jazz Festival has been shining a spotlight on the city’s vibrant music scene. Lasting 10 days, the festival envelops the Danish capital, offering a sumptuous musical feast to the 250,000 guests. Attendees can enjoy live jazz on the city’s streets, in its clubs, cafés and concert halls, and at open-air night venues – all in the very heart of historical Copenhagen.

St. Lucia Jazz Festival St. Lucia, Greater Antilles Next Edition: May 4-12, 2019

The St. Lucia Jazz Festival Produced in Collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center will showcase more than a dozen performances by world-renowned artists in intimate venues and public settings throughout one of the Caribbean’s most magnificent islands. If the pristine beaches, lapping waves and billowing palms aren’t enough to entice a visit, consider the musical programming, which this year will included a gospel jazz brunch on Mother’s Day, jazz cruises under the stars, concerts in waterfront venues and breathtaking open-air performances.

Red Sea Jazz Festival Eilat, Israel Next Edition: August 25-27, 2019

The Port of Eilat, a modern tourist town with a spectacular backdrop of blue sea and red desert mountains, provides the captivating location for this yearly celebration of jazz culture. Catch immersive sets by some of the biggest names in jazz in shipping freighters that have been transformed into music halls, indulge on local food and wine, or simply sit back and watch the yachts drift in from the sea. It’s all there at the Red Sea Jazz Festival.  

Java Jazz Festival Jakarta, Indonesia Next Edition: March 2020

Jakarta International BNI Java Jazz Festival (JJF) is one of the largest jazz festivals in the world and arguably the biggest in Southern Hemisphere. Held in Jakarta, Indonesia, this annual Jazz got its start in 2005 when approximately 102 groups and 1,227 artists performed in 146 shows. It recently celebrated its 15th anniversary with a bigger-than-ever bash that featured headliners Toto and H.E.R.

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Jazz Travelogue: Exploring Identity at Jazzfest Berlin

Norway’s moldejazz festival: fjord-side jazz haven, steeped in old & young spirits.

FESTIVAL JAZZ EN TOURAINE 13 AU 22 SE PT 2024 à Montlouis-sur-Loire

La Programmation  2024

©Fabien Garou

Découvrez les artistes et la programmation du festival IN , dans le très confortable Magic Mirror et dans l'Espace Ligéria, lors de cette 38ème édition du Festival International Jazz en Touraine.

Découvrez les nombreux concerts du OFF dans les 18 communes partenaires, offrant une sélection éclectique d’artistes et de formations jazz, couvrant différents styles et époques.

DÉCOUVREZ LA PROGRAMMATION EN IMAGES !

Télécharger le programme.

Retrouvez la sélection 2024 sur SPOTIFY

Billetterie.

Espace Ligéria  

Plein tarif | 38€

Tarif CE, groupes (10 personnes et +) | 33€

Tarif réduit | 28€

(12-18 ans, étudiant.e.s, PCE, YEP’S et Pass Culture, 

demandeur.euse.s d’emploi, RSA, carte jeunes montlouisien.ne.s 0-25)

Tarif enfant (-12 ans) | 12€

Abonnement 7 soirées à l’espace Ligéria | 224€

Magic Mirror

Plein tarif | 20€

Tarif CE, groupes (10 personnes et +) | 17€

Tarif réduit | 12€

Tarif enfant (-12 ans) | 10€

Pass Ligéria + Magic Mirror pour la même soirée | 48€ 

3 soirées et + sur l’ensemble des concerts

(Ligéria et/ou Magic Mirror)

ouverture du tarif CE aux individuel.le.s pour une même personne

Pass Ligéria | 45€

(vendredi et samedi)

12-18 ans, étudiant.e.s, PCE, Yep’s et Pass Culture  

Places assises numérotées à Ligéria à 

l’exception du 14/09 (placement debout/assis).

Placement libre au Magic Mirror

​ Éligible cagnotte YEP’S et Pass Culture

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A Curated Cultural Experience

Havana, cuba: january 28 – february 3, 2025, exclusive trip to cuba’s havana jazz festival led by award-winning musician, jorge pacheco. .

Do you want an authentic experience of Cuba’s music and culture? Then Blue Note Travel’s Havana Jazz Festival trip is perfect for you! The Jazz Festival is the most exciting time of year for music in Havana, when many artists living abroad return home and multiple indoor and outdoor venues are overflowing with live music.

On this tour, you will experience the old-world charm of Havana, while also enjoying the best music Cuba has to offer! You’ll also enjoy delicious food at Havana’s finest restaurants, and complete immersion in the rich history and culture of Cuba. At night you can go to any number of shows going on at venues all over Havana. 

Book Your Trip

Travel with us January 28 – February 3, 2025 by calling 800-747-6042 or visiting our contact page to request more information.

Trip Highlights

In addition to the Havana Jazz Festival and musical experiences, highlights of the tour include:

• Welcome rooftop dinner at paladar La Guari da
• Tour of Old Havana, a world-renowned UNESCO heritage site
• Visit a bee apiary and drink honey from the hive
• Experience Cuba’s culinary scene with meals at top eateries including El Del Frente and Cafe Ajiaco
• Shopping, private tours, private concerts and more!

Accommodations

Blue Note Travel guests will stay at the Grand Aston La Habana . Located in the heart of the Malecón, with a spectacular ocean view, the Grand Aston swill serve as a refuge where you relax and recharge while experiencing the glamour, history, and energy of its vibrant location.

10 Top Jazz Festivals Around the World

Jazz exists in many forms. It can be relaxing, upbeat, slow, fast, erratic, and many other variations. The best jazz music can transport a listener to a different time and place, wringing every ounce of emotion out of them before bringing them back to the present.

Finding these experiences involves making other, more physical journeys. The best place to find the latest and greatest jazz is at one of the many jazz festivals held annually around the world. If you are inclined to travel and love jazz at its finest, check out our list of the top jazz music festivals around the world.

1. The Copenhagen Jazz Festival

The  Copenhagen Jazz Festival  is held near the start of summer – typically beginning in late June or early July – each year in Denmark. In 2022, it ran longer than usual, starting on June 24 and continuing until July 10. In 2024, it’ll be slightly briefer, beginning on July 5th and running through July 14.

This event has been held since 1979, making it one of the most distinguished jazz festivals in Europe and one of the most famous jazz festivals around the world. It has something for every jazz lover , hosting over 1,300 concerts featuring a slew of styles. Plus, there are kid- and family-friendly activities, allowing visitors to enjoy far more than great music.

If you’re looking for outstanding accommodations, here are some options in Copenhagen that are worth considering:

• Next House Copenhagen
• citizenM Copenhagen Radhuspladsen
• 25hours Hotel Indre By

2. The Clearwater Jazz Holiday

The Clearwater Jazz Holiday has also been held since 1979 in Clearwater, Florida. The Clearwater Jazz Holiday is a world-class, multi-day celebration of jazz that’s held every October (October 17 – 20, 2024), often hosting over thirty-five thousand visitors.

