The 27th edition of the Festival Canarias Jazz & Más Heineken begins its itinerant route around six islands in the Square – Plaza de los Alisios of the Tenerife Auditorium

• A total of 49 concerts make up the programme for one of the most veteran cultural events on the Canarian scene

• Multiple venues will be used to stage performances by artists like Joao Bosco, Dhafer Youssef & Kenny Garrett between 6 and 22 July  

The 27th edition of the Festival Internacional Canarias Jazz & Más Heineken kicks off in the Squares – Plaza Alisios of the Tenerife Auditorium and Plaza de España of Los Llanos de Aridane in La Palma, with a programme featuring 49 concerts taking us also to the islands of Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Graciosa & Gran Canaria. This edition commences on 6 July and lasts till 22 July.

The details of the festival were revealed today (Monday 18th) in the presence of the Director of Culture & Education at the Cabildo (Island Council) of Tenerife, José Luis Rivero; the Director of the Festival, Miguel Ramírez; the Councillor for Economic Promotion of Santa Cruz, Alfonso Cabello; the manager of the ‘Organismo Autónomo de Actividades Musicales’ (Autonomous Organisation for Musical Activities) of La Laguna, Tomás López-Perea and the Sales representative of Heineken in Tenerife, Juan Carlos Torres.

João Bosco, Dhafer Youssef, Kenny Garrett, Cyrille Aimée, Christian Sands, Keyon Harrold, Allan Harris, Michael Olivera, Eva Cortés, Gilad Hekselman, Myles Sanko, Jungle Fire, Tanika Charles, Yotam Silberstein, Iñaki Arakistain, Ida Nielsen, Julian Lage & Naughty Professor are some of the artists that make up the billing at this 27th edition. ‘Noche África’ (Africa Night), featuring Alex Ikot & Nelida Karr, and various other local bands complete said billing for a new presentation of this well seasoned Canarian festive event.

José Luis Rivero highlighted “the potency of this festival, with the majority of its programme featuring free-entrance events and both the initial & final concerts taking place at open-air venues, like public squares”. In addition, the island director of Culture & Education expressed his gratitude to the festival for its resolute cultural intent to help to create & establish the talent of local young jazz musicians on the islands.

Miguel Ramírez upheld the festival as being a tourist attraction which goes around the islands. Ramírez, who regretted not being able to include the islands of La Gomera & El Hierro in the programme, also expressed his gratitude for the participation of institutions & both private & public companies to enable the festival to go ahead. “Although we have been here for 27 years, it keeps being a complex juggling & balancing act organising each edition” he confirms; clarifying that “it isn’t easy bringing artists of the calibre of João Bosco or Dhafer Youssef, who perform at the very best festivals in the world”.

Alfonso Cabello was pleased that the festival has returned to Santa Cruz, not having reached an agreement at the last edition. “It’s one of the first of summer events, in which music is very important”, he remarked. Tomás López-Perea commended the quality of this year’s billing and predicted the success of the two concerts due to be held at the Theatre Leal. Juan Carlos Torres, for his part, expressed his satisfaction that ‘Heineken Canarias’ once more was participant as the main sponsor of this festival.

As well as renowned artists of the genre, the festival once again features new ensembles; musicians who experiment with new & fresh trends based on classicism, groups that look for a blend of cultures, of varied rhythms, of Latin, Arabic or flamenco music. In this we find soul, rock, funk, hip hop…

The festival has the collaboration of the municipalities of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Adeje, Puerto de la Cruz, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Santa Lucía de Tirajana, Santa Brígida, Puerto del Rosario, Teguise & Los Llanos de Aridane, and the sponsorship of the Canarian Governmant and the Island Councils of Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma, Fuerteventura & Lanzarote, Casa África, the Tenerife Auditorium, the Auditorium & Theatre Foundation of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Theatres Leal & Guiniguada and the airline Binter. Organised by Colorado Producciones, yet another edition has received the sponsorship of the company Heineken