A report from Haiti Libre.

Thursday at the Karibe Convention Center, Jean Michel Lapin, the Director General of the Ministry of Culture together with members of the coordination and the Haiti Foundation Jazz partners, launched the 10th edition of the Jazz Festival of Port-au-Prince to be held from January 23 to 30 2016, a little everywhere in the Haitian Capital.

“In ten years, the International Jazz Festival of Port-au-Prince, the ‘PAPJAZZ’ has built its reputation with original performance and a unique atmosphere. Ten years of passion and hard work to overcome obstacles related to the country’s image, its lack of infrastructure but also to understand that culture is also an economic sector,” explained Joël Widmaier of the Haiti Jazz Foundation.

From January 23 to 30, 2016, this 10th edition of the Festival will offer more than 30 performances, by jazz artists of international renown and local artists and groups, 14 countries have been invited: Belgium, Canada, Chile, France , Germany, Mexico, Spain, Japan, Switzerland, the US, and bring together the following artists : Réginald Policard, Joel Widmaier & John Bern Thomas, Pauline Jean, Jean Caze, Obed Calvaire, Godwin Louis, Mushy Widmaier, Jonathan Michel, Thomas Siffling, Kenny Garrett, Carolyn Malachi and many others…

We also welcome the return of Brazil and the Dominican Republic and the arrival of Cuba and Panama. Rhythms “caliente” will mix the famous Creole jazz made in Haiti.

Among the guests, saxophonist Kenny Garrett (USA), Oliver Jones (Quebec), the Brazilian Eliane Elias…

Full program on : http://papjazzhaiti.org/site/en/