This event is held at Coachman Park and features a combination of great artists performing in a wide variety of jazz styles that are sure to inspire and delight jazz fans from all over the world. Because of the beautiful Florida beaches, the warm Florida sun, and amazing jazz, this is one of the top jazz festivals to attend. This year, they will be celebrating their 45 Anniversary.

When it comes to accommodations, Clearwater has plenty to offer. Here are some options you may want to explore:

• Tropical Inn & Suites Downtown Clearwater
• Belleview Inn
• AC Hotel by Marriott Clearwater Beach

3. The Java Jazz Festival

The Java Jazz Festival has been held for more than ten years in Jakarta, Indonesia. While the event previously took place in March, it is scheduled this year from May 24 – 26, 2024.

This event is considered the biggest jazz festival in the Southern Hemisphere. The Java Jazz Festival features popular Indonesian jazz artists and international greats from all across the globe. The lineups often have some of the biggest names in the jazz world, and the country itself is breathtakingly beautiful, which is why this is one of the most popular international jazz festivals.

Finding great accommodations for this jazz festival is also a breeze. Here are some stellar options:

• Holiday Inn & Suites Jakarta Gajah Mada
• Ashley Tanah Abang
• InterContinental Hotels Jakarta Pondok Indah

4. The Montreal International Jazz Festival

The Montreal International Jazz Festival isn’t just one of the top jazz musicians and festivals in the world; it’s officially ranked the world’s largest jazz festival. The event holds the Guinness World Record for hosting more than 1.9 million jazz fans during its 25th-anniversary celebration, cementing its place in history.

The event is held annually, starting in June and running into July in Quebec, Canada. For 2024, the dates will be June 27 – July 6.

For many people, this is easily one of the best jazz festivals for anyone who wants to experience more of what the genre has to offer. This festival has stood the test of time, as it’s been going since the early 1980s. Typically, this long-lasting festival attracts upwards of three thousand artists, both national and international artists, from over thirty-plus countries. You are sure to find your favorite jazz artists at The Montreal International Jazz Festival.

If you want to make sure your accommodations are conveniently located for the festival, here are some options:

• Hotel Chateau de l’Argoat
• Hotel St. Thomas

5. The Montreux Jazz Festival

The Montreux Jazz Festival takes place in Switzerland, usually starting in late June or early July. In 2024, the event will begin on July 5th and runs through to July 20.

This event is one of the biggest jazz festivals, coming in second only to Canada’s Montreal International Jazz Festival. The Montreux Jaz Festival attracts between two hundred and three hundred thousand people every year, all of whom come to enjoy fantastic music and a sense of camaraderie.

This grand event was founded in 1967, which has led many to view it as one of the more traditional jazz festivals. However, that isn’t a comment on the music or amenities, as you’ll find modern conveniences and nearly every jazz style represented here.

For great accommodations for your stay in Switzerland, consider these options:

• Le Coucou Hotel & Restaurant-Bar
• Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic
• Hotel Victoria Glion

6. The XJazz Festival in Berlin

The XJazz Berlin Festival is a newer event, first occurring in May 2014. However, it quickly became a favorite among jazz fans and is often considered one of the best jazz festivals in the world for anyone who enjoys boundary-pushing, innovative jazz music.

This event brings together an eclectic array of jazz artists and attendees every May, giving this festival a unique edge. If you’d like to experience it firsthand, plan to be in Berlin between May 6 and 12th, 2024, and make sure to scoop up your tickets in advance. This year, Berlin’s XJazz Festival is celebrating its 10th Anniversary!

If you’re looking for a great place to stay in Berlin, here are some options for accommodations:

• Motel One Berlin-Spittelmarkt
• Berlin Marriott Hotel
• Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin

7. The Eltham Jazz, Food & Wine Festival

When it comes to jazz festivals in Australia, the Eltham Jazz, Food & Wine Festival is considered by many to be one of the top jazz festivals in the world. It features incredible live music throughout, delectable food, and magnificent wine, making the total experience absolutely stellar.

Usually, this event – which is scheduled for February 23rd – 24th, 2024 – features mainly local jazz artists, making it an excellent option for anyone who wants to explore the Australian jazz scene. Plus, the Eltham Jazz, Food & Wine Festival is a free, child-friendly event, so this jazz festival could take your Australian vacation to the next level. This year, the Eltham Jazz, Food and Wine Festival is celebrating its 25th Anniversary. 

If you’re coming in from another city or country and want some local accommodations, here are some excellent options:

• The Sherwood Hotel
• Lismore Gateway Motel
• Luxury Tee Pee Byron Bay

8. Manly Jazz Festival

With stages set up alongside Manly Beach in Australia, the Manly Jazz Festival is another fantastic event for jazz fans. Along with traditional jazz artists, you’ll find a lot of jazz fusion at this event, making it a fun way to explore new styles. In 2024, this event will take place on September 20-22nd.

You also have plenty of options for outstanding accommodations. Here are some to consider:

• Nightcap at Pymble Hotel
• The Woolstore 1888 by Ovolo
• Quest Manly

9. Cancun Jazz Fest

From November 8-10, 2024, you can enjoy the Cancun Jazz Festival . You can enjoy a wide array of jazz artists in a breathtakingly beautiful setting. Whether you prefer smooth jazz or jazz with a bit of soul, there’s something for you.

Finding a great place to stay in Cancun isn’t too challenging. If you want to get started with your search, here are some accommodations you might want to explore:

• Hotel Bonampak
• Renaissance Cancun Resort & Marina
• Moon Palace Cancun

10. North Sea Jazz Festival

The North Sea Jazz Festival Rotterdam in The Netherlands is taking place from July 12-14, 2024. The Rotterdam North Sea Jazz Festival features a mix of jazz legends and local Dutch jazz artists and is typically attended by around 75,000 jazz enthusiasts every year. It offers substantial diversity regarding the types of jazz played, making it an excellent option for music fans of any jazz subgenre .

Getting to the North Sea Jazz Festival from Amsterdam isn’t overly challenging either, as Rotterdam is less than one hour away. Plus, you have plenty of outstanding options for accommodations, including the North Sea Jazz Festival hotels below:

• Havendijk Hotel
• Motto By Hilton Rotterdam Blaak
• Bilderberg Parkhotel Rotterdam

BONUS: 4 USA Jazz Festivals

After exploring some of the best jazz festivals around the world, you might want to see some of the best of what the USA offers. Overall, there are several top jazz festivals in the USA, with amazing events happening all across the country.

