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.
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 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
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