Four headline concerts (concertos estelares) at the Degollado Theater at the beginning of August will launch the city’s seventh Jazz Festival into new territory.
The festival promises to have an international focus this year, with many well-known jazz, blues and soul performers from the United States, including the legendary Bettye LaVette, already confirmed.
In addition to the Degollado events, four five-hour sessions are planned for the Foro Expo (outside Expo Guadalajara, the festival’s headquarters), as well as nightly gigs in local clubs and bars and open-air sets by groups on the car-free Via RecreActiva on Sunday, August 11.In addition, there will be seminars, roundtables, educational workshops, didactic concerts and a film cycle, with screenings at the Expo each evening at 7 p.m. from Sunday, August 4 through Saturday, August 10.
The Teatro Degollado schedule:
Friday, August 2, 8:30 p.m. Homage to Enrique Nery, featuring Abraham Barrera, Aaron Cruz, Giovanni Figueroa, Daniel Zlotnik and Enrique Nery.
Monday, August 5, 8:30 p.m. The Smoke Rings Quartet opens for U.S. jazz vocalist Kurt Elling.
Thursday, August 8, 8:30 p.m. Guitarist Werther Ellerbrock opens for singer Bettye LaVette.
Friday, August 9, 8:30 p.m. The Daniel Lopez Trío opens for U.S. double bassist and composer Ben Allison, who is joined by Steve Cardenas, Mark Guiliana and Shane Endsly.
The Foro Expo will host four events on both weekends, the second also featuring exponents of blues as well as jazz.
Saturday, August 3, 7 p.m. Omar Ramirez & Kingsmith, Troker, Iraida Noriega & the Groovy Band, Joey DeFrancesco and Kenny Garrett.
Sunday, August 4, 7 p.m. Willy Zavala, Mole, Nicholas Payton, Jose James.
Saturday, August 10, Acasia, King Blues, San Juan Project, Villanos and the festival’s “All Stars” band, featuring around a dozen participants in the festival.
Sunday, August 11, 7 p.m. La Bruja, Nathalie Braux, Bad Boys Preservation Band and Ensamble Tonica, Brian Lynch and the “All Stars” band.
The venues of the jazz gigs scheduled at local Guadalajara nightspots have yet to be decided but they should be announced on festival’s website shortly.
Ticket prices for the concerts are being kept low to attract bigger audiences. The Degollado concerts run from 100 to 300 pesos, while the Expo sessions will cost 15 pesos.
For full details of all the festival’s events, including its educational workshops, go to www.tonicagdlac.com.