The Eighth Riviera Maya Jazz Festival Brought Down the House in Mexico’s Playa del Carmen

The Eighth Riviera Maya Jazz Festival Brought Down the House in Mexico’s Playa del Carmen
by Bill Milligan (special for Caribbean News Digital)

Situated on the azure waters and sandy beaches of Playa del Carmen, Mexico, a short 45 minute drive from Cancun, is the annual Riviera Maya Jazz Festival, free to the public and tourists.  Jazz artists from all over the world and Mexico unite under the star studded skies and warm breezes to perform from 7pm to whenever for four consecutive days of Jazz from all venues.  Mornings consist of extended interviews with the groups followed by hang out time on the beach and the evenings bring on the action.

First night consisted of a mixture of Mexican, American and Latin American artists taking stage on the beautiful beach of Mamitas in Playa del Carmen.  Mexican fusion band, Hiram led off with a funky mixture which had the crowd on their feet for their full hour session.  Next Mike Stern and Dave Wecki struck a mixture of blistering sounds and extended guitar riffs reminiscent of the psychedelic era.  Brazilian Ivan Lins and his group calmed the pace with his combo of traditional bossa nova fused with contemporary upbeat rhythms to the cheers of 10,000 listeners.  

Second night on stage consisted of the Mexican Jazz group, Trokers followed by Eldar Djandirov, the Russian piano prodigy, British funk by Incognito and culminating with the incomparable Al Di Meola, whose guitar riffs blew away the audience.

Interviews this morning with multigenerational Mexican group, Aguamala, John Mclaughlin, Manhattan Transfer and George Duke has everyone psyched for an unbelievable night of music diversity.  We’ll catch the warm rays, have a tequila or cerveza and ready ourselves for a night of phenomenal sounds.

Tomorrow we’ll catch the best of Mexican Jazz, as it closes with Yekina Pavon, Eugenia Leon and the king of boleros, Armando Manzanero performing with the Big Band Jazz Mexico.

This is the 8th year of this Riviera Maya Jazz Festival, set on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, easily accessible from the U.S., Canada, Latin America and Europe. The price of admission, free, to see this diverse group of local and international talent would easily pay for ones plane fare.  The Fidecomiso para la Promocion Turistica de la Riviera Maya has made a wise choice in creating and supporting this endeavor through the years, as it grows yearly and is becoming one of the most popular Jazz venues in the world.  The combination of warm Mexican Caribbean sun and breezes combined with a side walk café European inspired Playa del Carmen, makes this a destination one will never forget.

Adios all…see you next year in my favorite beach town in Mexico.