2016 Taipei Jazz Festival, Showcasing Panamanian Musicians

2016-07-25

Since the launch of the Taipei Jazz Festival, organized by the Department of Cultural Affairs, Taipei City Government, in 2007, the annual summer feast of Jazz music in the Daan Park has been widely praised by the public. This year, being the 10th year of the Festival, the music ensemble is more diversified with more domestic and foreign renowned Jazz bands invited to participate in the event, including for the first-time on a Taiwan stage, acclaimed Panamanian saxophonist, Carlos Agrazal, and violinist, Joshue Ashby Humphreys.

Mr. Carlos Agrazal, the renowned Panamanian saxophonist, is a teacher and a photographer. He has won the presidential scholarship award of the Panama Jazz Festival from the Danilo Perez Foundation. He graduated from the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music, majoring in Jazz and Caribbean Music, and studied under various masters, such as: David Sanchez, Eddie Gomez, Charlie Sepulveda, Marco Pignataro and Norberto " Tiko "Ortiz. Mr. Carlos' performances have taken him to worldwide music festivals in countries, such as the United States, Spain, Italy, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica and Panama, and he has performed on the same stages with musicians, such as: Danilo Perez, David Sanchez, Eddie Gomez, Ben Street, Adam Cruz, Jamie Haddad, John Ellis, Steve Turre, Kenwood Dennard, Ray Vega and Tito Puente Jr.

Mr. Joshue Ashby Humphreys, born in Colon, Panama, is a violinist, music arranger, and a Distinguish Alumnus of the Berklee College of Music. He is currently a member of the National Symphony Orchestra of Panama, an instructor of the Creative Music program of the Danilo Perez Foundation, the director of his music exchange program and his band, Joshue Ashby & C3 Project, and the Artistic Director of the Youth Creative Music Camp of Colón. He has performed with various musicians, including:  Randy Weston, Danilo Perez, Danny Rivera, Phil Ranelly, Marco Antonio Solis, Pedrito Martinez Group, Dave Holland, Ron Carter, Larry Harlow, Paloma San Basilio, and others, and has been invited to perform as a special guest at various musical events, such as: the Panama Music Festival, Connections Tour with Youth Orchestra of the Americas, Mozart International Festival with Youth Symphony Orchestra of El Salvador, Iberoamericana Youth Symphony Orchestra, Baroque Guarani Tour with World Youth Symphony Orchestra in Paraguay, and others.

The two renowned Panamanian musicians will be performing at Taipei Zhongshan Hall, ZhongZheng Auditorium on August 13, a ticketed event. Jazz music lovers, do not miss this brilliant music entertainment.

2016 Taipei Jazz Festival, "TJF Jazz Collective"
Time: 19:30~21:30, August 13
Venue: Taipei Zhongshan Hall, ZhongZheng Auditorium