CariFesta Coming to Barbados

The 13th edition of the Caribbean’s biggest arts festival, CARIFESTA, is coming to Barbados.

The island nation will host more than 3,000 artists and artisans for the Caribbean Festival of the Arts, a showcase for arts including dance, music, theater, fashion, food and film.

“CARIFESTA embodies the spirit and vibrancy of the Caribbean community, culture, and civilization, and this Caribbean flagship is very close to our hearts,” said CARICOM Secretary General Irwin LaRocque. “Since the staging of the first edition in Guyana in 1972, together, we have nurtured CARIFESTA over the last 45 years.”

LaRocque said the festival was particularly important following the passing of Nobel Laureate and St Lucia native Derek Walcott, a titan of Caribbean art.

“This regional launch comes at a time when the region mourns the loss of a distinguished son and a literary legend, Nobel Laureate Sir Derek Walcott,” he said. “To the Caribbean community, Walcott was a true cultural icon, a gift from Saint Lucia to the region and the world. He embraced the entire Caribbean as his own, his lyrical poetry and penetrative plays resounded with the spirit of the Caribbean civilization.”

The festival will run from Aug. 17-27.

Tropical Jazz

The annual Dominican Republic Jazz Festival is scheduled for the end of the month. It offers a blend of superb jazz with an extensive educational program.

The program calls for jazz performances on Sunday, 29 October 2017 in Santo Domingo with a concert dedicated to France. Musicians from the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (CNSMDP) will participate along with the stellar performance of Riccardo del Fra.

The festival then continues from 1-5 November in venues in Santiago and Puerto Plata. On Wednesday, 1 November in Santiago: El Eco (Argentina) and Edmar Colon and Jonathan Suazo (Dominican Republic); Thursday, 2 November in Sosúa with Roni Eytan Quartet (Israel), Anat Cohen with the Berklee Global Ambassadors (Israel, USA), and Javier Vargas (Dominican Republic); Friday, 3 November in Puerto Plata: Trio da Paz (Brazil), Guy Frómeta Trio (Dominican Republic); Saturday, 4 November in Cabarete: Berklee Global Jazz Ambassadors Sean Jones and Brian Lynch (USA); Sunday, 5 November in Cabarete: William Cepeda (Puerto Rico), Marco Pignataro's Almas Antiguas Quartet (Italy, Puerto Rico), and more.

The DR Jazz Festival shows are free and open to the general public. VIP tickets and priority seats are available for purchase, making a contribution to the Fedujazz. Contact Fedujazz for more details at 809 571-9350 or by emailing info@drjazzfestival.com

https://drjazzfestival.com/es/domini...ow-dates-2017/

Smooth Sounds in SDQ

Will you be in SDQ this July? Looking for a classy, cultural alternative to the club scene? Fiesta Sunset Jazz at the rooftop of the Dominican Fiesta Hotel presents a selection of guest jazz musicians from Puerto Rico and the United States on Fridays at 8:30pm. Admission is free to listen to great jazz music. These are presentations by Jazz en Dominicana.

This July the schedule is:
Friday, 7 July: Richard Peña Latin Jazz Band (From San Juan, Puerto Rico)
Friday, 14 July: Peter Novelli´s History of the Blues (From New Orleans, Louisiana)
Friday, 21 July: Rafa Patán Trío (From Troy, New York)
Friday, 28 July: Pavel Polanco-Safadit Latin Jazz Quintet (From Indianapolis, Indiana)

Also enjoy jazz music at O.Livia restaurant on Av. Lope de Vega on Mondays, and Thursdays in July at the Casa de Teatro Jazz Festival.
http://jazzendominicana.blogspot.com/

Food & Fun

Picnic at the Botanical Gardens The Santo Domingo National Botanical Gardens has organized "El Picnic,” a family day with food trucks, electronic music, art and other cultural attractions for 19 and 20 November 2016. The organizers have announced that DJs Poteleche, Marcos Cabrera, Bubu Vega, Ugo, Bob Hache and Heff Huffner will be playing the music. From 11am. Admission is RD$250 adults, and children enter free of charge.