If you’re looking for some of the best jazz festivals in the US, here are four that easily qualify:

• John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Fest – High Point, NC – August 31 to September 1st, 2024
• Monterey Jazz Festival – Monterey, CA – September 27-29, 2024
• New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival – New Orleans, LA – April 25-May 5, 2024
• PDX Jazz Festival – Portland, OR – February 16-March 2nd, 2024

Now it’s your turn. What is your favorite jazz festival, and why

Manly Jazz Sydney Australia

Longest running community jazz festival in Australia held at beautiful,seaside resort of Manly, NSW. Free to attend and offers a range of jazz styles including international artists as well as substantial youth component in school bands performing on 5 stages across the site. Held on October labour Day Weekend every year since 1978 – 42nd year this year (2019) Thousands of tourists and locals flock to the event every year so soak up the sun, surf, sand and sounds. One of the most successful jazz festivals in the world.

YES MONTREAL !!!!! HAVE been to the Montreal International Jazz Festival since 1994 and year after year the programmation is just unbelievable :Metheny, Marsalis ,Haden, Barber….Exct….Lovely City,Lovely people’s, Lovely Music.

Guinness Cork Jazz Festival

24th to the 29th of October

North Sea Jazz Festival (Rotterdam)??

The Rochester International Jazz Fest, one of the largest jazz festivals in the world, is celebrating its 20th Edition from June 23 – July 1, 2023 in Rochester, NY. Rochester is located in upstate New York in the Finger Lakes region and on Lake Ontario. RIJF navigates all genres of creative improvised music bringing together unique musical sounds from many countries, highlighting international artists’ take on the only truly American art form – jazz. The 9-day Europeans style festival presents more than 1750 artists from around the world at 20 diverse indoor and outdoor concert venues, all within walking distance. The Club Pass Series of 192 shows at 11 venues is accessible with one ticket, the Club Pass, a value pass to discovery to hear legends and rising stars. Come and go from concerts as you like. Three and nine-day passes are available. In addition to a ticketed reserved seating headliner series, music fans can enjoy more than 100 free shows. Held in the heart of downtown Rochester with four venues located at the renowned Eastman School of Music. See the history of the amazing lineups here: https://www.rochesterjazz.com/history . The 2023 lineup will be announced in March. The multi-dimensional festival was founded in 2002, attendance has grown from 15,000 in 2002 to 210,000 in 2022.

How can you have this list without mentioning the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam??????

Try Gărâna Jazz Festival. Three decades ago started the most eclectic mix of nordic sounds (ECM, ACT…), with Oriental & MittelEuropa fragrances. In a Woodstock like scene, surrounded by mountains and forrests, Eberhard Weber, Mike Stern, Jan Garbarek, Charles Lloyd, Jean-Luc Ponty, Stanley Jordan, John Abercrombie, Miroslav Vitous, Zakir Hussain, Magnus Ostrom, Bugge Wesseltoft, Lars Danielsson, Avishai Cohen, Nils Petter Molvaer, Hiromi, Nik Bartsch, Dhafer Youssef, Trygve Seim , Frank Gambale, Eivind Aarset, Håkon Kornstad, Mathias Eick , Per Mathisen, Marcin Pater, Leszek Możdżer, Marcin Wasilewski … to name a few of the fabulous line-up.

The Umbria Jazz Festival In Italy, is one of the longest-running in the world is a must!

How about Marciac jazz festival? It’s in the south of France, lasting about 3 weeks, with loads of great performers and multiple stages. Last year Pat Metheney, Norah Jones.. in 2022 Herbie Hancock and many others… https://jazzinmarciac.com I absolutely love it <3

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2024 International Havana Jazz Festival

TRIP OVERVIEW

Travel to cuba legally with cultural island travel, international havana jazz festival.

January 29-Feb 3, 2025

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS: 

Old Havana walking tour, Jazz Festival shows, visit the Cuban countryside Special private music performances, classic cars, dine at Havana’s top paladares, Hemingway house, and Havana’s world famous nightlife!

FEATURED CITIES: 

HAVANA AND LAS TERAZZAS

TOUR LENGTH:

6 days/5 nights

Be there at the liveliest music festival in Havana!

Do you want an authentic experience of Cuba’s music and culture? Then Cultural Island Travel’s Havana Jazz Festival trip is perfect for you! The Jazz Festival is the most exciting time of year for music in Havana, when many artists living abroad return home and multiple indoor and outdoor venues are overflowing with live music.

On this tour, you will experience the old-world charm of Havana and rural scenery of Las Terrazas in Pinar del Rio, while also enjoying the best music Cuba has to offer! You’ll also enjoy delicious food at Havana’s top restaurants, and be totally immersed in the rich history and culture of Cuba.

At night you can go to any number of shows going on at venues all over Havana.

Our mission at Cultural Island Travel (CIT) is to immerse you in this passionate culture to truly have you experience Cuba just like a local. “Support for the Cuban people” travel allows even the most seasoned travelers to view Cuba through the lens of the musicians, dancers, artists and locals— an experience that is difficult to find anywhere else in the world.

*Cultural Island Travel’s trips to Cuba are legally compliant with current OFAC regulations*

What customers say

“The jazz festival concerts and private concerts arranged by you were absolutely fantastic!! We experienced a perfect mix of Cuban artists, traditional and modern, as well as jazz/pop artists performing as guests to the festival. I couldn’t get enough of each of these concerts!! The musicians played with such a giving spirit.”

– Martin H. Jazz Fest 2019

“We had a fabulous time in Cuba.  The Jazz Festival did not disappoint.  We were stunned by the talent and spirit of the musicians and people. You at CIT did a great job of organizing our time!”

-Susan G., Jazz Fest 2019

39th International Havana Jazz Festival Itinerary

DAY 1 USA- Havana 

• Check in for for your flight from departure city
• Arrive at Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport and look for your CIT representative holding a sign with your name
• Visit Finca Vigia, Ernest Hemingway’s residence in Havana for over 20 years
• Head to your lodging for check in and orientation
• Visit the famed Hotel Nacional
• Experience a ride in a classic convertible car around Havana City
• Nighttime suggestion: Enjoy Buena Vista Club-style show at Cafe La Taberna

DAY 2 Havana 

• Visit Old Havana and learn about Havana’s world-renowned UNESCO heritage designated architecture on an expertly guided tour
• Visit the Taller de La Grafica lithograph collective
• Lunch at El Del Frente paladar
• Visit the newly renovated Grand Theater of Havana for a tour of one of Havana’s most beautiful architectural treasures. It is currently home to the Cuban Ballet
• Nighttime suggestion: Enjoy the various shows of the Jazz Festival at the main theater or other indoor and outdoor venues throughout Havana
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 3 Havana

• Visit the famous Abdala Recording Studios for a tour and special private jazz concert
• Lunch at Fusterlandia
• Experience a Cuban salsa lesson (no experience required!)
• Nighttime suggestion: Enjoy the various shows of the Jazz Festival at the main theater or other indoor and outdoor venues all over Havana

DAY 4 Havana-Las Terrazas in Pinar del Rio

• Travel to Las Terrazas UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (about 1-1.5 hours drive)
• Visit the home of the much beloved musician Polo Montañez
• Enjoy a traditional Cuban lunch at Las Terrazas Restaurant
• Visit San Juan River
• Return to Havana
• Recommended: Enjoy the various shows of the Jazz Festival at the main theater or other indoor and outdoor venues all over Havana

DAY 5 Havana 

• Visit a museum with a private guide (choose between the Bellas Artes (Fine Arts) or the Revolution Museum
• Lunch at Mojito Mojito paladar for excellent Cuban food as well as live music
• Visit the San Jose craft market and meet hundreds of artists and craft makers

DAY 6 Havana

• Head to the Jose Marti International Airport for your return flight (airport transfer included)
• Adios Cuba!
• Meal: Breakfast

Tips for guides, drivers, bellhops, cleaning personnel, and waiters are not included in the cost of the program.

