Cuba in Jazz Mode

My love for jazz is recent —it is about five years old. And like any young love, it seeks, explores, and tries to find solid ground. In those stages we have all experienced, we also regret not having discovered much earlier the treasure that now captivates us. So close all along —through forty years of festivals— yet I took too long to translate those "dissonances" into their real language, their emotional meanings.

An extraordinary language, this genre’s, which in a single piece can take us on a journey from chaos, heartbreak, and nostalgia to the serenity and silence we long for —imposed upon us, suddenly, by the final stretch of notes as finely woven as the most intricate lace in the universe.

With Jazz Plaza 2025 only halfway through, there is already so much to say that it would be an impossible task. The media are handling that job —and it is a massive one— because the quality and credentials of the participants, not just as accomplished performers but also as educators supporting children's and young people’s access to artistic education, are simply overwhelming.

The international guests are masterful musicians —award-winning figures, highly regarded in the global jazz scene— delivering performances of the highest technical caliber. They are reflections of the rich jazz tradition they have inherited, of a powerful musical culture.

On a personal level, what our local artists do strikes me as extraordinary. Behind them, of course, lies an unparalleled musical wealth, which they push to its very limits. The harmony they achieve in these fusions leaves us craving more —no one wants the show to end.

The musician, and even the casual jazz enthusiast, embraces a freedom they do not need to ask for —one that reconciles them with themselves. As spectators, we are infinitely grateful for it. Because while they perform in the here and now, they drift away without abandoning us —or they pull us into that infinite space they know so well, navigating the ocean of their emotions. Just watching them is proof enough.

Whether drawn to follow them or lost in awe at the power of their intertwined sounds and intervals, we connect with all kinds of emotions. In the end, the experience fills us with happiness for having taken that journey into ourselves. And perhaps —who knows, since each of us is a small universe— we leave the show with a clearer vision of who we are.

So I invite you to fall in love once more —there is always time to embrace that mystery. Let’s not miss this opportunity to get closer to this genre before we regret the delay. With an open mind to interpretive talent and a heart exposed to whatever our feelings may hold, let’s listen —whether it is Cuban jazz or not— because the experience might just come with a few surprises.

Translated by Sergio A. Paneque Díaz / CubaSí Translation Staff