Cool Jazz in Panama

The New Orleans based Ellis Marsalis Trio played at the Anayansi Theater (ATLAPA Convention Center) in Panama City last night at the most recent presentation of the Panama Jazz Festival. The jazz was cool, the rhythms intriguing, and the crowd excited. Mr. Marsalis played tributes Thelonias Monk and variations on favorites such as Sweet Georgia Brown. Tonight Anayansi will play host to Juanito y Su Nuevo Flamenco, vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Danilo Perez with Carlos Garnet.  

Ellis Marsalis is not only a cool musician he is a teacher and a major influence in American jazz. Although he started on tenor sax he switched to piano in high school. From a performance with "The Groovy Boys" fifty or more years ago to the present Marsalis is a New Orleans musician who did not specialize in Dixieland or R & B.  Marsalis has played with Cannonball Addeley, Nat Adderley, and fellow New Orleans native Al Hirt. With more twenty albums to his credit he is one of the most respected pianists in jazz. Marsalis has also recorded with David Newman, Eddie Harris, Marcus Roberts, and Coutney Pine. Back home in New Orleans the pianist can be found performing at the Snug Harbor jazz bistro and Friday evenings.

Marsalis' trio's music was totally enjoyable for this jazz buff and the Panama Jazz Festival has more to come. Friday the 15th has Danilo Perez, the Panama native, Boston based, pianist and founder of the Jazz Festival performing with Carlos Garnett at Anayansi, preceeded by vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater. Saturday night, the 16th, is Grupo La K-Shamba, billed as Salsa meets Jazz.

The final event in the Panama Jazz Festival will be the  yearly Cathedral Global Jazz Concert in Casco Viejo in Independence Park in front of the Cathedral. The free outdoor concert starts at 1 pm and runs until 6:30 pm.There will be jazz musicians from Mexico, Italy, Puerto Rico, and the United States as well as Panama.

Click for video of Ellis Marsalis Trio, clip I.

Click for video of Ellis Marsalis Trio, clip II.