This itinerary is subject to change. In-country programming is customized for each group to maximize your cultural experience. To maintain authenticity, many of the places we visit are not tourist destinations and are not always available. These programs require mandatory participation by the U.S. Department of Treasury.

What’s Included

Included items in package:

• Havana Jazz Festival all-access pass
• Cuban visa (including shipping)
• Daily breakfast (at your accommodations)
• All lunches during the tour at Cuba’s top paladares (privately run restaurants)
• All local air-conditioned ground transportation during the tour (including airport transfers)
• Pre-trip information on Cuba travel and a Cuba travel specialist to assist you with any questions prior to departure
• Compliance with U.S. Treasury Department regulations
• Coordination of all listed activities on the itinerary and admission to those activities (includes private music concerts with award winning bands, dance performances, artist visits, museums, public buildings, etc.)
• Trip includes Havana and Las Terrazas
• Excellent accommodations previously vetted by CIT
• Expert CIT tour leader and additional specialist guides
• Small tour group size of 8 people or fewer

Not Included:

• Transportation for evening activities

Single Supplement: Varies depending on accommodations. If you do not see what you are looking for on this tour or any of our other scheduled tours please contact us for a custom tour quote.

Tour Dates & Prices

Rates are based on double occupancy. For single occupancy, group rates and more information please contact us .

Download music, free cuban music download.

Experience the best Cuban jazz, salsa and son in this vibrant compilation made just for our travelers.

Experience Cuba With Us

A taste of cuba culinary tour, custom tours of cuba, sicily, mexico & ireland, cuban music & art tour, city and countryside-havana & the famed cuban tobacco fields, blue note tour: cuba with award winning pianist jorge luis pacheco, international havana jazz festival tour, havana weekend, jet set havana getaway, havana marathon, ireland: discover the emerald isle with ebony, discover mexico city & san miguel de allende, magical mexico city & puebla tour, the white lotus sicily locations tour, taste of sicily-culinary tour.

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HAVANA JAZZ FESTIVAL 2025 TOUR OVERVIEW

We are Cuba experts with many years of experience creating and operating travel programs for the Havana Jazz Festival. Our meticulously curated 2025 departure offers an insider's itinerary for jazz aficionados, featuring admission to daily Jazz Festival events and concerts plus intimate meet-and-greets with contemporary jazz musicians. In addition to amazing music, each day is filled with enriching experiences, from cooking alongside locals to meeting emerging Cuban artists and exploring inspiring community initiatives. Every moment of this unique program promises an unparalleled journey to the heart and soul of Cuba.

NO MORE THAN 20 GUESTS

INTIMATE - ENGAGING - TRANSFORMATIONAL

Daily Experiences

WELCOME TO CUBA!

Arrive at José Martí International Airport, Havana where you'll be picked up and transferred to your accommodations.

Check-in: 3:00PM | Tour Start Time: 5:00PM

HAVANA JAZZ FESTIVAL 

This evening, attend Jazz Festival Performances.

PRIVATELY GUIDED WALKING TOUR OF OLD HAVANA

Experience the history and heart of Havana with your expert local guide. During a privately guided walking tour of Havana’s city center, La Habana Vieja, founded in 1512, you'll explore a labyrinth of cobblestone avenues and visit some of Old Havana’s most important sites: the Plaza de Armas, Plaza de San Francisco, Plaza de Cathedral, Plaza Vieja, and more.

PRIVATE MEET-AND-GREET: JAZZ BASS GUITARIST DAVID FAYA

Take part in an enlightening conversation with contemporary jazz musician and bass guitarist David Faya as he shares the inspirations behind his compositions and the nuances of his craft as you learn about the depths and complexity of Cuban Jazz.

This evening, attend various performances and events.

MEET-AND-GREET AND PERFORMANCE AT MUSIC SCHOOL

Attend a very special meet-and-greet with the talented students of Guillermo Tomás Elementary Music School in Guanabacoa for a delightful encounter filled with laughter, rhythm, and the universal language of music: a celebration of the transformative power of education and creativity.

MOJITO MAKING CLASS

Immerse yourself in true Cuban mixology culture as you learn the art of crafting the perfect mojito, savoring every sip of this refreshing cocktail while discovering the secrets behind its irresistible allure.

PRIVATE PERFORMACE: TRUMPET PLAYER, YASEK MANZANO

Journey deep into the world of Cuban jazz with the award-winning trumpet virtuoso, Yasek Manzano. Enjoy a private performance, where the melodies of his mastery come alive, followed by a short Q&A, in an exclusive meet-and-greet experience.

SALSA LESSONS

Cuban Salsa, Rueda de Casino, was developed in the 1950s as the island’s own unique form of salsa. Since then, Cuban salsa has captivated audiences worldwide. Meet some of Cuba’s talented, energetic salsa dancers, then learn the finer steps for yourself.

JAZZ SESSION

Enjoy a concert with jazz musicians in one of Havana's famous jazz clubs.

CRUISING IN PRE-1959 CONVERTIBLE CLASSIC AMERICAN CAR

Through this unique experience, you become part of a narrative that embraces connection and understanding. Riding in a classic car in Havana is more than a nostalgic journey; it is an opportunity to support and celebrate those Cuban entrepreneurs who lovingly restore vintage automobiles and offer visitors rides as a way to support themselves and their families.

ERNEST HEMINGWAY'S FINCA VIGIA

Travel to Finca Vigía, where Hemingway lived and wrote his most famous novel, The Old Man and the Sea. At Finca Vigía, which is supported by independent organizations, you can meet the local caretakers as you walk the perimeter of the house and peer through the windows to see how it was kept when Hemmingway lived there. The walls are lined with bookshelves and covered with paintings, some of them depicting Hemingway on his African safaris.

LUNCH WITH RUM & CIGAR PAIRING

Join your fellow travelers for a delicious lunch, and later, learn the secrets and steps behind the perfect pairing of Cuba’s signature products–cigars and rum. Naturally, Cubans are true connoisseurs of both products, and they know exactly what it takes to find the right match of flavors.

SANTA AMALIA DANCERS

Strap on your dancing shoes and get ready for a jazz party with the Santa Amalia Dancers, among the city’s best! The genuine, welcoming vibe is guaranteed to get you singing and dancing in no time. Among Jazz’s many sub-genres, Afro-Cuban jazz stands out as the oldest form of Latin jazz and for its substantial contributions to the Jazz Age as a whole.