Street Food Festival in Santiago
Food trucks will be bringing a variety of food to Santiago's Jardín Cabrera Vidal on 3 and 4 December.


For information on upcoming events:http://www.dr1.com/calendar

DR JAZZ FESTIVAL

Now in its 19th year, the Dominican Republic Jazz Festival promises five nights of free concerts 4-8 November in Santiago, Puerto Plata, Sosua and Cabarete. Confirmed artists for 2015 include international jazz players David Sanchez Quartet and John Patitucci, and the Pedrito Martinez Group. From the Dominican Republic, Pengbian Sang and Retro Jazz, and Manuel Tejada will be playing, as well as Josean Jacobo, Javier Vargas and the Big Band of the Santo Domingo Music Conservatory. Marco Pignataro and Matt Marvuglio of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute will also be playing.
This year the festival will pay tribute to saxophone players Juan Colon, Crispin Fernandez and Sandy Gabriel.
The event is sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism.

Colonial Gem

Right in the middle of the Colonial Zone, off the beaten path, are the ruins of the monastery of San Francisco. I have always thought this could be a real jewel. Perhaps a concert venue, amphitheater sort of place with a nice restaurant and gallery.

Texan To Sing In Cuba

AUSTIN, USA -- An alignment of the stars has occurred for Austin, Texas, musician Leticia Rodriguez, as the first American ever to be invited to perform in Las Romerias de Mayo, Holguin, Cuba, from May 2 - 8. She will be performing with Cuba’s popular band, Septeto Cristal. This prestigious festival comes at a time when the US and Cuba are entering a new stage in relations. 

While this news came as a surprise to Rodriguez, the path leading to this invitation has been years in the making. Rodriguez sings the music of her aunt, Eva Garza, an international singer (1917-1966). She was an acclaimed singer in Cuba, as well as the Americas, during the 1940s - 50s.

It has been a dream of Rodriguez to bring Eva’s music back to Cuba. Eva and Leticia both share a love of Cuban music, and Rodriguez’ hit song, Saguita al Bate, will be featured in Holguin, along with other selected songs from Eva’s repertoire. 

Bruno Mars at Festival Presidente

The Presidente Beer-sponsored Festival Presidente this year goes global and multi-genre. This year there will be pop, electronic music, R&B, rap and other urban music beats together with the Latin beats of salsa, bachata, merengue. On the list of performing artists is US singer-songwriter Bruno Mars. Franklin Leon, president of the Cerveceria Nacional Dominicana, announced that coming for this year's event, set for 3,4 and 5 October 2014, are Daddy Yankee, Mana (Mexico), Gilberto Santa Rosa (Puerto Rico), DJ Tiesto (Holland), Calle 13 (Puerto Rico) DJ Duck Sauce (US/Canada), Victor Manuelle (US), Wisin y Yandel (US), Prince Royce (US) and Daddy Yankee (US). Participating from the DR are Yiyo Sarante, Alex Matos, Hector Acosta, among others. 

The calendar is: 

Friday, 3 October: DJ Tiesto, Calle 13, Duck Sauce, Don Miguelo, Vakero, Mozart La Para. 

Saturday, 4 October: Bruno Mars, Daddy Yankee, Prince Royce, Chiquito Team Band, Sexappeal, Yiyo Sarante, Alex Matos, Hector Acosta, Miriam Cruz 

Sunday, 5 October: Mana, Wisin y Yandel, Anthony Santos, El Mayimbe, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Victor Manuelle. 

This Weekend

Leading merengue bands will be playing at the Plaza Juan Baron on the Malecon oceanfront boulevard in Santo Domingo for the Ministry of Tourism-sponsored traditional merengue festival. Booked to play at the city park as part of the Merengue and Caribbean Beats Festival are Los Hermanos Rosario, Krisspy, Miriam Cruz, Kinito Mendez, Mozart la Para, Chiquito Team Band, Chimbala, and Sexappeal. The event is sponsored by Brugal rum.

