The Dominican Republic Jazz Festival starts Friday, 7 November in Puerto Plata with performances in Cabarete Beach. Since its first year, the festival has presented a score of notable players, including Chuck Mangione, David Sanchez, Ray Baretto, Nestor Towers, Gossipy Valdes and Arturo Sandoval, some Grammy award winners. The Festival of Jazz is the most anticipated cultural event on the north coast and the only festival directed to tourists and local residents. And for seven years, the DR Jazz Festival has been host to legendary musicians with an impeccable technical production, sound and professional stenography. As part of the festival, educational workshops with the performers geared to the local youth are held, to encourage them to get involved in the arts.
Performances are scheduled for the weekend evenings at Cabarete Beach starting at 8:30pm. They are free. Friday, 7 November: Ambar Jazz Group (DR) opens with at Cabarete Beach, with performances by Dave Valentin & PR All Star Latin Jazz (USA, DR), and then Eric Figueroa, Endel Dueno, Javier Oquendo, Ramon Vasquez and Eddy “Guagua” Riera. Special guest is Luis “Perico” Ortiz. On Saturday, 8 November, Sandy Gabriel & Electric Jazz (DR), Giovanni Hidalgo & Descarga Boricua Quintet (PR), Eric Figueroa, Tito de Gracia, Piro Rodriguez and Eddy “Guagua” Rivera, and then the magic of the drums with Giovanni Hidalgo, Tito de Gracia, Javier Oquendo and Guarionex Aquino, with special guest Puppy Santiago. On Sunday, 9 November, Fidel Morales Trio (Cuba), and Prodigio en Jazz (DR).
On Saturday, 8 November, there will be a jazz workshop at 10am for young musicians. And then a Youth Concert at Cabarete Beach at 12:30pm.