2025 HAVANA JAZZ FESTIVAL CLOSING CEREMONY

This evening, attend the 2025 Jazz Festival closing ceremony.

FAREWELL, CUBA!

After breakfast, transfer to José Martí International Airport for your return flight home.

Each departure is custom-curated to provide the best experiences possible and from time-to-time specific experiences, and/or restaurants may not be available and will be replaced by an item of equal or greater value. A final list of daily experiences and dining options is provided roughly two weeks prior to departure. Each tour provides a full-time schedule of Support for the Cuban People activities and is fully compliant with U.S. Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control regulations regarding travel to Cuba. 

What's Included

Five nights at Iberostar Selection La Habana 

VIP Havana Jazz Festival Pass including preferred seating

Expert Cuban guide

Private driver

Exclusive-guided visits and experiences

Transportation and airport transfers

5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 2 dinners

Certification of travel to Cuba under the U.S. Department of the Treasury general license

24-hour on tour customer service

ALSO AVAILABLE:

• Travel Protection  by Travelex
• Room & suite upgrades

NOT INCLUDED:

Mandatory "Cuban" Health insurance. This is included in the cost of the airline ticket.*

Customary gratuities are left to the guest’s discretion and should be based on your satisfaction with the level of service received. With your travel documents, which you will receive at approximately 21 days prior to departure, we will include a list of expected gratuities and suggestions of amounts to pay.

For full terms and conditions, click here .

*Mandatory "Cuban" Health Insurance is included in the cost of the airline ticket for US Carriers when you depart from the USA to Cuba. If you travel via a third party country you must check with the airline to verify if it is included. If not, you will need to purchase this mandatory insurance upon arrival in Cuba.

Accommodations

IBEROSTAR CUBA SELECTION LA HABANA

Iberostar Cuba Selection La Habana's prime location provides easy access to Havana's most iconic landmarks, including the historic Old Havana, vibrant Malecón promenade, and lively Vedado district. Immerse yourself in the rhythm of the city, as you explore its vibrant streets filled with music, art, and culture.

Calle K, between E 23 and 25 Vedado, Havana Cuba

Note: Iberostar Cuba Selection La Habana does not accept cash payments, in any currency, nor does it accept credit cards issued through US financial institutions. For any incidentals, beverages at a bar, or non-included meals, guests must purchase a Cuban MLC (Moneda Libremente Convertible) debit card, valid only in Cuba. It can only be obtained at the CADECA and your guide will provide you with details upon arrival.

Tour Dates & Prices

NO MORE THAN 20 GUESTS ON THIS DEPARTURE

Want to experience this tour privately? Have specific travel dates in mind? We’ve got you covered! Call a travel specialist at 800-450-2822 to learn more!

See all dates & prices

Flights to Cuba

This tour does not include flights, but our flight specialists are happy to help arrange them! When you book, tell us which city you're coming from, and we'll get back to you with a quote and a proposed flight schedule within 5 business days. If you accept our quote, we'll add the price to your balance due including a $35 per person ticketing fee. Should you decide to book your own flights, please send us your flight details no later than 45 days prior to departure so that we can arrange your transfers accordingly.

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* Advertised prices are per person, based on double occupancy; single occupancy rooms may be available for an additional charge. Advertised prices are the best available based on the least expensive travel dates, departure city, and other options, and do not include optional excursions or other optional items. Your total price will vary based upon options you select during the booking process. Prices and availability subject to change.

† The Carefree Booking policy is not travel insurance. With our Carefree Booking policy, if you book one of our scheduled departures and decide later not to travel for any reason, you can transfer all payments you've made excluding the cost of any issued flight tickets, towards another available departure date or package, with no change fees or penalties. Alternately, you can choose to receive a future travel credit for all payments made, excluding the cost of any issued flight tickets; or you can choose to receive a refund for that same amount, minus the deposit, per person future travel credit. You may use these credits anytime, however they must be used or transferred within 5 years of your bookings, and some restrictions apply. Travel protection premiums may be credited to your new tour provided: no claim is filed; (no vendor penalties such as Air, sea or rail etc have been incurred); and your new trip departs within 1 year of the cancellation of your original tour. Valid for bookings made on or after August 2, 2022. Changes or cancellations requested after final payment due date are subject to our regular change and cancellation fees & policies. For more information and some additional restrictions, see our terms & conditions .

†† $199 deposit available on select packages. Valid for new bookings only. Changes to your package, departure date, or flights may require an increased deposit. See additional terms & conditions .

Capital Jazz Fest logo

Official Site of the

31st annual capital jazz fest, the jazz festival with soul june 7-9, 2024.

2024 Festival Highlights

• The Fest kicks off with our annual  Friday Night Soul!  concert, this year featuring Grammy-winners Anthony Hamilton and Chrisette Michele , plus “The Lioness”, soul singer Teedra Moses !
• Two-time Grammy-winner Gregory Porter will be headlining the Saturday show on the Pavilion Stage. Following his performance on Saturday night, he’ll be doing a Q&A session at Club 9:32, located near the West Food Court on the festival grounds. The session is free and open to all fest-goers!
• Grammy and Emmy-winning singer Andra Day will be performing at the festival for the very first time! Check out her brand new album  Cassandra , available now! She’ll also be doing a live Q&A session at Club 9:32 following her performance on Sunday night.
• Other acts on the bill include Kem , Babyface , Jodeci , Joss Stone , El DeBarge , Lalah Hathaway , and many more!
• Come Get to This: A Tribute to Marvin Gaye , on the Pavilion Stage on Sunday, featuring several special surprise musical guests!
• Grammy-nominated duo Black Violin , who first performed at our festival five years ago, returns this year to present their distinctive sound which blends string arrangements with hip-hop beats. Complete with their own DJ and drummer, their sound can best be described as a fusion of classical, jazz, hip-hop, and funk.
• Louie Vega & The Elements of Life will be making a rare live appearance at this year’s festival. Conducted by legendary DJ/producer  “Little Louie” Vega , the jazz/funk/dance/soul ensemble will feature lead vocals by Josh Milan and Cindy Mizelle. If you’re a fan of bands like Incognito and The Brand New Heavies, you are in for a treat with The Elements of Life!
• Legendary jazz fusion band Spyro Gyra , who performed at our very first festival in 1993, returns to the Fest this year in celebration of their 50th anniversary!
• Classic soul from legendary band Switch , known for their quiet storm classics such as “There’ll Never Be”, “I Wanna Be Closer”, and “I Call Your Name”. Plus, The Jones Girls featuring Shirley Jones will be performing their hits, including “Nights Over Egypt”, “Dance Turned Into A Romance”, “I Just Love The Man”, and many more.
• Performing at the Fest for the first time this year will be Grammy-winning trumpeter Keyon Harrold , with special guest vocalist Stout . Also making first-time appearances will be saxophonist/vocalist Braxton Cook , soul/jazz singer Lori Williams , Grammy-nominated trumpeter Theo Croker , and saxophonist/vocalist Marqueal Jordan , plus legendary 90s R&B/dance diva CeCe Peniston .
• The Chuck Brown Band carries on the legacy of the late go-go legend as they return to the festival and share the stage with hip-hop icon Doug E. Fresh !
• Plus many more artists! CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL LINEUP

Group Sales

If you have a group of 12 or more persons who will be attending this year’s festival on the same day, you’re eligible to purchase group tickets and have the per-ticket service charges waived. Great for friends, family members, colleagues, organization members, or other groups who will be attending the festival together. Available only through April 26, 2024. For more info, visit our GROUP & VIP TICKET INFO PAGE .

