Meet Our Community
Fundación Circuito Argentino de Jazz Argentina
The Fundación Circuito Argentino de Jazz is an association of jazz artists and cultural producers based in San Juan, Argentina. The Fundación is dedicated to bringing the Argentine jazz community closer together through concerts, educational programming and cultural events nationwide. Read more about their 2022 event here.
“Jazz gives us strength, creates connections, teaches us to listen to each other–on stage everyone is equal and important. If we educate through jazz and its values, then we still have hope that human beings unite to make a world where we all walk together.”
Tell us a little about your organization’s mission
The Circuito Argentino de Jazz (Argentine Jazz Circuit) was created with the aim of uniting jazz musicians who are in the interior of the country and who often do not have the necessary distribution channels with which to present their works. We have fourteen representatives throughout the national territory, dedicated to managing and promoting jazz in their cities. We put a lot of emphasis on education and also on the dissemination of artists. This year, the celebration of International Jazz Day will be held in the Province of San Juan with the participation of national artists with great experience such as Pedro Casis (trumpeter from Santa Fe) and Fernando Gualini (guitarist from Corrientes), Rodi Zarza (percussionist from Córdoba), Marcos Bocco (trumpeter from Córdoba), Rubén Ribeiro (trumpeter from Mar del Tuyú), and the great presentation of the Big Band “Sur Orquesta” from Comodoro Rivadavia, conducted by Nicolás Digorado. Of course, the hosts in San Juan will be trumpeter Elmer Meza’s Gypsy Jazz. The activities are scheduled for April 29 and 30, when master classes, workshops and motivational talks will be given and the documentary “Fats” will be screened, about the Argentine trumpeter Roberto “Fats” Fernandez. We will close with a central concert on the 30th at 9:00 p.m. with the participation of all the guests.
Why does your organization celebrate International Jazz Day?
Because we seek to use the medium of music to transmit a message of hope. First and foremost, our organization wishes to demonstrate that unity is something fundamental for life in society, and it is for this reason that we come together in this great circuit. We are conscious that the language of jazz transmits those values.
Tell us about a favorite memory from International Jazz Day
For the 2019 celebration, we booked a large room, the Auditorio Juan Victoria, a privileged place for music and outstanding in the region. We were very happy but we were scared that we would not have many attendees, since the auditorium has 970 seats. The start time arrived, we were in dressing rooms and we couldn’t see what was happening outside…When we went on stage, the room was full, there were people sitting on the steps and the director of the auditorium had to take the microphone, calm the audience and announce that there would be a second performance. More than 1,500 people attended to celebrate International Jazz Day. We couldn’t believe it, we hugged and cried together knowing that a great journey was beginning.
How do you think jazz can improve people’s lives?
Jazz gives us strength, creates connections, teaches us to listen to each other–on stage everyone is equal and important. If we educate through jazz and its values, then we still have hope that human beings unite to make a world where we all walk together.
