Getting Funky In Havana, a five-day cultural exchange trip presented by the Trombone Shorty Foundation, Cuba Educational Travel, and the Havana Jazz Festival, is set to take place in Havana, Cuba from January 14th through 18th, 2020.
The once-in-a-lifetime cultural and musical experience will see New Orleans-based acts Tank and the Bangas and The Soul Rebels team up with Cuba’s Cimafunk to create a nightly concert series accompanied by immersive VIP cultural experiences with Cuban artists and musicians.
Getting Funky In Havana passes will include access to all Havana Jazz Festival performances, the program’s nightly concert series with the bands above, daily jam sessions, as well as visits to local schools and community projects.
Trombone Shorty Foundation Executive Director, Bill Taylor, shared his thoughts on the event. He explained,
After visiting Havana for the Jazz Festival in January and having my mind blown over and over again by the talent and spirit of Cuba’s music and people, I was determined to get back down there and bring along some friends. And it’s come together better than I could have ever imagined. Join us!
Erik “Cimafunk” Rodriguez recently performed a sold-out show in New Orleans and will be returning on Thursday, November 14th. Additionally, Rodriguez will serve as the host to participants in the Getting Funky In Havana trip. He exclaimed,
Our visit to New Orleans was one of the highlights of my musical career. I can’t wait to return the favor and show my American brothers and sisters the richness of my country’s culture.
The Soul Rebels added,
We’re very honored for the opportunity to travel to Cuba, to celebrate our music and cultures. New Orleans and Cuba share many commonalities; the importance of tradition, spirituality, art and a deep quality of soul within our music. Both New Orleans and Cuban cultures have profound creative legacies while experiencing hardship and challenges. We’re blessed to have this opportunity, and to continue to work with our musical brother Cimafunk, whom we greatly respect and admire. We brought Cimafunk into our world when he landed in New Orleans, and we’re overjoyed to immerse ourselves in his world when we land in Cuba!
Fans can head here for more information and to register for Getting Funky In Havana’s 2020 event.