By 2025, the Panama Jazz Festival celebrates its 22nd edition celebrating the life of the great Panamanian artist Margarita Benskina, better known as Princess Orelia BenskinaBorn in the city of Colón in 1911, Princess Orelia was a renowned Panamanian dancer, singer and writer who captivated the Harlem stages and later ventured into music production and poetry. She was honored with the American Heritage Award in 1972 for her contribution to jazz and vaudeville and her legacy celebrates Afro-Caribbean and African-American culture.
“We are very pleased to honor this multifaceted Panamanian artist who triumphed on the New York stages when jazz was just beginning to develop,” said Maestro Danilo Pérez.
For the next edition of the Panama Jazz Festival to be held from January 13 to 18, 2025, Serena Praca presents us with a design that shows the rich colors and Afro-Panamanian traditions with a beautiful silhouette of a woman singing, reciting and dancing jazz.
The festival will feature renowned artists who have already confirmed their participation in the event: LedisiGrammy winner and considered one of the most outstanding singers of the last decades and who has participated in bands with great jazz artists, as well as being an actress and writer. Ledisi will play with the All Star band that includes John Patitucci in the bass, Terri Lyne Carrington on the drums and the Maestro Danilo Perez on the piano. Other international artists who will perform at the festival are: the flutist, composer, writer and winner of renowned awards Nicole Mitchell and the band Princess Orelia Collective Directed by saxophonist Patricia Zárate Pérez and made up of outstanding musicians Nadia Washingtonn (USA), Yvette Modestin (Panama), Ciara Moser (Ireland) and Miracles Blades (Panama).
National musicians to perform will include singer Mayra Hurleythe pianist Samuel Barriosthe percussionist Lucas Maylinthe singer Carolina Perezthe saxophonist Walter Valverdethe violinist Graciela Nunezthe bassist Danilo Andres Perezalong with international artists such as Manuela Sanchez Gourbet and the band Equinox Habitat.
As every year, the festival will feature the participation of highly prestigious educational institutions such as the Berklee College of Music and his Berklee Global Jazz Institute, New England Conservatory, New York Jazz Academyhe Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice and New York University once again offering its great support to the Festival with important workshops and presentations.
The 22nd edition of the Panama Jazz Festival will have an educational venue City of Knowledge and concerts in the Ateneo Theatre and The Plaza; the big gala night at the Anayansi Theater at the Atlapa Convention Center and the free closing concert on Saturday, January 18 at the City of Knowledge Quadrangle.
The festival is held thanks to the sponsorship of the Ministry of Culture of Panama and is produced by Panama Jazz Productions for the benefit of the Danilo Perez Foundation under the Co-production of City of Knowledge.
