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

All you jazzin' and bluesin' babies out there: Rejoice! The Panamonte Brands rum has finally arrived! Panamonte Brands LLC who are based in Florida, USA are the principal sponsor of the Boquete Jazz & Blues Festival with a huge donation of 120 bottles of Panama Red 108 overproof, and 40 bottles of Panamonte XXV Reserva Preciosa which are made in Panama but are only available for sale in the US and Canada. The Panama Red 108 overproof sells for $25 a bottle there, and the Panamonte Reserva Preciosa sells for $400 a bottle!
Now it's available in Panama for the first time!!!
It took a long time to get the customs import clearance but it finally arrived in Boquete today! We are now going to distribute it to all our sponsors who signed up for our 100+ program as well as to the bronze, silver and gold sponsors who have been eagerly waiting for the delivery of this delicious benefit! We'll raffle some of the bottles off at our fundraiser parties as well as during the festival.
Now, let's paint the town RED!

Panamanian TV and Radio personality Noris Miranda authored and presented this TV feature about the two great music festivals in Panama, the Panama City Jazz festival in January 2012 and the Boquete Jazz&Blues Festival in March 2012. Footage of BJBF starts at 12:49...enjoy!