Buenos Aires International Jazz Festival

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The Buenos Aires jazz scene often gets overshadowed by the sounds of tango, folk and rock ‘n’ roll, but for five four days in spring jazz music fills the city during the annual International Buenos Aires Jazz Festival.

With sounds ranging from classic bebob, to gypsy jazz, klezmer, to swing and nuevo tango, the festival features concerts from Argentina’s top names in jazz as well as renowned international artists.

Taking place in November, the Buenos Aires Jazz Festival has been reduce in length in recent years, but still welcomes nearly 500 professional and up-and-coming musicians.

The event is a rare chance for Argentine jazz musicians who live and work overseas to return home for some gigs.

It also gives international musicians (who don’t usually have far-flung Buenos Aires on their tour schedule) an opportunity to perform here.

Singer, Roxana Amed with her Quintet performing at the Buenos Aires Jazz Festival

The city-sponsored festival has featured well-known international artists such as: American Peter Washington performing on double bass; drummer Billy Drummond; guitarist Wayne Krantz; and singer Michelle Weir; and the Israeli duo of cellist and singer Maya Belsitzman and percussionist, Matan Ephrat.

Argentine musicians who regularly participate include fret-less bass player, Alfredo Remus; pianist and singer Ángel Sucheras playing New Orleans style jazz; guitarist Gonzalo Bergara; double bassist Arturo Puertas; a trio made up of members of the swing orchestra, Brazofuerte, drummer Hernán Avella, pianist Manuel Fraga and saxophonist and clarinetist Juan Klappenbachand; and Afro-jazz group , Ayelen Zuker & Timeless Soul Band.

Concerts & Special Events

Buenos Aires’ historic immigrant neighborhood, La Boca is leading  the jazz bandwagon again this year and will host headliners, including the festival’s opening show, an homage to the recently deceased Argentine musician Jorge López Ruiz, at Usina del Arte.

The Roxana Amed Quintet playing at the Centro Cultural Recoleta at the Buenos Aires Jazz Festival
The stage of BA Jazz Festival

The evening’s headliner will be Canadian contemporary jazz artist, Jane Bunnett and her all-female Cuban group, Maqueque.

Special free events will take place at the Colón Theater’s beautiful Salon Dorado.

Lauded every year are the end-of-concert jam sessions, where musicians from different continents and sub-genres improvise together, bringing the crowd to their feet as they communicate only through music.

This year they will be hosted once again by popular host and trumpet player, Gillespi every night at 10 pm.

In an effort to foster the Buenos Aires jazz scene, the festival includes master classes, music clinics and workshops in singing, drums, stand-up bass, guitar and piano for aspiring musicians.

Click the link below to see a day-by-day event calendar.

Buenos Aires Jazz Festival 2023 Dates

November  23— 27, 2022

*Dates for 2023 haven’t been announced yet*
Tel: 0-800-333-7848

A stage at the Buenos Aires International Jazz Festival with the overlay of the words, 'The Buenos Aires Jazz Fest'.

Buenos Aires Jazz Festival Tickets:

Tickets for paid events can be purchased by going directly to Usina del Arte in La Boca (listed below) or online via the website Tu Entrada.

Tu Entrada
Av. Corrientes 728
Mon-Sat 12 p.m.-8 p.m.
Sat: 12 p.m.-6 p.m.

—Free events, including the free outdoor concerts everyday of the festival, are first-come, first-serve.

Colorful poster for the Buenos Aires Jazz Festival

Buenos Aires Jazz Festival Main Event Locations:

Teatro Colón
Libertad 611

Usina del Arte
Av. Pedro de Mendoza & Caffarena

Anfiteatro del Parque Centenario
Av. Ángel Gallardo & Leopoldo Marechal

Anfiteatro de Parque Lezama
Defensa & Brazil (San Telmo)

BeBop Club
Moreno 364

Café Vinilo
Gorriti 3780

Espacio Cultural Carlos Gardel
Olleros 3640

Thelonious Club
Jerónimo Salguero 1884

and others, see the whole program on the official Buenos Aires Jazz Festival 2022