Panama and the Music of the Heart

 

Music unites all Panamanians as an integral part of our culture of happiness.   Our country is a bridge where our local Indigenous groups along with Spaniards, French, Afro-descendants, Zonians among others play an import role in building our cultural identity.

 

 

Panama has its own distinct sounds and the musical influence of our local indigenous population can still be felt today throughout the country.   La Saloma (local campesino yodeling), Mejorana (a five-stringeg guitar), tambores (wooden drums) and accordion are popular in the traditional folk music and are getting more popular amongst the new generation of local musicians that want go back to the roots by mixing folk and traditional with modern sounds.

Panama also boasts a vibrant history of calypso and mento music sung by nationally well-known musicians such as Lord Panama, Delicious, Two-Gun Smokey, Lady Trixie, Lord Kitty, and Lord Cobra.  Also Reggaeton is well known in Panama with the famous artists:  Nando Boom, Kafu Banton and El General.

Festivals such as the Annual Jazz Festival, Macro Fest and others are inspirations for local talents to create new and innovative music by mixing the sounds of Panama.  Come and discover the amazing sounds of Panama that reflect the country’s unique diversity.

Sandra and Samy Sandoval and Ulpiano Vergara for típico interiorano (Local typical music).

A generation of Panamanian rockers are: Los Rabanes, Señor Loop, Carlos Mendez, Los Miserables and Llevarte a Marte among others.

And the most international Panamanian musicians:  Ruben Blades a salsa solo musician and Danilo Perez a pianist and jazz star.

 

Panama Jazz Festival 2016

On January 11-16, 2016 the annual Panama Jazz Festival, one of the region’s largest music education events held in Panama City, marks its 13th anniversary. Since its foundation in September 2003 by Panamanian Grammy-winning pianist Danilo Pérez, the festival has become a cultural tourist attraction by drawing audiences from across the globe.

We are offering an amazing itinerary to take advantage of this beautiful event.

Panama Jazz Festival 2016

Jan 11 – Welcome to Panama!

Today at the appropriate time an EcoCircuitos representative will meet you at the Tocumen International Airport to assist and transfer you to your hotel located in Panama City. At this time you will also receive an EcoCircuitos information kit that will provide you with all the details for your stay in Panama. Once you arrive to your hotel, please check-in at the hotel.

Overnight hotel in Panama City for 5 nights in chosen hotel.

Jan 12 – Half Day Historical City Tour

During the half-day morning tour you will visit the ruins of Old Panama, climb up the Cathedral tower, visit the Old Panama Museum and then continue to Casco Viejo (the old city compound), which dates from the late 1600’s. A bilingual guide will describe the events in history leading up to the eventual movement of the capital city to its present location. Casco Viejo is home to monuments to Ferdinand de Lesseps and other Frenchmen instrumental in the ill-fated attempt of the French to construct a canal through Panama. Your tour ends with a visit to the Panama Canal Museum. (B)

 Optional Jazz Concert: MAIN ARTIST: Rudresh Mahanthappa Quintet

http://rudreshm.com

Show Opening: Joshue Ashby C3 Project

http://www.tvn-2.com/heroesporpanama/perfiles/joshue_ashby/

SHOW TIME: 8 p.m. Place: Ateneo, Ciudad del Saber

Prices from $20.00 – $200.00

 Jan 13 – Free day for Relaxing or optional tours in Panama City

For a list of tours visit: here

 Optional Gala night at Teatro Anayansi, Centro de Convenciones Atlapa

MAIN ARTIST: Danny Rivera y Danilo Pérez + The Pan-American Detroit Big Band

http://www.dannyrivera.com

http://www.detroitjazzfest.com

SHOW TIME: 8 p.m.