Is Everything Irie?

I could not believe this video clip when I first saw it. The guys dancing here are awesome. Oh, to be young and energetic! What really struck me is that they are dancing TOGETHER...in JAMAICA. It all appears to be innocent fun, but given the social dynamics of the country and the awareness that the smallest indication of same-sex attraction may lead to torture, these two had better be careful. They are cute though!

Miami's Dominican Jazz

The South Florida Dominican Jazz Fest is a multicolored event being held with Dominican musicians in Miami. On Friday, 19 October audiences in Miami can enjoy several genres of jazz in fusion with merengue and bachata. The event celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month in Florida. A sextet of very well known jazz musicians from New York, under the leadership of Dominican conga player Alex Diaz is coordinating the event. Diaz has played with Tito Puente, Mario Rivera, Dizzy Gillespie and many more. His format is marrying jazz and merengue in a very tasteful manner n taking jazz standards into merengue rhythms and tempos, and vice versa.

Also playing are Josean Jacobo & Tumbao, a quartet of excellent young players from the DR that plays mostly original compositions in the new genre Latin Jazz Nouveau.

The event will be streamed live on the Internet. Tickets are US$20 and US$25 at the door. Follow this event at www.sfdominicanjazzfest.com

Caribbean Music Festival

Deputy Minister of Tourism Fausto Fernandez and Adalberto Rodriguez and Pamela Ortiz from Brugal and company have signed an agreement between the Ministry of Tourism and the Brugal company to hold the first Dominican Festival of Caribbean Music on August 4th and 5th at Plaza Juan Baron on the Malecon seafront boulevard in the capital.

Shows on those dates will start at 8pm and finish at 2am.

Adalberto Rodriguez said that the event would appeal to Dominicans and foreigners alike and would include performers of merengue, bachata, salsa, regional Caribbean music, reggaetton, reggae and urban music.

The deputy minister of Tourism said that the Ministry wished to make this an annual event, not only to entertain Dominicans, but they would also encourage tourists to attend via their tour operators.

Merry Christmas Weekend

We take a break this weekend to celebrate Christmas. Enjoy this rendition of "When Christmas Comes" by one of my favorite internet celebrities, B. Scott.

Rumors??

Recently, according to NewOne, a NYC radio station spoofed a recording by hot new artist Miguel. Their take on the song suggested that Miguel was gay and was on the lookout for male ass. Rumors have swirled around the singers sexuality for various reasons, but the most ridiculous one being his fashion sense. Miguel himself acknowledges that his taste in fashion is not the norm for someone in urban America, but he considers himself a world star who has traveled extensively and reaches out to an audience much larger than the US alone.

He says he has always admired and liked women, whatever that means, and that the rumors are just that.

When are we going to get over what a person does in their private life and simply appreciate them for what they share with us through their talent? Why is a persons sexuality so important? Why should that take precedence over anything else?

The Serenade

Festival Of Santo Domingo

El Festival De Santo Domingo will feature famed latin music performers and popular local artists on five stages on the Malecon. They will sing merengue, bachata, pop, reggaetton and more. There will be 15 MC's from Santo Domingo, Santiago, La Vega and Bonao. Watch the live broadcast this afternoon and evening courtesy of Teleuniverso. Enjoy!

CLICK ON THE BANNER.

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Cultural Diversity Applauded

I am quite thrilled to be made aware of this event considering the attitudes of many Dominicans toward the darker brother.

San Cristobal is bring together African heritage groups from 13 provinces nationwide for a tribute to the beat of the drums, inherited from the African slaves brought to the island in the 15th century. In its 35th year, it honors late Dominican singer and composer Luis Dias. Dias incorporated many of the original rhythms of these grassroots groups into his compositions.

The festival takes place November 26-28. It is a weekend of songs, dance, workshops, arts & crafts, gastronomy and Dominican folklore.