What is the Capital Jazz Fest?

Each year in June, tens of thousands of music lovers from throughout the country flock to the suburbs of Washington, D.C. to attend “the jazz festival with soul”: The Capital Jazz Fest. Started in 1993, this outdoor festival has become the place to be on the first full weekend of June! A place to people-watch, eat, drink, shop, mingle, relax, soak in the rays, make new friends, and of course hear some of the coolest  music on the planet!

Over the past 30+ years, the festival has showcased a “Who’s Who” of musical talent including everyone from Al Jarreau, Grover Washington, Jr., Nancy Wilson, Ray Charles, Gladys Knight, Isaac Hayes, Herbie Hancock, Chuck Brown, George Duke, Smokey Robinson, and Natalie Cole to Erykah Badu, Snarky Puppy, Musiq Soulchild, Ledisi, Common, John Legend, Robert Glasper, Mary Mary, and Raphael Saadiq.

See what festival patrons are saying about the Capital Jazz Fest…

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2024 Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival

• Presented By: City of Albany Office of Cultural Affairs Location: Albany Corning Preserve - Jennings Landing 1 Quay St, Albany, NY 12207 Albany, NY 12207
• Dates: September 14, 2024
• Time: 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM
• Price: Free
• Visit Website

For 21 years, the City of Albany Jazz Festival has featured a wealth of jazz greats, critically acclaimed up-and-coming artists and local favorites at the area’s most spectacular venues. This all-day concert features world-class music, vendors, great food & beverages. The Jazz Festival is an event for all ages- and admission is still free!

Parking:  $8 flat fee parking is available at the Riverfront Garage (2 Columbia St.). Handicap parking and EV charging spaces are available at this location, for more information on parking options, visit www.parkalbany.com

This event is produced with the help of community volunteers.     Please contact us to be a part of this great experience.

Special ground rules in effect:  No glass containers of any kind, recording of performances, animals or pets (excluding ADA-defined service animals). All City of Albany parks are now tobacco and marijuana free. Security personnel reserve the right to inspect any bag, container or package and confiscate any prohibited or illegal items. Any type of recording of the performance or presentation is prohibited without prior written consent. All attendees should be prepared to present age identification at any time if they intend to consume alcohol. Ground rules are subject to change without notice; exceptions made for medical or childcare reasons may be addressed individually. 

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Lana del rey and rumored boyfriend jeremy dufrene hold hands as they attend model karen elson’s nyc wedding.

Lana Del Rey brought her rumored boyfriend, Jeremy Dufrene, as her plus one to model Karen Elson’s New York City wedding Saturday.

The “Summertime Sadness” songstress and the alligator tour guide were photographed holding hands upon leaving the ceremony venue at Electric Lady Studios.

Del Rey, 39, was all smiles and didn’t shy away from keeping a tight hold on Dufrene, 49, as paparazzi swarmed them.

The pop star donned a satin blue halter-style dress and white ballet flats for her friend’s nuptials to Lee Foster, who is the owner of the Greenwich Village recording studio.

As for Dufrene, he sported a blue suit with a white button-up shirt and brown dress shoes.

Del Rey wasn’t seen with her BFF Taylor Swift — despite the 14-time Grammy winner arriving at the ceremony earlier in the day with her boyfriend, Travis Kelce.

Del Rey and Dufrene first sparked romance rumors when they were seen holding hands at the Reading & Leeds Festival in the UK last month, per an Instagram video.

According to the Daily Mail, the duo made a pit stop in London to visit Harrod’s and a bar.

The “West Coast” singer and Dufrene’s history dates back to March 2019 when she took one of his Airboat Tours by Arthur cruises while visiting Louisiana for the BUKU Music + Art Project festival.

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At the time, Dufrene documented meeting the hitmaker on Instagram, writing, “I never know who I can run across on my tours but always a pleasure @lanadelrey.”

Del Rey also commemorated the trip with a picture posted via Facebook, captioning it, “Jeremy lemme be captain at Arthur’s Air Boat Tours x.”

The pair seemingly met up once again when the 11-time Grammy nominee took another one of Dufrene’s tours in May.

“Family w my guy @jeremy.dufrene,” Del Rey captioned a snap of herself with two pals.

Last week, Del Rey seemingly denied she Dufrene and were dating after a fan account shared additional details about her “latest boyfriend.”

Per People, Dufrene has a son and two daughters.

The “Radio” singer was last rumored to be dating musician Jack Donoghue in 2022 and musician Clayton Johnson in 2020.

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Music and Concerts | Fall Arts Preview 2024: Ivan Trujillo trumpets…

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Music and concerts | fall arts preview 2024: ivan trujillo trumpets jazz and music education in ensenada, san diego and beyond, 'i was 19 when i started to compose my own music and that is when i started to find my voice'.

A tireless trumpeter, composer and music educator, Trujillo leads multiple bands and performs around the world with the Tijuana-based electronic music group Nortec Collective.

He is a member of the Ensenada Chamber Orchestra and appears regularly with the genre-blurring San Diego band B-Side Players. He is also the founder of both the Ensenada-based Instituto Contemporáneo de Música de Baja California, which offers classes in jazz performance, improvisation and history to teens and young adults, and of International Improvisation Week, an annual festival he launched in 2014.

Read more: Fall Arts Preview 2024: Everything we’re excited about this season in San Diego

“I do all my teaching in Ensenada, but having musical relationships in San Diego is also part of my work,” said the 43-year-old polymath. “So, my heart is in Ensenada, but I’m trying to go everywhere!”

Trujillo recently became the head of CEART Ensenada, a government-funded cultural center. In April, he became the first Mexican to ever receive a Jazz Hero Award from the New York-based Jazz Journalists Association in the 23 years the awards have been presented. In October, he will perform multiple times as a featured artist in the first annual San Diego Tijuana International Jazz Festival , a three-day event for which Trujillo is also serving as a key artistic advisor.

“Ivan is exceptionally well-qualified because he has established so much of a presence on both sides of the border,” said festival founder Daniel Atkinson, who has curated the La Jolla Athenaeum’s jazz concert programming since its inception in 1989. Atkinson has showcased Trujillo at several San Diego concerts — including two editions of the Festival of New Trumpet Music West — since booking him to perform in 2018 with Nortec Collective at UC San Diego.