Prices from $15.00 – $200.00

Jan 14 – Free day for Relaxing or optional tours in Panama City

For a list of tours visit: here

 Optional Jazz Concert: MAIN ARTIST Randy Weston

Show Opening: John & Tom Patitucci 4et

SHOW TIME: 8 p.m. Place: Ateneo, Ciudad del Saber

 Jan 15 – Free day for optional tours in Panama City

MAIN ARTIST: MCA Power Trio (David Murray, Terry Lyne Carrington, Geri Allen)

Show Opening: Dominique Eade con New England Conservatory

SHOW TIME: 8 p.m. Place: Ateneo, Ciudad del Saber

Prices from $20.00 – $200.00

 ** END OF SERVICES**

 Price per person in double occupancy: from $499.00

 Includes:  all transfers, 4 nights of lodging + taxes, bilingual guide on tour, entrance fees to attraction, 24 hour assistance from EcoCircuitos staff, Panama kit including a PBA Stainless Steel bottle and lots of fun!

Panama Jazz Festival Marks 12th Anniversary in 2015

On January 12-17, 2015 the annual Panama Jazz Festival, one of the region’s largest music education events held in Panama City, marks its 12th anniversary. Since its foundation in September 2003 by Panamanian Grammy-winning pianist Danilo Pérez, the festival has become a cultural tourist attraction by drawing audiences from across the globe with up to 100,000 people attending each year, as well as numerous international jazz musicians.

Danilo Pérez, who is not only founder of the festival, but also UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Cultural Ambassador of Panama and founder of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute at Berklee College of Music, describes his mission as “inspiring and educating while providing tools and opportunities to build a better future for individuals and their communities”.

Since music education is a great part of the festival, a week full of several master workshops at the so-called “Music Clinics” will be provided again this year by some of the best music institutions and by all invited artists. At the clinics, students from all parts of Latin America and the world will come together to learn from the international masters of jazz music. Artists such as Wayne Shorter, Chucho Valdez, Jack De Johnette, and Randy Weston have given lectures at the festival in the past years. In addition to this, Panamanian Folklore, classical music, production, and many other subjects have been taught.

The event has also become a center for auditions for admissions and scholarships for the participating institutions. In fact, the Panama Jazz Festival is the largest recruiting space in all Latin America for admissions and scholarships for some of the best music schools in the Americas.  For reservations and packages contact us at info@ecocircuitos.comwww.ecocircuitos.com

Go Locals in Panama

Panama Jazz Festival Marks 10th Anniversary in 2013

By Benita Rose

On January 14-19, 2013 the annual Panama Jazz Festival, one of the region’s largest music education events held in Panama City, marks its 10^th anniversary.

Since its foundation in September 2003 by Panamanian Grammy-winning pianist Danilo Pérez, the festival has become a cultural tourist attraction by drawing audiences from across the globe with up to 100,000 people attending each year, as well as numerous international jazz musicians.

Danilo Pérez, who is not only founder of the festival, but also UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Cultural Ambassador of Panama and founder of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute at Berklee College of Music, describes his mission as “inspiring and educating while providing tools and opportunities to build a better future for individuals and their communities”.

Since music education is a great part of the festival, a week full of several master workshops at the so-called “Music Clinics” will be provided again this year by some of the best music institutions and by all invited artists. At the clinics, students from all parts of Latin America and the world will come together to learn from the international masters of jazz music. Artists such as Wayne Shorter, Chucho Valdez, Jack De Johnette, and Randy Weston have given lectures at the festival in the past years. In addition to this, Panamanian Folklore, classical music, production, and many other subjects have been taught.

The event has also become a center for auditions for admissions and scholarships for the participating institutions. In fact, the Panama Jazz Festival is the largest recruiting space in all Latin America for admissions and scholarships for some of the best music schools in the Americas.

With a rich program of concerts, music clinics and jam sessions taking place in various theatres and venues across the whole city, the Panama Jazz Festival 2013 will again be a great way to get a taste of local culture and to listen to some great Jazz music.

9th Panama Jazz Festival

From the heart of America to the rest of the world, the Panama Jazz Festival celebrates its 9th edition with concerts, jam sessions and events for the entire family. Additionally, during the week of the festival some of the best music schools of the Americas audition students for admission and scholarships and the participating artists give master classes.

The theme for this year will be -Del Corazon de America para el Mundo- (From the Heart of America to the World), and it will be dedicated to the great self-taught saxophone player Carlos Garnett, celebrating his successful career as a composer and director of his own band.  Garnett will share his knowledge with young students during workshops at Ciudad del Saber.  This 9th  version of the festival will also feature several Jazz concerts at different venues in Panama City and the as every year an open-air concert in Casco Antiguo on January 21.

