If the silky smooth sound of the saxophone is one of your favourites, make your way to the iconic Havana Jazz Festival during your winter sun holidays to Cuba – where you can soak up an eclectic mix of Afro Cuban beats, Latin Jazz, Cuban Son, Salsa, and so much more.
Music is the beating heart of this country; from early morning until last thing at night, it’ll pour out from houses, bars, balconies, restaurants, and shops, spill onto the cobbled alleyways and dance around city squares and plazas. While you’ll hear your fair share of folk music here, Jazz is one of the most popular musical forms in Cuba (Havana Jazz in particular), with a unique sound created from centuries of harmonious fusions from Africa, Spain, Mexico, France, Italy and even China. This cross-cultural influence is what makes this genre so special, as it will only ever continue to evolve.
Havana Jazz Festival: January 19 – 23, 2022
Cuba has been celebrating jazz musicians since the very first Havana International Jazz Festival, presented by Bobby Carcassés (and other Cuban musicians) at the Casa de la Cultura de Plaza in Vedado, back in 1978. Since then, the annual festival has acquired “bucket-list” status with locals and tourists alike flocking to experience a star-studded lineup of jazz luminaries from Cuba and beyond.
Celebrating the heart and soul of the island, this atmospheric festival is a must-visit. If you’re wondering what it entails, HIJZ (as we’ll now call it) hosts jam sessions in a variety of venues throughout the capital in January, including the original Casa de la Cultura de Plaza in Downtown Havana, grand concert halls, intimate clubs, and even restaurants. Visiting enthusiasts can expect wall-to-wall rhythms, pulsating salsa dancing, lashings of Cuban rum, plus world-class performances from famous artists including Bobby Carcassés himself, Chucho Valdés, Armando Romeu, Max Roach, José Luis Cortés, Los Van Van, Orlando Valle, and La Banda – to name a few – plus a handful of up-and-coming musicians with dreams to make it big.
Crowned as one of the island’s biggest gatherings, fans can admire no less than 100 international bands each year, including Chico O’Farrill Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, as they join forces with some of Cuba’s most famous artists to create an experience you won’t forget – some of which are beautifully spontaneous, with unexpected artist collaborations often stealing the show!
Whether you’re attending every day or swinging by for a few hours (literally), you won’t find real Cuban music like this anywhere else.
For more information on the Havana International Jazz Festival or any other festival in Cuba our friendly team of specialists are on hand to help create the perfect Cuban experience for you.
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