Panama Jazz Festival 2011

By Roy Gumpel

When my buddy K.C. Hardin, a friend of Danilo Perez and an active supporter of the Panama Jazz Festival, invited me to stay at his place again, I jumped at the offer. This was the 8th annual festival and my 2nd. You may have seen my photos from last year's Panama Jazz Festival on this site. After attending last year's I basically spent the year looking forward to getting back for this January's. And it turned out to be even more rewarding for me, since I made so many friends there last year.

As I wrote after my first time at the festival, the many amazing concerts were, for me, secondary to the wonderful clinics happening all week. I spent many blissful hours listening to (and of course photographing) the generous and inspiring musicians from around the world as they taught workshops to the many kids who flocked to the festival to devour the energy and knowledge given to them.

I watched 10-year-olds learning how to hold their instruments correctly and I sat in the corner of the room watching Brian Lynch rehearsing a quintet of 20 year olds for their big concert. I was invited to grab a drum and play along with a group of young teens I befriended last year (keeping in touch with on Facebook) in a small practice room (my personal high point of the week!).
Visit > http://vimeo.com/16771417

Complete on: http://jazztimes.com/sections/photos/articles/27062-panama-jazz-festival-2011

Scenes from the 2010 Panama Jazz Festival

By Roy Gumpel
Early in 2009 I was hired to go down to Panama for a photo assignment. I was shooting for K.C. Hardin who, it turns out, is one of the people responsible for the success of the Panama Jazz Festival and the Danilo Perez Music Foundation there. I did some shooting in the music school and got the feeling that some great things were happening there for the kids in the area. Kids who mostly live in some of the poorest neighborhoods in Panama.

So when it was getting close to January of 2010, I decided to try to get back down to Panama City for the Jazz Festival. I spoke to Danilo's people organizing the week and they gave me a press pass to shoot as I pleased and I set up my own photo-workshop for the week following the festival to subsidize my trip. It worked out, and I am planning a second photo-workshop there in March, 2010.(psst, pass it on)

I had heard that many jazz greats play this festival and looked forward to seeing some inspiring shows. What I didn't know was how moved I was going to be by the music workshops that are held all during the festival week. Every day scores of youngsters pour into the classrooms and theatres carrying their prized instruments to play with other kids and be inspired by so many great musicans from all over the world who are their to give their time to them. I wandered around the buildings following my ears into various classes and practice rooms, hallways and staircases where all kinds, ages and colors of kids sat and played music together. I was blown away. I never saw anything like this before. I took alot of pictures, but they really don't convey the full sense of what all these music lovers, teachers and students bring to Panama City every January.

I have been telling everyone I know that they should clear their calendar for next year's festival, take vacation time, quit their job...whatever, to get down there and experience the rare beauty of this event. One could sit in the corner of any one of the workshops for these kids and come away with enough inspiration to get you through the year. And when I sat one evening and had a drink with Danilo and KC Hardin, I realized how this festival came to be and grows more each year. These are some people-loving, passionate individuals who really care about the community there. There's hope after all for the next generation!
Roy Gumpel http://www.roygumpel.com/
http://jazztimes.com/sections/photos/articles/25728-scenes-from-the-2010-panama-jazz-festival

Conciertos del Panama Jazz Festival 2010

http://www.purojazz.com/2010/01/calendario-de-conciertos-del-panama-jazz-festival-2010/