A One-Way Street

While walking through the field of El Sosiego, thinking about the next Festival that would take place in the first week of 2020, I felt the emotion of knowing that, once more, a contingent of the greatest jazz talents would be arriving in Punta Ballena, a sight almost impossible to see in this part of the world. And suddenly, I was struck by the amazement of the passing of time: our 20th Festival (a number we never thought we would reach when we began in 1996) was now in the past and the 25th – a quarter a century! – is coming up, slowly but surely.

As previously mentioned in other opening letters of this festival, addressed to loyal attendees as well as newcomers to the International Jazz Festival of Punta del Este, its cultural purpose – one that pays homage to this invisible art that is music – constitutes an essential part of my own existence, as well as one of my greatest satisfactions in life: more than anything, to have had the privilege to present it.

Naturally, there are many rational arguments (mostly based on material issues) that put into doubt the pertinence of continuing to present the Festival, including reasons originating from box-office numbers like those that have plagued the majority of other renowned jazz festivals of the world. But no. Consequently, a long time ago we undertook this journey with the determination to continue in a direction that would allow us to feel satisfied with ourselves.
It is not in vain that this Festival has earned its reputation with elite jazz musicians and specialized press. From there we have been traveling on a one-way street; that is to say, there is no turning back now. Among other things, we want to offer you the best of jazz music, which originated more than a century ago and is a universal language that will undoubtedly survive and will be honored by future generations, not only for its intrinsic quality but rather as a symbol of peace and unity among men.

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Francisco Yobino
Creador, Productor y Director General del Festival Internacional de Jazz de Punta del Este

International Jazz Festival of Punta del Este, 2019

Being in Europe and seeing that there is a Jazz Festival, but of pure jazz without compromises of this art, in a country as far as Uruguay, it seems impossible! In Punta del Este, a festival that today does not exist of equal quality and taste in any of the historical offers of our music in our old continent. A festival that gives us lessons about what a Jazz festival should be, that is, it does not let go to the facilities of commercial success when presenting music that is not jazz.

How is it possible?

Only for the passion of a great lord of immense knowledge of jazz: Francisco Yobino, Creator, Producer and General Director of the festival for 22 years. With all the difficulties, financial, artistic, technical that represent to organize a music festival, Francisco followed his passion years after years, presenting the best of Jazz music in a unique and charming landscape for the public and the invited musicians. Being all the harder, because of Punta del Este, more expensive transports, period opposite to the tours of the American and European summer Festivals, Francisco never failed to bring the best interpreters of our language.

And the beautiful thing is that when you study the history of the musicians who played in this event, many have returned severa! times demonstrating the pleasure they have in returning to this magical place. Another thing that I would like to emphasize, and because it is unique and that shows the love for this music of Francisco, is that usually an organizer, founder of a jazz festival chooses the artists themselves and these are his prerogatives. Francisco, with humility and rightly proud, offers the musical direction to whom more than the great Paquito D’Rivera. Few in this field are capable of that devotion to have the best of music.

For this 2019 festival, Francisco has put together a formidable team. With David Feldman (the best of piano in Brazil); the incredible Al Foster, who invites Chris Potter, one of the greatest saxophonists in the world; and the two sound magicians: Diego Urcola and Grant Stewart. Also Gary Smulyan (“Mister Bari”), whom I recorded life in Paris last year; and Oscar Peterson’s preferred pianist, Benny Green; to end up in a guaranteed apotheosis with Paquito D’Rivera. Jazz is a simple music: rhythm, melody and harmony, but at the same time of a lot of variety and it is what you will have in FINCA EL SOSIEGO in Punta Ballena, Punta del Este: four days of Swing, four days of great music, four days of pure jazz … and much more!

Jacques Muyal
May 2018

Su pasión por el jazz comenzó muy temprano, a través de los programas del crítico francés André Francis, quien había llegado a Tánger en 1955. Cuando al año siguiente Francis decidió volver a París, le ofreció al jovencísimo Muyal la oportunidad de hacerse cargo del programa Le Club du Jazz, que realizó hasta 1959 en paralelo con sus estudios.
En París, Muyal conoció a grandes músicos que allí trabajaban, entre otros Barney Wilen, Sacha Distel, Bud Powell y Thelonious Monk. Pero sobre todo, lo marcaron ciertas amistades, como las que estableció con el famoso periodista y crítico de jazz Frank Ténot (que se convirtió en su principal mentor), con Norman Granz (el productor de jazz más importante de la historia) y con Dizzy Gillespie, un músico que revolucionó la historia del género y con el que tuvo una entrañable y estrecha relación hasta el último día.

Desde su fundación en 1967, Muyal estuvo muy vinculado al célebre Festival de Jazz de Montreux. Así, su contacto con los jazzistas de élite fue permanente, convirtiéndose incluso en productor de algunos de ellos. Poco antes de morir, Norman Granz le entregó a Muyal su enorme colección personal de grabaciones inéditas (audio y video), que incluían material de Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Carter, Charlie Parker y Dizzy Gillespie, entre otros.
En 2017, se estrenó en la televisión suiza “Jazz, The Only Way Of Life”, notable documental que repasa la extensa trayectoria de Jacques Muyal, un film que bien vale como merecido homenaje en vida.

Staff

ESCENARIO:
Escenarios Uruguay

ASISTENCIA DE ESCENARIO:
Manolo, Juan Angel, Juanito.

FOTOGRAFÍA FESTIVALES:
Jimmy Baikovicius
Anita Yobino
Eduardo Torres
Gabriel Rousserie  
Adriana Mateo
Miguel Angel Díaz Durán