Jan 17, 2014
Final concert of the Berklee Credit Program
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Final concert of the Berklee Credit Program
"It's too early to be playing jazz" - Garzone
"It's too early to be playing jazz" - Garzone
Day 3 at the Panama Jazz Festival
Day 3 of the festival was the most active one yet as it was full of clinics, master classes and performances. The first clinic was lead by bassist and BGJI faculty member John Patitucci for the Berklee credit program. From 9am to 5pm the BGJI students were hard at work leading individual clinics. All the rooms were full with PJF students diligently recording the classes and asking questions. At the end of each class, the attendees talked with the BGJI and discussed the lessons. Overall, the classes went extremely well. One of the afternoons highlights was an interview with saxophone legend Kenny Garrett led by Executive Director Patrica Zarate. The first half hour featured questions from Patricia, who is also an Alto saxophonist. Garrett enthusiastically answered questions about his early exposure to jazz through the many Detroit saxophonists around him and shared his influences ranging from Sonny Criss to Hank Crawford. When asked about his experience with Miles Davis and Art Blakey, Garrett noted that with Miles be learned how to be free and how to blend and with Blakey how to be a leader and swing hard. The last half of the interview featured questions fielded from the audience. One reporter asked Garrett his opinion about the crisis Detroit is currently going through to which Garrett replied that Detroit is actually a beautiful city with one of the only free large jazz festivals the United States. After all the clinics, the evening was packed with concerts. First up at the Ateneo theater was Nedelka Prescod joined by BGJI Managing Director Marco Pignataro and other Berklee faculty members and former Berklee/New England Conservatory students including pianist Kevin Harris, guitarist Tom Patitucci, bassist Ehud Ettud and drummer Richie Barshay. Her set included a variety of originals and standards including crowd favorites 'Besame Mucho' and 'Afro Blue'. The main event was none other than Kenny Garrett who gave an electric performance. High energy and captivating are words that could be used to describe the hour and a half set Garrett performed. Highlights included his 20 minute rendition of 'J. Mac', a tribute to saxophone master Jackie MacLean, which featured riveting solos from the whole band, and the closer that brought the audience to their feet and concluded after no less than 20 minutes of dancing and reverie. Finally, the evening ended at Danilo Perez Jazz club where John Patitucci and his brother Tom played a set followed by a jam session.
Kenny Garret speaks to the crowd
John Patitucci starts the day off with another clinic
Master Garzone holding down another clinic for the Berklee credit person. Can't stop this guy!
Day 1 at the Panama Jazz Festival
The festival unofficially kicked things off the previous night with the opening of the Danilo Perez Jazz Club in Panama City. BGJI Artistic Director Danilo Perez and BGJI Managing Director Marco Pignataro musically broke ground with a moving duo performance followed by a jam session with master saxophonist George Garzone. The following morning, Danilo Perez and George Garzone took part in the press conference, officially beginning the Panama Jazz Festival. Danilo explained the importance of the festival to the people of not just Panama, but all of Latin America: “this is not my festival- this is our festival for all of Latin America,” said Danilo. When BGJI faculty member George Garzone held the mic, he shared an anecdote about his previous time in Panama, which was with Danilo in 1993. Garzone remarked especially about how Panama has changed and flourished over those 20+ years due largely in part to the cultural exchange the festival promotes. The rest of the day was a flurry of events spearheaded by the Institute. Of note, Marco and Danilo presented a brand new credit program: for $250, students participate in five two-hour seminars presented by BGJI faculty and earn one college credit toward a Berklee education. Other presentations included a saxophone clinic held by Garzone and a stirring performance by the BGJI in the auditorium that featured all original music. The night culminated with a wonderful reception along the Panama Canal that featured two performances by incredible Congolese dancers. If the first day is any indication of what’s to come throughout the week, it’s clear that the Panama Jazz Festival is going to be a fantastic success.