The 35th edition of the Canarias Jazz & Más International Festival, scheduled from July 3rd to July 25th, will solidify the presence of symphony orchestras alongside contemporary artists. Following last year's successful collaboration with the Gran Canaria Philharmonic Orchestra (OFGC) and Take 6, this year's two main concerts, headlined by Jacob Collier, will also feature the Gran Canaria orchestra. Festival director Miguel Ramírez highlighted the significance of this endeavor, which has been years in the making.
Ramírez recalled similar past collaborations, such as the one in 2021 with the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra and Avishai Cohen, and the participation of the Metropole Orkest from the Netherlands and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. This year also saw the premiere of a new work within the Canary Islands Music Festival featuring Snarky Puppy and the Metropole Orkest. The rewarding experience encourages the festival to continue pursuing these productions, with the OFGC as its primary partner.
A notable production in this edition is 'Mujeres Canarias del Jazz' (Women of Canary Islands Jazz), which will bring together the voices of Esther Ovejero, María Zerpa, Moneiba, Mónica Santana, and Olga Sánchez with the Municipal Band of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
“"It is something that holds great value and that we have been working on for many years."
The festival will present a total of 31 musical projects across 25 performance spaces on the eight islands of the archipelago, including 10 projects with a Canary Islands focus. The lineup features artists such as Jacob Collier and the OFGC conducted by Suzie Collier, Tigran Hamasyan, José James and Célia Kameni performing Marvin Gaye's 'I Want You', Yellowjackets, Estelle Perrault 5tet, Marco Mezquida Trío, Ghost Note, and many others.
The program presentation took place at the Teatro Guiniguada, attended by institutional representatives including Horacio Umpiérrez, Vice-Minister of Culture for the Government of the Canary Islands, and Héctor Mateo, Director General of Infrastructure, Sustainability, and Tourist Quality for the same government.
The festival will unfold across 30 performance venues spread throughout the islands, featuring 59 concerts and 5 talks. The attendance of 5 foreign journalists is expected, with promotion extending to international media. 31 musical projects from 16 nationalities will participate, showcasing a significant female presence (12 projects). Approximately 220 musicians will be involved, and a direct economic impact exceeding 580,000 euros is projected, with 58.54% of the budget allocated to local companies and professionals.
The 35th Canarias Jazz & Más International Festival will kick off on July 3rd with concerts in Arucas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and La Graciosa, featuring bands like Yellowjackets and Ghost-Note.
