A gala tribute to the work of the Cuban musician Pablo Milanes mark the beginning on Thursday night in Lazaro Peña Theater of Havana of the JoJazz 2014contest, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the event Jazz Plaza, under the artistic direction of Alexis Vazquez and Juan Carlos Delgado.
The event brought together young talents, past winners of JoJazz prizes who made versions Milanes known songs. About the contest, Yudelkis Lafuente, director of Sixth Sense quartet, said has it become a place where younger artists “can be motivated, work, earn their awards and exchange between them.” She also recalled that her group began precisely at the JoJazz, in 2001.
Sixth Sense offered Ya ves with a vocal arrangement inspired by a version of Cuban composer Emiliano Salvador. They were accompanied on guitar by musician King Ugarte and Cristian Pimentel in the saxophone.
The concert was initiated by noted violinist William Roblejo, who shared an ingenious interpretation of Yolanda. Then the young singer Yanet Valdes delighted the audience with Yo sé que un día tu vendrás, accompanied on the piano by Alejandro Beron. Young saxophonist Emir Santa Cruz and his musicians gave the public a version of Mírame bien. The song Antonia, with original music by renowned Cuban musician Chucho Valdes, was played by singer Zule Guerra and pianist Leyanis Valdes.
Also the songs Para qué, La novia que nunca tuve and Fuego en la piel were versioned by musicians Lazaro Pena, Hector Quintana and Alejandro Delgado, respectively.
Michel Herrera offered his version of Mary and shared the theme No ha sido fácil with young guest saxophonists. To close the day, Janio and Aires de Concierto performed El breve espacio en que no estás and Comienzo y final de una verde mañana.
The JoJazz contest, under the artistic direction of Alexis Vazquez for the last 17 years ago and organized by the National Council of Popular Music and the Cuban Institute of Music has enabled musicians inclined for the genre and under 30 years of age to find a space of artistic creation and experience sharing.
“When we started the adventure Jo jazz in 1997 we knew what we wanted but we never imagined how far our dream would get. Today we are a family with indisputable results in all these years. The JoJazz are present in important musical institutions within and outside the country. These young people, the vast majority of our graduates of art schools have a renewed vision of music and are able to compose or face with great rigor and creating works of major composers from Mozart, Beethoven, Vivaldi to Matamoros, Lecuona and Juan Formell. That’s why we now have joined some of these gems to show us how they see the work of other Jojazz of all time, “said Pablo Milanes.
Violinist William Roblejo considered that the event “gives young people the opportunity to show the work they are doing and their concerns about jazz. To me every time seems fantastic, much better. My impression is that it is very cute; this contest should go ahead for the new generations. ”
For saxophonist Emir Santa Cruz, “an opportunity to present myself to the public, you know, they know what you’re doing. I do not see JoJazz as a contest, is the opportunity for young people to socialize their work. ”
The modalities and categories in which they will compete in this edition are: Interpretation in Small Format and Minor and Major Soloists; and Composition.
With a total of 23 contestants and 100 musicians, the event this year has majority representation in the province of Havana, with participants from the Amadeo Roldan and Guillermo Tomás Conservatories, , the National School of Music and the Higher Institute of Arts.
Within the program of the event, which runs until Sunday 16 excels special concert of young Jazz Band directed by maestro Joaquín Betancourt and guest artists Alejandro Falcón, Yanet Valdés, Zule Guerra and Geidy Chapman, to be held Saturday 15 at the Lazaro Peña theater
Pianos JoJazz, a concert starring musicians Alejandro Falcon, Jorge Aragon, Alejandro Meroño and other figures also stands out. During that concert they will make versions, among others, of songs of renowned Cuban singer Silvio Rodriguez.
