19th Edition of the Dominican Republic Jazz Festival Will Feature Grammy Award Winning Artists

19th Edition of the Dominican Republic Jazz Festival Will Feature Grammy Award Winning Artists
Santo Domingo, August 25 2015

The Ministry of Tourism and the Jazz Foundation (FEDUJAZZ) announced the 19th Edition of the Dominican Republic Jazz Festival, which will take place on November 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of this year in Santiago, Sosúa, Puerto Plata and Cabarete. This musical event will be attended by leading jazz musicians from the United States, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Israel, Italy, France and the Dominican Republic.

Among the artists whose participation has been confirmed for the Dominican Republic Jazz Festival 2015, including winners of the Grammy Awards, are: American John Patitucci, the David Sánchez Quintet from Puerto Rico, and the Pedrito Martínez Group, nominated to the Grammys, along with other outstanding talents, such as Josean Jacobo from the Dominican Republic.

Also participating in this new edition of the Festival are Roy Assaf (trio) (Israel); the Berklee Global Jazz Institute, with Marco Pignataro (USA); Javier Vargas and the Big Band of the Santo Domingo Conservatory of Music, with Jim Kelly, Jim Odgren and Jason Camelio, from the United States. Other artists who will also participate in the DR Jazz Festival are: the Student Loan Stringband from the United States; Mario Canonge from France; and, from the Dominican Republic, Manuel Tejeda, Pengbian Sang and Retro Jazz.

The career awards that will be presented to Sandy Gabriel, Juan Colón and Crispín Fernández, were also announced. Since its inception, the Dominican Republic Jazz Festival has hosted artists that have won the renowned international Grammys and the Grammy Latino Awards, such as Ignacio Berroa, Joe Lovano, Chuck Mangione, Ray Baretto, Néstor Torres, Chucho Valdés, Horacio “El Negro” Hernández and Alturo Sandoval, among many other talents. FEDUJAZZ, the festival’s managing and organizing institution, is a nonprofit organization that coordinates music education workshops for Dominican youth. Annually, hundreds of school children in the Northern Coast of the Dominican Republic attend music education workshops with musicians from the Jazz Festival.

FEDUJAZZ’s musical program in Cabarete focuses on educating children through structured musical programs that enhance their education and increase their life opportunities. Currently, there are over 150 children who receive free musical education and training in the new center located in Cabarete.

The 19th Dominican Republic Jazz Festival is organized by the Ministry of Tourism and other sponsors, among which are: Ron Macorix, JetBlue, the Embassy of the United States, Berklee Global Jazz Institute, Gratereaux Delva & Associates Law Firm, Sea Horse Ranch, Luxury Resort, Ultravioleta Boutique Residences, Millennium Resort & Spa, Residencial Casa Linda, the Sosúa City Council, Cibao Recycling, BanReservas, Centro León, the Embassy of France, the Martinique Region, and the Embassy of Israel, among others.

ABOUT THE DR ON JAZZ FESTIVAL The DR Jazz Festival is the largest and oldest jazz event in the Dominican Republic. The annual event is a free festival full of rhythm, flavor and color that is wrapped in the fragrant air of the Northern Coast of the Dominican Republic.

It is a unique experience to enjoy our festival, where the music vibrates on the lively beach of Cabarete. Each year, some of the best Latin international and local groups and jazz musicians perform in it. These incredible musicians share the stage to offer Dominicans and foreigners alike a diversity of genres of Jazz to please music lovers who have different tastes. The Festival is a cultural event that is organized to promote tourism in the Northern Coast of the country. For several years it has taken place in Sosúa, Cabarete, Puerto Plata and Santiago.

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