Boquete Jazz & Blues Festival announces 2014 lineup
Some 85 music enthusiasts gathered at the Hotel Oasis in Boquete for a
“Champagne Coming out Celebration” to announce the new lineup for the 2014 festival.
The weekend will begin with the traditional Mardi Gras style parade thru town led
by members of Rigoberto Coba’s Big Band playing traditional Dixieland jazz. The
parade will end at the landmark Panamonte Hotel and Spa where the Latin jazz band
“Sin Ensemble” will entertain the opening garden party.
The festival starts to heat up Thursday night with a double bill at the Boquete
Community Theater featuring blues/jazz historian/comedian Rev. Billy C. Wirtz followed
by Jazz singer/pianist Jamie Lynn Fletcher backed by Boquete’s Fantasy Jazz.
Later Thursday night the action will move to Mike’s Global Grill and one of three
All Star Jams. Mike’s will feature Swiss Bluesman Andy Egert backed by Boquete blues
band- B3.
Friday will be a day of load in and set up with youth music clinics at various
locations TBA. The Friday All Star Jam will be at the upscale Rock Restaurant
with Rev. Billy C. Wirtz opening for Chuck Beattie again backed up by B3 (the hardest
working band in town.)
Saturday the festival moves to the beautiful Valle Escondido Amphitheater. Jamie
Lynn Fletcher, again backed by local jazz greats Fantasy Jazz will kick off the days
show at noon.
The festivals blues power will gain momentum with B3 playing behind bluesmen
Chuck Beattie and Andy Egert. The blues heavy lineup for Saturday will be topped by
Canada’s favorite- Downchild Blues Band featuring several 40 year veterans of the band
as well as Latin players from Costa Rica.
Downchild will wind up their BJBF appearances by hosting the All Star Jam later that
night. This will be a great opportunity for local players and foreign blues stars to mix it
up.
Sunday we will return to Valle Escondido with jazz locals Sin Ensemble
opening. Returning to the BJBF stage with her own band after several years as featured
singer for Carlos Ubarte will be the Panamanian Jazz Diva Idania Dowman and the
Emotions. Idania has promised us a smoking, danceable set of hot Latin Jazz.
Louisiana’s Chris Thomas King, who you may recognize as Tommy Johnson
from the film “O Brother Where Art Thou”, will appear with his three piece band.
King has carved himself out a place in the movie industry writing musical scores and
will be promoting his newest recording “Antebellum Postcards. Look for a wide variety
of styles from this multi talented artist.
The festival will wind up (but not down) with the amazing Rigoberto Coba
Big Band. This 18 pc. band will have everyone up dancing as they embrace many styles
of jazz from Latin to swing to bebop.
As of this writing there is still an unfilled spot on Saturdays schedule as we
continue to seek out the ultimate dynamic Latin Jazz Band.
For ticketing and other information visit http://www.boquetejazzandbluesfestival.com/tickets.html
Some 85 music enthusiasts gathered at the Hotel Oasis in Boquete for a
“Champagne Coming out Celebration” to announce the new lineup for the 2014 festival.
The weekend will begin with the traditional Mardi Gras style parade thru town led
by members of Rigoberto Coba’s Big Band playing traditional Dixieland jazz. The
parade will end at the landmark Panamonte Hotel and Spa where the Latin jazz band
“Sin Ensemble” will entertain the opening garden party.
The festival starts to heat up Thursday night with a double bill at the Boquete
Community Theater featuring blues/jazz historian/comedian Rev. Billy C. Wirtz followed
by Jazz singer/pianist Jamie Lynn Fletcher backed by Boquete’s Fantasy Jazz.
Later Thursday night the action will move to Mike’s Global Grill and one of three
All Star Jams. Mike’s will feature Swiss Bluesman Andy Egert backed by Boquete blues
band- B3.
Friday will be a day of load in and set up with youth music clinics at various
locations TBA. The Friday All Star Jam will be at the upscale Rock Restaurant
with Rev. Billy C. Wirtz opening for Chuck Beattie again backed up by B3 (the hardest
working band in town.)
Saturday the festival moves to the beautiful Valle Escondido Amphitheater. Jamie
Lynn Fletcher, again backed by local jazz greats Fantasy Jazz will kick off the days
show at noon.
The festivals blues power will gain momentum with B3 playing behind bluesmen
Chuck Beattie and Andy Egert. The blues heavy lineup for Saturday will be topped by
Canada’s favorite- Downchild Blues Band featuring several 40 year veterans of the band
as well as Latin players from Costa Rica.
Downchild will wind up their BJBF appearances by hosting the All Star Jam later that
night. This will be a great opportunity for local players and foreign blues stars to mix it
up.
Sunday we will return to Valle Escondido with jazz locals Sin Ensemble
opening. Returning to the BJBF stage with her own band after several years as featured
singer for Carlos Ubarte will be the Panamanian Jazz Diva Idania Dowman and the
Emotions. Idania has promised us a smoking, danceable set of hot Latin Jazz.
Louisiana’s Chris Thomas King, who you may recognize as Tommy Johnson
from the film “O Brother Where Art Thou”, will appear with his three piece band.
King has carved himself out a place in the movie industry writing musical scores and
will be promoting his newest recording “Antebellum Postcards. Look for a wide variety
of styles from this multi talented artist.
The festival will wind up (but not down) with the amazing Rigoberto Coba
Big Band. This 18 pc. band will have everyone up dancing as they embrace many styles
of jazz from Latin to swing to bebop.
As of this writing there is still an unfilled spot on Saturdays schedule as we
continue to seek out the ultimate dynamic Latin Jazz Band.
For ticketing and other information visit http://www.boquetejazzandbluesfestival.com/tickets.html
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