The 19th annual Dominican Republic Jazz Festival 2015 will be held 4-8 November 2015, in Santiago, the country's second largest city, and the north coast towns of Sosua, Puerto Plata and Cabarete. World-famous jazz musicians from the United States, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Israel, Italy, France and the Dominican Republic are scheduled to perform in this popular festival, where jazz lovers will enjoy five straight nights of free concerts.
Grammy Winners Scheduled to Participate: Performers will include John Patitucci (American Grammy award winner); David Sanchez (Puerto Rican Grammy award winner), and the Pedrito Martinez Group (Cuban percussionist, Grammy nominee). The Five Concerts
SANTIAGO:
The festival kicks off in Santiago, the country's second largest city, on Wednesday, November 4th, at the Leon Jimenes Cultural Centre, with the Big Band from Santo Domingo's Conservatory of Music. Invited guests will include Americans Jim Kelly, Jim Odgren and Jason Camelio. Also performing will be The Student Loan Stringband from the U.S., and performers will honour world-famous jazz musician Juan Colon.
SOSUA:
On Thursday, November 5th, the festival moves on to the amphitheatre of the Amhsa Hotel Marina, in Sosua, on the north coast. The Roy Assaf Trio (Israel), the Big Band, from the National Conservatory of Music in Santo Domingo, under the direction of Javier Vargas, will feature as guests artists Jim Kelly, Jim Odgren and Jason Camelio. Roy Assaf is also scheduled to perform with the Gillespie All Stars, as well as with The Mingus Big Band; the Roberta Gambarini Quartet and the David Sabord Group.
PUERTO PLATA:
On November 6th, in Puerto Plata's oceanfront boulevard, performers will include top performers from the Berklee Global Jazz Institute (U.S.); prominent Dominican jazz musician Manuel Tejada and the David Sánchez Quintet. There will be a special awards ceremony in honour of Sandy Gabriel, one of Puerto Plata's most important musicians.
CABARETE:
On Saturday, November 7th, the party moves on to Cabarete beach, also on the north coast. Performers will include Dominican Josean Jacobo and his band, who will perform his special mix of Dominican and jazz rhythms, similar to the Latin Jazz Nouveau style. John Patitucci is also scheduled to perform.
The Festival ends on Sunday, November 8th, in Cabarete with the participation of Cuban percussionist Pedro Martinez and his group. In 2004 Pedro Martinez received the “Percussionist of the Year” award, issued by the Association of Jazz Journalists Modern Drummer Readers.
A Stage for the Very Best The Festival is organized by the Fedujazz Foundation, sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism. The goal is to bring together Dominican jazz musicians with international jazz performers. World famous artists have performed in past festivals, such as Joe Lovano, Chuck Mangione, Ray Baretto, Nestor Torres, Chucho Valdes, Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez, and Arturo Sandoval.