“One of the more recent performances I saw Ivan do was last year at Centro Cultural Tijuana,” Atkinson said. “It was at a concert sponsored by the U.S. consulate in Tijuana to commemorate 200 years of diplomatic relationships between Mexico and the U.S. Ivan put together a binational band specially for the event and he once again bridged the border with his broad perspective, expertise and level of experience.”

Trujillo is used to figuratively bridging borders — and to literally crossing them.

When he was 21, the then-budding trumpeter would regularly undertake a six-hour round-trip from his home in Ensenada to SDSU, where he studied with trombonist Bill Yeager and played with the university’s award-winning big band.

“My first class was at 11:30 a.m.,” Trujillo recalled. “So, I’d go two hours by bus to Tijuana, walk across the border and take the trolley from San Ysidro.”

Thanks to a carpooling friend, his commute was a bit less arduous for private two-hour trumpet lessons with top San Diego trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos, who Trujillo had met as a teenager at a jazz festival in Ensenada.

“Seeing Gilbert play live, in real time, was a big inspiration,” Trujillo said. “I’d never heard a trumpeter play jazz in person before. He was amazing! And Gilbert was born in Guadalajara and spoke Spanish. He taught me that, if you are going to play the trumpet, you must study seriously every day. One day he taught me a trumpet exercise he had learned from Dizzy Gillespie. I was like: ‘Wow. Dizzy taught this to Gilbert and now Gilbert is teaching this to me!’ It was magical.”

“Ivan was really hungry to learn,” Castellanos recalled. “He told me: ‘I’ll pay you whatever you like.’ And I said: ‘If you’re making that much effort to get up here from Ensenada to study with me, you don’t have to pay.’ Ivan even came up to L.A. a few times when I was teaching at USC’s Thornton School of Music. He would sit in my classroom and absorb everything.”

Trujillo learned his lessons well. And he quickly realized that rather than copy Castellanos, Miles Davis, Chet Baker or any of the other trumpeters whose music he greatly admired, it was imperative to create his own style and sound.

“I was 19 when I started to compose my own music and that is when I started to find my voice,” Trujillo said.

“I lived in Los Angeles for a year when I played in Johnny Polanco’s salsa band. And I saw so many musical opportunities there and in San Diego that we did not have where I grew up. So, I moved back to Ensenada and started a weekly Monday night jam session. Then, I started what is now my La Covacha Big Band and began bringing down guest musicians, including Nathan Hubbard, from San Diego.”

Like Castellanos, Trujillo devotes much time to mentoring young musicians, teaching them and sharing with them the outlet for creative expression and joy jazz provides. The free Oct. 5 and 6 San Diego Tijuana International Jazz Festival concerts in Tijuana and San Diego, respectively, will feature the debut of the Bi-National Youth Ensemble. It teams musicians from Trujillo’s Contemporáneo de Música de Baja California with musicians from Castellanos’ Young Lions Jazz Conservatory, which is based at Liberty Station.

“Ivan and I have the same mission: to share and deliver this musical message with the next generation,” Castellanos said. “He puts his heart and soul into everything he does.”

“I don’t know if I’ll ever be an amazing or famous trumpet player,” said Trujillo, now at work on a new album. “But playing and teaching makes me happy and complete. Music is the main thing for me, always.”

First annual San Diego Tijuana International Jazz Festival

With: Cindy Blackman Santana band, Magos Herrera with the Hausmann Quartet, Gerald Clayton, Bi-National Youth Ensemble, Nortec Jazz Experience, featuring Bostich + Fussible and the Ivan Trujjilo Ensamble

When: Oct. 4-6

Where: 6:30 p.m. Oct. 4 at California Center for the Arts, Escondido; 6 p.m. Oct. 5 at Avenida Revolucion, between Calle Salvador Diaz Miron (4th) and Calle Emiliano Zapata (5th), Tijuana; 5 p.m. Oct. 6 at Quartyard, 1301 Market St., San Diego

Tickets: The Oct. 5 and 6 performances are free. Tickets for the Oct. 4 opening night range from $42-$118.

Online: sdtjjazz.org

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Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival

Mailing Address: Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival 875 Perimeter Dr., MS 4021 Moscow, ID 83844-4021

Phone: 208-885-5900

Fax: 208-885-7254

Email: [email protected]

Web: Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival

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Since the 1960s, the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival has brought jazz masters to University of Idaho with elementary, junior high, high school and college students to share and celebrate a truly American art form. The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival has grown from a one-day event to an amazing three-day experience!

The first University of Idaho Jazz Festival took place in 1967, with a dozen student groups and one guest artist. The festival continued to grow from there — erupting onto the national stage in 1982, when thousands of students and spectators came to hear Ella Fitzgerald.

In 1984, the festival’s most important relationship began when Lionel Hampton joined the excitement in Moscow. Inspired by the enthusiasm of the students, Hamp pledged his support to the festival and, in 1985, the festival was renamed in his honor.

Now, having hosted thousands of students, spectators and artists — including Doc Severinsen, Bobby McFerrin, Sarah Vaughan, Dizzy Gillespie, The Manhattan Transfer, and countless musicians from around the world – the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival is three outstanding days of student performances, workshops, clinics and remarkable world-class evening concerts.

As the Festival enters its fifth decade, it will continue to further Hamp's vision and legacy for perpetuating jazz music education for generations to come.

The Visionary, Doc Skinner

Over the last five decades, the jazz festival at the University of Idaho has been led by a handful of committed directors. But there’s one man who is credited with transforming the event into the nationally known tradition it has become today: Doc Skinner.

Lynn “Doc” Skinner has been part of the jazz festival since he arrived in Moscow in the early ’70s as the director of music education at the university. He became festival director in 1976, and in 1984, Skinner invited Lionel Hampton to the festival. The pair of musicians bonded over a passion for jazz and a shared dream to keep the art form alive and well through youth education. The two formed a partnership and friendship that infused the festival with an inspiring energy and a renewed focus on educating the next generation of jazz musicians. Skinner served as executive director of the festival — which was renamed in Hamp’s honor in 1985 — until he retired in 2007. During his tenure as executive director of the festival, he brought some of the world’s greatest jazz artists to Moscow. In addition to Lionel Hampton, headliners included Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan, Toots Thielemans, Ray Brown and Sarah Vaughan.

Thanks to Skinner’s efforts, the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival received the National Medal of Arts in 2007. In 2010, his impact on music education was recognized with the Governor’s Awards in the Arts for Support of Arts Education from Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter.

Still a resident of Moscow, Doc Skinner continues to share his passion of jazz by teaching and attending the festival each year.

In this photo from Special Collections and Archives at the University of Idaho Library, Lynn “Doc” Skinner and Lionel Hampton pose for a picture in 1990.

