At the gates of Jojazz 2013

Since its inception in 1998 as an initiative of Maestro Chucho Valdes, the young jazz musicians JoJazz Contest has become the most significant space for promotion and recruitment of novice jazz talents in Cuba. From its different calls, several musicians have excelled such as Yasek Manzano, Rolando Luna, Alejandro Falcon, Jose Luis Pacheco, Yissy Garcia, among others.

Thus, it is announced the 16th edition of Jojazz, to be held in Havana from November 14 to 17 and which will be dedicated to the master of Cuban popular music Armando Romeu (flutist, saxophonist, orchestrator and arranger, one of the founders of the Cuban Modern Music Orchestra, and also director of the Santa Clara’s Modern Music Orchestra). In his tribute, the event will organize a special concert at Havana’s Mella Theatre by Joaquín Betancourt and his Jazz Band, where will be performed works arranged by Romeu.

Jojazz 2013, sponsored by the National Centre for Popular Music, the Cuban Music Institute, and in conjunction with the National Center for Arts Education, will present young students and alumni from six provinces (Pinar del Rio, Havana, Camaguey, Holguin, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantanamo). Overall, 10 contestants will participate in the section of Interpretation / Children (16-20 years old), 5 in Interpretation / Senior (21-30 years old), 8 in Composition, and 6 small format groups in the category of Instrumental formats; the specialty of Jazz Band got unfilled.

Competition sessions will be at Avenida Room, in M arianao municipality; the theoretical event at the Higher Institute of Arts (ISA by its Spanish acronym), while the rest of the activities will be concentrated at Mella Theatre and its gardens, where the Jam session returns, with the expected jazz gatherings between the young contestants and already established musicians (Friday and Saturday / 6:00 pm, and Sunday / at the end of the Gala Awards).

For second consecutive year, the meeting of the new Cuban jazz jewels will feature the winners of the Jazz Youth of the Republic of El Salvador. This time, the jazz band ¨Brujos¨ (Warlocks) was elected to represent its country in the Cuban contest.

For its part, the Interpretation and Composition juries will be chaired by Bobby Carcasses, 2012 National Music Prize, and the renowned Cuban pianist, percussionist, arranger and composer Alexis Bosh, respectively.