CubaPLUS Magazine

The inauguration of the XX International Jazz Colloquium “Leonardo Acosta in Memoriam” took place this Monday at the Cuban Art Factory (FAC) cultural center in the Cuban capital. The theoretical event will continue in different rooms of the FAC until February 1, as part of the 40th International Jazz Plaza Festival.

We have conceived this academic space as a platform for debate and reflection on multiple topics related to jazz and even beyond it; it is a nice pretext to talk about music, identity and culture, said the general coordinator of the Colloquium Neris González Bello. The event has tried to be a spokesperson for each of these events that have been emerging, but it has also made visible the trajectory of great masters of Cuban music and the actions of our musicians in the diaspora, she added.

Today, the panels “40 years of history of a jazz festival in Cuba: tribute to the Jazz Plaza Festival” and “Thinking about jazz in Cuba: biography of a Colloquium in its 20 years¨. A tribute to journalists José Dos Santos and Pedro de la Hoz” were presented. There will also be a session “Jazz and the Music Industry”, dedicated to Producciones Colibrí; an organ master class, given by Bas Van Lier (Holland), and the workshop “The flute in jazz”, given by Ana María Hernández (Puerto Rico) and Orlando Valle “Maraca” (Cuba).

The Colloquium created alliances with the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba and carried out two academic programs, first during the pre-Festival Jazz Plaza and throughout this week. During the event's theoretical sessions, attendees will enjoy talks and master classes with international musical exponents and professors such as Santiago Lozano (Colombia), Caren Olaine (United States), Lekan Babalola (Nigeria-United Kingdom), Amina Figarova (Azerbaijan-United States) and Julián Sánchez Carballo (Spain).

Lilien Trujillo, Indira Fajardo, Neris González Bello, Bobby Carcassés, Alexis Vázquez, César López and Joaquín Betancourt, among others, will also participate in representation of the Cuban music industry. As panelists, they will discuss topics related to photography, women in the music industry, cultural ecosystems and the history of the Festival. The Colloquium will also feature presentations of music albums, photographic exhibitions and book presentations.

We have always been interested in generating academic programs that can influence and challenge diverse audiences, from specialists or experts to neophytes and younger generations, commented Neris González Bello.

(Taken from Prensa Latina)