“Getting Funky in Havana,” Second Line & Cuban Conga

In January 2020, during the 35th Annual International Jazz Plaza Festival, in la Habana, Cuba, hundreds of musicians from around the world and over eighty musicians from the United States, all gathered to celebrate, create, and jam out. One of the highlight events, “Getting Funky in Havana,” fused the jazz funk of a New Orleans second line with the Cuban conga experience.

“Getting Funky in Havana,” the idea of Cuban afro-soul star musician, Cimafunk, invited a star studded cast from New Orleans, Trombone Shorty and his Foundation, Soul Rebels, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Tank and the Bangas, to perform together along with jazz band students from the Havana conservatory, Amadeo Roldán.

All images in this gallery © Rodolfo Gonzalez

The merge of jazz, funk, second line, conga, star artist, jazz students, and hundreds of fans was electric and hopefully not a once in a lifetime experience. Despite the unfortunate political strife, it is very clear that the artistic connection between both countries is as strong as ever with artists from both the United States and Cuba continuing to share ideas, cultures and experiences just like the “Getting Funky in Havana” experience.

“Soul,” is where the heart is and my heart is in Cuba.

Abrazos,
Rodolfo