National Medal of Arts

As the nation honored jazz great Lionel Hampton during his centennial birth year in 2008, the White House gave accolades to Hampton’s jazz and education legacy – a legacy that endures in the seemingly unlikely locale of Moscow, Idaho. The University of Idaho Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival received the National Medal of Arts, the nation’s most prestigious arts award, from President George W. Bush.

Former university President Timothy P. White and festival Artistic Director John Clayton accepted the medal in a White House ceremony.

“This recognition affirms the vision shared by Lionel Hampton and the university about the power of jazz and education to bridge cultures, inspire creativity and develop the musical leadership abilities of the next generation of jazz leaders,” White said.

Hampton envisioned more than an annual gathering of the world's top jazz musicians in the heart of winter in a small university town. He had a bigger dream — investing in future generations to perpetuate jazz as an art form and providing young students with a great introduction to a uniquely American style of music.

In 1985, the festival was renamed the Lionel Hampton/Chevron Festival in his honor, and rededicated as the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in 2006. Hampton died in 2002 at age 94.

Jazz in the Schools

The  Jazz in the Schools program  began in 1995. The program takes visiting musicians to elementary schools in northern Idaho and Eastern Washington to introduce students to this truly American art form. Forty-two schools participated in the 2015 Jazz in the Schools program, reaching over 9,000 K-12 students during the week of the festival.

Program Archives

To get an idea of the scope and vitality of the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, research these most recent official program guides  or visit the International Jazz Collections in University of Idaho's Library for materials from the festival’s past dating back to the late 1960’s. The IJC is the preeminent jazz archive in the Pacific Northwest and features archival materials from the estates of Lionel Hampton, Pete and Conte Candoli, Al Grey, Ray Brown, Leonard Feather, Dizzy Gillespie and many more.

Navin Chettri

Manager, lionel hampton jazz festival & acms; lecturer of music; artistic director of world music celebration.

Class Annex 11 C

208-885-0112

[email protected]

Vanessa Sielert

Professor of music; education advisor, lionel hampton jazz festival.

208-885-6231

[email protected]

Vern Sielert

Professor, trumpet and director of jazz studies, artistic director: lionel hampton jazz festival.

208-885-4955

[email protected]

Monica Evans

Music events operations coordinator.

CLASS Annex 11 A

208-885-5900

[email protected]

Monica Evans is the music events pperations coordinator at the Lionel Hampton School of Music. She supports the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival and Auditorium Chamber Music Series through event planning and coordinating, marketing, data management, and providing general production assistance. Her background includes structural engineering, humanitarian projects, and musical theatre.

Monica received her Bachelor of Science in civil and environmental engineering with a minor in art and architecture from University of Idaho in 2018. As a student, she played an integral role in the U of I chapter of Engineers Without Borders - including facilitating the group’s transition to their own student-led non-profit organization, the Humanitarian Engineering Corps. She served in officer positions for four years, planned and coordinated events, designed the new logo, and traveled twice to Bolivia as part of the construction team for a sanitary water project in a remote Andean community.

Evans continued her engineering career at Keller Associates in Clarkston, WA. She gained experience managing projects and performing structural analysis and design for municipal and private clients. She also served on multiple committees focused on mentoring, development, DE&I, and event planning. Monica passed the Professional Engineering exam in structural engineering in the fall of 2021.

In her spare time, Monica enjoys taking part in local musical theatre productions. Her previous credits include “Amélie” (Amélie) at the University of Idaho; the Lewiston Civic Theatre's "School of Rock” (Rosalie Mullins), “Grease" (Sandy), “Elf the Musical” (Jovie), and "Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella" (Cinderella); and “Guys & Dolls" (Adelaide), "Company" (Jenny), and "She Loves Me" (Ilona Ritter) at the Regional Theatre of the Palouse. She has also been on production teams in many capacities including marketing, fundraising, stage managing, and costuming. She continues to volunteer hundreds of hours in community theatre each year and studies voice with Christian Reed.

In 2023, Monica returned to her alma mater to join the LHSOM team. She lives in Moscow, Idaho with her husband and collaborative pianist, Stuart.

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Bruce Springsteen Contemplates Mortality With Toronto Film Festival Documentary ‘Road Diary’: ‘If I Went Tomorrow, It’s OK. What a F—ing Ride!’

Toronto welcomed “The Boss” on Sunday night.

But it was a more contemplative Bruce Springsteen on display at the Roy Thomson Hall for the world premiere of “Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band,” a look at the rock legend and his tight-knit group of collaborators, which also served as a meditation on mortality. Throughout the film and in the post-screening Q&A, though, the 74-year-old rocker stressed that he doesn’t plan to hang up his guitar any time soon. He wants to keep rocking until “the wheels come off.”

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“This affects my immune system, so I have to be careful what I choose to do and where I choose to go,” she said in the film. “Every once in a while, I come to a show or two and I can sing a few songs on stage, and that’s been a treat. That’s the new normal for me right now, and I’m OK with that.”

“Road Diary” features footage from Springsteen’s latest world tour and an intimate look at the backstage planning. “That’s how we make the sausage,” Springsteen said as he took the stage with bandmate Steven Van Zandt, manager Jon Landau and director Thom Zimny. He isn’t the only music icon at this year’s festival. Elton John appeared earlier this weekend for the debut of “Elton John: Never Too Late,” a documentary that charted his musical triumphs and personal struggles, while singer-producer Pharrell Williams hit Toronto with “Piece by Piece,” an idiosyncratic look at his life story told with the help of Legos.

As for the E Street Band and Springsteen, their partnership has yielded Grammy Awards, chart-topping hits and decades of unforgettable concert appearances.

Springsteen said part of the reason the group has stayed together — though there have been breakups and fallow periods — was because they operated as a “benevolent dictatorship,” presumably with “The Boss” living up to his moniker. “Small unit democracies don’t work. We have this enormous collective where everyone has their role and a chance to contribute and to own their place in the band.”

“Road Diary” was directed by Zimny, who previously examined the life and work of Springsteen with films like “The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town” and “Western Stars,” both of which screened at past editions of TIFF. Zimny’s latest production explores Springsteen’s early years, breaking into the music business in the ’70s, as well as the E Street Band’s formation.

“We’ve known each other since we were so young,” Springsteen said. “And we’ve been good a long time. All those nights out on stage, where you are risking yourself, because that is what you’re doing. You are coming out. You are talking to people about the things that matter the most to you. You are leaving yourself wide open.”

The E Street Band is still filling arenas, but time has taken its toll. “Road Diary” memorializes two former members who are gone, but whose impact lingers: Clarence Clemons, the saxophonist who died in 2011, and Danny Federici, the organ player who died in 2008.

“I’d wish you all such a lovely and complete experience with your good friends,” Springsteen said. “It reminds me of the scene in ‘Blade Runner’ … ‘I’ve seen [things you people wouldn’t believe].’ We’ve seen some of that shit.”

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