Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo – Jazz will take center stage in Playa del Carmen with the second edition of the Playa del Carmen Jazz Fest, produced by Explayarte A.C. and expanded this year with more stages, activities, and guest artists—another step toward consolidating the festival as a significant platform for promoting jazz in Mexico. The program brings together local, national, and international artists for concerts, master classes, workshops, talks, and community activities at venues across the city.
At the press conference, event director and producer Luis Ernesto López said, “This year the festival—organized by Explayarte A.C.—has expanded its musical offerings with more activities and guest artists, showcasing local, national, and international talent.”
“I invite everyone to come,” he added. “You’ll see Playa del Carmen’s own Big Band—a dream come true—opening the festival on October 3. We have two full weekends of activities.”
López concluded, “With this expanded program, we’re taking a solid step toward establishing the event as one of Mexico’s key platforms for promoting jazz.”
The “Silent Concerts” will be presented at Casa Sofía Playacar on September 27 and 28 at 8:00 p.m., featuring Meen Green (Sept. 27) and Oasis Jazz Colective (Sept. 28).
Mainstage performances at the Teatro de la Ciudad begin at 6:00 p.m. and span three nights:
October 3 with Explayarte Big Band directed by Joan Chamorro, Big Band de Cancún, and Joan Chamorro & Èlia Bastida (Spain)
October 4 with Explayarte Jazz Ensamble directed by Bernardo Ron, Obed Orozco Trío, and Diego Maroto Cuarteto (with Luri Molina, Pancho Lelo de Larrea, and Juan Ale Saenz)
October 5 with Explayarte Jazz Ensamble directed by Obed Orozco, Zoar Miranda, and Karen Souza (Argentina).
Tickets for all concerts are available at teatrodelaciudad.com, and the organizers invite the public to attend this celebration of jazz, which combines live music, interaction with artists, and educational workshops.
Education is a core pillar of this edition. From September 15 to October 2 at 11:00 a.m. at Explayarte, the festival offers a training cycle led by notable figures of Mexico’s jazz scene, including a pedagogical residency with Joan Chamorro (through rehearsals directing the Explayarte Big Band and an introduction to the Chamorro method), an improvisation workshop with Obed Orozco, and an introductory workshop on the language of music (Master Class).
On October 2 from 2:00–6:00 p.m. at the Teatro de la Ciudad, audio engineer Arturo Fernández—known for work with Bellas Artes, Auditorio Nacional, the Festival Cervantino, the Orquesta Filarmónica de México, and the Big Band de México—will lead “Live Audio for Orchestras,” sharing best practices for sound on large stages; this activity is free with limited capacity.
On October 3 at 11:00 a.m. at Explayarte, four Master Classes run in parallel: Diego Maroto (one of the country’s most influential saxophonists) on improvisation and contemporary jazz language; Luri Molina on bass techniques, styles, and expressive possibilities across ensemble formats; Francisco Lelo de Larrea on composition and harmonic resources that enrich jazz practice; and Juan Ale Sáenz on rhythmic tools and ensemble interaction to strengthen onstage communication.
All activities are free with prior registration at playadelcarmenjazzfest.org, except the residency with Joan Chamorro, which has a symbolic recovery fee. Organizers describe the slate as a rare chance to learn directly from artists shaping the pulse of jazz in Mexico today.
The second edition of the Playa del Carmen Jazz Fest is made possible by its sponsors: Ibermúsicas (via the Secretaría de Cultura), Casa Sofía, Wyndham Garden Hotel, GAP – Gestión de artistas y producción, Smart line media, Flex Renting, Kia Playacar, Beauty lounge y MAIS, Media – comunicación empresarial efectiva, Ammare hotel boutique, and Doctor Cat; and by its allies: The Warehouse, Cineclub, and the Teatro de la Ciudad de Playa del Carmen.
The full program, activity details, and tickets are available at playadelcarmenjazzfest.org; festival updates run on Facebook and Instagram at @pdcjazzfest.
Press inquiries: Explayarte A.C. — produccion@playadelcarmenjazzfest.org
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