The 3rd Annual Belize International Jazz Festival gets underway on Saturday June 3rd, with the Welcome Show and Jam Session at the Mexican Institute. This year’s festival will be showcasing performances and jam sessions in Belize City, and San Ignacio, Cayo and hosting workshops in Belize City.

Talents from Argentina, Cuba, Mexico and the United States of America along with a large assortment of our own Belizean artists will be invigorating the Belizean musical scene with not only the sensual sound of smooth jazz, but a harmony of musical styles including Rock, Reggae, Rap, Steel Pan, Salsa, Marimba, Merengue, Punta and Paranda.

Belizean artists will be sharing the spotlight of the week of events and are representing the varied musical genres found in Belize. Performances are scheduled but not limited to performers and groups such as The Pantempters, Pandemonium and Panerifix Steel Bands, Holy Redeemer & Wesley Marching Bands, Corozalsa, Verge of Umbra, Benque Marimba Academy, Larubeya Band, The Garifuna Collective, Asenthium, Dynamix, Lucio Alcoser and a host of others. The international guest artists are “Morena Son”, “The Canatus Sax Quartet” and “Carlos Rafael Barraban” from Cuba, Argentina’s “Perceptual Trio” and “Hitalo”, Mexico’s “Casa Wagner Trio” and from the United States “Dawn Drake & Zapote Band” and “LaThosa Love”.

Some of the highlights for this year’s 3rd Annual Belize International Jazz Festival will be the Opening Concert which is free for all music lovers to attend at the Memorial Park in Belize City on Sunday June 4th from 5 PM to 12 Midnight. A savory Sunday Brunch will be happening from 11:30 AM to 2 PM at the Radisson for Jazz and food lovers. Stimulating Jam Sessions will be held at Spoonaz on Monday and Friday from 8 PM to 11PM. The Orange Walk Center on Friday the 9th it will be “Jazz Norte” and in San Ignacio it will be the highly anticipated “Let’s Hear it for the Girls” at the San Ignacio Hotel featuring LaTosha Love, Rhojani Perriott, Giselle Elizabeth O’Brien, Morena Son and Dawn Drake & Zapote Band. The week of musical mastery will end in San Ignacio with a Closing Concert at the San Ignacio Welcome Center on Sunday the 11th from 4 PM to 11 PM.

Too bad they won't be joining us here in San Pedro.... There use to be this great place in Atlanta Georgia in the Underground.... Jazz, fondue and alligators....I could sit there for hours listening to 'real jazz' while enjoying the ambience.....Dante's I think was the name....