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Scenes from the 2010 Panama Jazz Festival
A photo essay by Roy Gumpel documenting jazz outreach
by Danilo Perez in his native Panama City
By Roy Gumpel
Early in 2009 I was hired to go down to Panama for a photo assignment. I was shooting for K.C. Hardin who, it turns out, is one of the people responsible for the success of the Panama Jazz Festival and the Danilo Perez Music Foundation there.
I did some shooting in the music school and got the feeling that some great things were happening there for the kids in the area. Kids who mostly live in some of the poorest neighborhoods in Panama.
Live Jazz: The 7th Panama Jazz Festival
By Fernando Gonzalez
Panama City, Panama. The 7th Panama Jazz Festival, celebrated in Panama City January 11-16, concluded Saturday with a free, outdoor concert at Plaza Catedral, in front of the historic cathedral in Old Panama City. What started only a few years ago as a Quixotic adventure by Panamanian pianist, Grammy winner and educator Danilo Pérez has become one of the most significant events in jazz, and music education, in Latin America.
But as good as the music was throughout the week, it was only part of the story. The festival features the participation of educational institutions such as the New England Conservatory, Berklee College of Music, the Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico, Fundazione Siena Jazz from Siena, Italy, and the Golandsky Piano Institute at Princeton University. And the educational activities — directed by saxophonist Patricia Zárate, Perez’s wife — included educational programs, clinics and workshops ranging from Panamanian Folklore to yoga, a children’s program and technology. Also, during this festival it was announced the launching of Berklee College of Music’s Global Jazz Institute, a new, interdisciplinary initiative.