By Tezozomoc Jurado

With the participation of some of the best local and national jazz musicians, and with the important initiative of saxophonist Martin Montenegro who, with his wife Esther Zermeno, have been promoting for several years the now 16th edition of the “Spring Equinox Jazz Festival” at Los Muertos beach on March 21 from 4 pm until 10 pm, to commemorate once more the arrival of a new cycle of rebirth of spring, with a pre-Hispanic ritual at sunset and of course, framed with an extraordinary array of jazz musicians and jazz styles for all tastes of music lovers, this event is made possible by the substantial contribution of each and every musicians that get together here each year to play jazz.

The genre of jazz is shrouded by the myth to be music for only a certain elite. However, this music is really an alternative for those who are not accustomed to it, but are open to draw closer and listen. Discover it can be a very pleasant and surprising experience and no… you don’t have to be an expert to get sucked into this beautiful music that started in New Orleans, but now belongs to the world.

Excellent jazz musicians will meet at this famous beach accessed by the local people. For the first time, as a special guest is presented the “Jazzfest Ensamble”, conjoined by 4 of the most talented ex alumni fellows of the “Jazzfest, Seminario & Encuentro International de Jazz” (www.seminariojazzxal.com) and are an sample of the result of this important educational program in our country that takes out since 1996 in the city of Xalapa, Veracruz, and in other cities in Mexico and Latin America through the Itinerant Program of the Jazzfest Foundation AC., The Jazzfest Ensamble is integrated of Mariana Flores Zeleny, bassist from Xalapa, Dulce Recillas, pianist and composer from the Mexico City; Arodi Martinez, saxophonist, composer and arranger from Oaxaca, Baruch Damian Alvarez, drummer and multi-percussionist, from San Andrés Calpan, Puebla and Led by Javier Flores Mavil.

Furthermore, we have “Jazzcando la Idea”, a jazz ensemble that includes Patricia Maciel with his incomparable voice, Gustavo Villa on Sax, Eliud Ernandes on Bass, Samuel on drums, Valentin Lopez on the Synthesizer and maestro José Inés Enríquez at the piano who is a major promoter and educator of jazz in Nayarit state through a number of concerts and educational programs. The “Gemajazz” project brings musicians from conservatories of Cuba and Mexico, consists of Vocalist Gema Alegre, Lazaro Poey on drums / percussion, Gustavo Alegre, Sax, Roberto Garcia at Piano, Sergio Cabrera Fernandez on Congas / Percussion, Roy Rubio on Bass, Baltazar Arteaga Arreola on guitar, Luis Gomez Irisley, classical guitar (on one theme) Jose Luis Rosales Padilla on minor Percussion, Keyboardist Anibal Cruz.

“Jazztuvo” is a very interesting project of jazz musicians living in Bucerias, Nayarit, integrated by great singer Juan Gabriel Saucedo, Alberto Cruz on Guitar, Daniel Marquez on Bass, and Misael Eusebio Palacios from Guerrero state on Drums. On the other hand we have the “Beverly & Willo Jazz Duet”, vocals and guitar, this is one of the most famous duets in the Puerto Vallarta jazz scene, they are accompanied by Oscar Terrazas on Sax and Daniel Lopez on Bass.

Last but not least, we present the “Martin Montenegro Ensemble” made by young maestros Marcos Herrera from Tepic on Piano, Alberto Lopez from Mazatlan on Bass, Gaspar Alvarez Vazquez from Tamaulipas on Percussions, Raul Herrera from Baja on Drums. Diego Sardaneta from Tijuana on Guitar (he will do a duet with Martin on Sax) and Memo Suarez on Drums.

In this same manner, on behalf of all jazz musicians who participated and / or benefited as alumni, our recognition and thanks to the Foundation Jazzfest AC (www.fundacionjazzfest.org) for the music education programs and dissemination of jazz in Mexico. Without such an initiative, that began more than twelve years ago, the educational and musical landscape of our country would not be what it is today.