The Jazz Plaza International Festival took place in Havana, Santiago de Cuba and, for the first time, in Santa Clara. This 40^th edition of Jazz Plaza was marked by the professionalism of the artists who came from different countries and shared stages with the most Cuban outstanding artists.

As in each edition, the public’s expectations and the artists were exceeded, thanks to a program that was conceived to satisfy all kind of preferences and to open spaces for established and new artists who, in harmonious dialogue, achieved diverse emotions in each of the spaces and moments.

Cuban drummer and maestro Enrique Pla and Cuban prominent pianist Frank Fernandez were guests of honor this edition.

The music schools opened their doors for master classes that were taken by famous instrumentalists from Cuba and other countries, and it was an excellent opportunity for the students gained the musicians’ experiences, knowledge and skills.

Novice artists on stage

The Jazz Plaza International Festival also shows the work of new artists who have achieved a high artistic level, from the academies or by self-taught training.

For example, Pochete is a band formed by young students from the National Music School that showed their talent at the closure of the Havana Jazz Festival.

Also, Yandy Alejandro Chang Pérez (Chang) is a young musician who was very well received by the audience. His performance at the Havana Jazz Festival along with Nigerian-French jazz musician Lekan Babalola was remarkable.

Rumba All-Stars left its imprint

Muñequitos de Matanzas and Rumbatá Rumba bands’s performances were part of the special moments of this event.

The most special moment was the performance of Rumba All-Stars band that was highlighted by its interesting proposal of Cuban and Caribbean rythms.

Rumba All-Stars band has been able to break through in the Cuban music with its proposal including singing, rumba, dance and that makes it possible for that to be an axcellent cultural project.