Buenos Aires International Jazz Festival is an annual event when jazz musicians — both Argentine and international— ignite stages around the city with exceptional talent.
The local jazz scene here often gets overshadowed by the sounds of tango, folk and rock ‘n’ roll and perhaps the festival’s gradual paring down to only three days — at one time it was almost two weeks long — serves to highlight that.
Nevertheless Buenos Aires has produced some excellent jazz musicians, mostly notably Leandro Barbieri and Oscar Alemán and contemporary musicians such as Javier Murgier, Nora Sarmoria and Gonzalo Bergara.
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 the lovely spring month of November, the has been reduce in length in recent years, but the festival still includes master classes, music clinics and workshops in singing, drums, stand-up bass, guitar and piano for aspiring local 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.
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.
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Concerts & Special Events
Buenos Aires’ historic immigrant neighborhood, La Boca has been leading the jazz bandwagon in recent years, hosting headlines including the festival’s opening show.
Last year’s opening performance was an homage to the recently deceased Argentine musician Jorge López Ruiz, at Usina del Arte.
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.
Last year they were be hosted once again by popular host and trumpet player, Gillespi (nicknamed after the original, Dizzy Gillespi, of course).
As of September 2023, the city has not announced any specifics about this year’s festival (probably distracted by the economic crisis and upcoming elections).
Click the link below to see a day-by-day event calendar.
Buenos Aires Jazz Festival 2023 Dates
November 2-5 2023
*Specific concerts for 2023 haven’t been announced yet*
Tel: 0-800-333-7848
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.
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