The Artistic director of the Jazz Festival this year will be once again its founder and multiple Grammy Award Winner, Danilo Perez. An assistance of around 28 thousand people is expected for the 2012 version of the festival.

For more information and reservations for concerts and Jazz Festival Packages please do not hesitate to contact us at info@ecocircuitos.com

Panama Jazz Festival – 2011

Panama’s annual cornerstone cultural event, the 8th Panama Jazz Festival will be held January 10-15, 2011. With upwards of 100,000 people in attendance since the festivals 2003 inception, this year’s edition is dedicated to Panamanian pianist, Victor Nicolás “Vitín” Paz, one of the great trumpeters in the history of Latin music and one of the most remarkable musicians in the history of Panamanian popular music. Some of the artist that will be participating in this version of the festival are Claudia Acuña, Bryan Lynch, Ricardo del Fla, Harlem String Quartet, Isabel Julve, Osvaldo Jorge, Jose Antonio Sanchez and the organizer and panamanian Pianist, composer, educator and social activist, Danilo Pérez who is one of the most influential and dynamic musicians of our time.

For information and reservations, please contact us at info@ecocircuitos.com

Geotourism in Chagres National Park

Early in the morning, we get to the Chagres River, the main reservoir of drinking water for the cities of Panama and Colon, also supplies water for the operation of the Panama Canal. Here we board a dugout canoe with motor and travel up the River to the Embera Drua village.

The boat journey of 45 minutes takes us through lush rainforest of the Chagres National park. From the boat it is possible to admire the beauty of the rich and flourishing nature; there is a complete silence, broken only by the sounds of the water and of the birds. The river is the only way to get to the Emberá village, otherwise it is possible to walk through the forest but that will take no less than 4 hrs. During the rainy season the river will rise a lot, while during the dry season the level of the water will be very shallow, causing problems to pass through some places.

The Emberá community was founded in the Chagres national Park in 1975, and today counts 115 inhabitants, of which 30 are kids. In 1996 a school was built also thanks to the contribution of organizations, tour operators and individuals who strongly support the protection and conservation of the environment end the life of the Indigenous communities. There are often volunteers who spend some time within the village, offering help and doing researches.

When we arrive, a representative of the Emberá community explain us everything about their history, way of living, traditions, dances, music, together with the help of some women that show us how they make handcrafts using palms fibers, woods, leaves, rocks, etc..

All the handicrafts they make are on sale at their small picturesque market.
We have also the chance to get our body painted, as the Emberá usually do, using a particular ink made of ashes and plant pigments. The tattoos will last about 8 days.

At lunchtime we sit together enjoying the delicious freshwater fish, Tilapia and Sargento, accompanied by crispy platanos y a bunch of fresh fruits, such as pineapple, passion fruit, watermelon, bananas..

After lunch we move to another open air building, where the Emberá women will perform local dances on the music played by the men using artesian flutes and drums. The first dance is performed in between them, while in the following ones everybody will take the floor and show their dancing skills!

Once we have done with that, unfortunately It’s time to board again on the piraguas and go back to the “real word”, but confident with the fact that our soul is fulfilled with the best emotions and feelings that the wonderful people of the Emberá community were passionately able to transmit to us.

Léa Maillard & Paola Alzatti.

Panama Jazz Festival (Jan 11 – 16th, 2010)

Visit Panama in January (11 – 16th) during a one-week of pure jazz music, with musical auditions, artistic workshops, and some live free performances in the Old Quarter and National Theater at the rhythm of piano and saxophone with Danilo Peréz as the creator and organizer of this festival. American jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter’s acclaimed quartet with Danilo Perez, John Patitucci, and Brian Blade, and the legendary Cuban pianist Chucho Valdes are among the headliners at past Panama Jazz Festival. The Boston-based Panamanian pianist Danilo Perez, who founded the festival in 2003 and whose Foundation coordinates its educational component, anticipates more than 16,000 attendees. Main Concert in Plaza Catedral is free. Schedule and performers artist will be available in October. For more information about this event and packages and tours during this week, please contact us at sales@ecocircuitos.com