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PRESS RELEASE: October 19, 2018, Cabarete, Dominican Republic – The 22nd Dominican Republic Jazz Festival, presented by FEDUJAZZ and the Ministry of Tourism, will host five nights of free concerts recognizing music, culture and the arts beginning in Santiago on October 26, and from November 1 – 4, 2018 in Puerto Plata, Sosúa and Cabarete.

Celebrating a rich history spanning over twenty years, the Dominican Republic Jazz Festival welcomes internationally acclaimed artists such as the GRAMMY Award-winning singer Luciana Souza, GRAMMY Award-winning Cuban vocalist and Buena Vista Social Club member Omara Portuondo, harp virtuoso Edmar Castaneda, and Afro-Caribbean fusion pioneer Xiomara Fortuna. The festival will also feature performances by accomplished artists from around the globe including Sicilian vocalist Sissy Castriobani, Israeli singer-songwriter Tutti Druyan featuring Edmar Colón, innovative fusion group El Prodigo featuring saxophonist Sandy Gabriel, the Berklee Global Jazz Institute, and Santo Domingo’s Grupo Bonyé.

The 2018 Dominican Republic Jazz Festival celebrates and explores the role of the human voice in the world of jazz. Marco Pignataro, Artistic Advisor to the Dominican Republic Jazz Festival and Managing Director of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute, states: “This year’s festival theme is “Voices for Peace & Humanity”  with a special emphasis on the impact of singers in jazz to bring forward a powerful message of freedom, creativity and hope for all mankind. By celebrating singers, the festival also recognizes that the human voice was used for artistic expression before the invention of instruments and because all melodic instruments learn from the human voice, it can be suggested that all music is influenced from vocal music.”

Festival Date, Show Location, Featured Artists

Friday, October 26, 2018  –  Santiago,   Centro Leon

· Edmar Castañeda

Thursday, November 1, 2018  –  Puerto Plata,   Plaza de la Independencia

· Xiomara Fortuna

· Sissy Castriobani

Friday, November 2, 2018  –  Sosúa,   Playa Alicia

· 6pm: “Mothers with Sissy” Parade: Mothers and children will model designs by Sissy Bermudez in support of the Fedujazz Foundation.

· Tutti Druyan featuring Edmar Colón

· Grupo Bonyé

Saturday, November 3, 2018  –  Cabarete,   Playa de Cabarete

· Luciana Souza

· Berklee Global Jazz Institute Sunday, November 4, 2018  –  Cabarete,   Playa de Cabarete

· Omara Portuondo

· El Prodigo & Sandy Gabriel

The Dominican Republic Jazz Festival is sponsored by companies including Jet Blue, Brugal, Berklee Global Jazz Institute, United States Embassy, Lifestyle Holidays, Sea Horse Ranch, Cibao Recycling, Casa Linda, Gratereaux Delva & Associates, Millennium, Viva Wyndham Tangerine, Amhsa Marina, Gansevoort, Banco del Progreso, Israel Embassy, Centro León, Reef Condos, Villa Taina, OK Motors, VH Hotels – Gran Ventana, Blue JackTar, and Emisora Raíces, among others.

All Dominican Republic Jazz Festival shows are free and open to the public, with VIP tickets and priority seating available for purchase at  drjazzfestival.com/festival/tickets/ . Proceeds of VIP ticket sales benefit FEDUJAZZ, the music education foundation of the Dominican Republic Jazz Festival.

FEDUJAZZ provides free music education for the youth of the Dominican Republic. Currently, there are one hundred students attending classes at the foundation’s center in Cabarete.

Throughout the festival, free music workshops and master classes for local children and FEDUJAZZ students are held at each concert location, led by the renowned international musicians participating in the festival. This year’s locations include Centro León, Renovation Cultural Society, Casa Marina Amphitheater, Sosua, Sosua Art House, Fedujazz, Caberete and Cabarete Beach.