CUBA!
• 9 days, 8 nights • Santiago de Cuba: 4 days, 3 nights • Havana: 5 days, 5 nights • Four star (or better) accommodations • Small group, limited to 25 travelers • Price: $4,990 all inclusive price includes a tax deductible donation to JITN
Cuba is unique in the world as a place where the arts and artists are among the most highly valued, privileged, and compensated segments of society. Cuba’s music scene is legendary worldwide for the skill and artistry of its star performers, who appear on global stages and in Havana’s clubs and the popular Havana Jazz Festival.
This artistic vibrancy is a current that runs deep in Cuban history, and spreads wide across the everyday life and culture of the island, nourished by a rich system of music education at many levels. All of this makes for music that is very much “in the neighborhood”, as well as on the big stages.
JITN sets out on this musical journey to encounter Cuba and its people through an exploration of Cuban music as it is learned, performed, and enjoyed in Cuba-- and to consider what this may teach us about bringing music more fully into our own neighborhoods back home. Our itinerary takes us off the beaten tourist path to Santiago de Cuba, and then to Havana.
Join us, JITN staff and friends, musicians and music lovers, on an exclusive, small group program packed with opportunities to hear, meet, and exchange ideas with Cuban musicians in their element, interact with local people, and see and learn about Cuban art and history through meaningful encounters with educators, artists, and experts.
A Cuban national guide and JITN staff members will be on hand to facilitate our movements and enrich the experience from their varied backgrounds in music performance, composition and education, and cultural geography.
CROSS CULTURAL JOURNEYS FOUNDATION WWW.CROSSCULTURALJOURNEYS.COM PO BOX 1369 SAUSALITO, CA 94966 T. (800) 353-2276 F. (415) 332-0683 [email protected]
SANTIAGO DE CUBA, less visited by tourists, is the island’s second largest city and the capital of Oriente province, known for its stunning natural beauty. Santiago is the place of beginnings for the signal events and features of Cuban history including Cuban music, and a fitting place to begin our journey.
Day 1: Tuesday, January 6. Miami / Holguin / Santiago de Cuba You will be met by a CCJF representative at the Miami International Airport and assisted through check-in with the other members of the JITN group for the early morning charter flight to Holguin. Upon arrival, your Cuban guide will join the group for the two-hour drive to Santiago de Cuba, located along Cuba’s southeast coast. Santiago is the cradle of the Cuban revolution and one of the country’s most exotic and ethnically diverse cities. We drive by the ranch house where the rebels, including Fidel and Raul Castro hid out before their failed Moncada Rebellion. Lunch at a restaurant on picturesque Cuyo Island reached by a short boat ride. Following lunch, we visit students and teachers at an NGO, (non-governmental organization) the Ugo Luisi project teaching restoration arts to young people who are rebuilding the city after hurricane Sandy. After settling into your hotel, enjoy a welcome dinner featuring traditional Cuban food and music. You will absorb your first impressions of the tropical air, rhythm and color wafting out of the doorways you pass, laughter and conversation bouncing amongst neighbors easily. The music will follow us throughout our journey and is a window into the heart of the Cuban people. Melia Santiago Hotel (L/D)
Day 2: Wednesday, January 7. Santiago de Cuba Today we start our exploration of this vibrant Caribbean city with a historic overview and slide presentation by the City Architect to help us understand Santiago’s history and culture. Next, we orient ourselves to the city with a walking tour of central Santiago, meeting local shopkeepers along the way and ending with a guided tour of the Moncada Barracks where Fidel Castro and his revolutionaries staged their failed armed assault against President Batista. Here, Fidel was captured and imprisoned, and penned his famous "History Will Absolve Me" speech. He was released rather than executed. Following lunch at a local restaurant we will visit the Centro Nacional de Escuelas de Arte (ENA) to meet and exchange thoughts with the music teachers and their students. Then, on to visit the Velazquez House for a guided tour of the oldest intact home in Cuba and the home of the first governor of Cuba in the 1500s. Here we can envision what life was like in 16th century Cuba. Dinner is on your own at a local restaurant or paladar (a small privately run restaurant licensed to provide meals in a family home; lists of paladares will be provided). Here, you will taste some of the best food in Cuba as well as experience the intimate, warm, and real spaces of local people. This evening there is an optional visit to Isis, a popular local jazz club, to meet musicians, and enjoy music and conversation. Melia Santiago Hotel (B/L)
CROSS CULTURAL JOURNEYS FOUNDATION WWW.CROSSCULTURALJOURNEYS.COM PO BOX 1369 SAUSALITO, CA 94966 T. (800) 353-2276 F. (415) 332-0683 [email protected] Day 3: Thursday, January 8. Santiago de Cuba We begin our morning with a visit the Casa de Caribe, a cultural research institute that houses the Museum of Popular Religions including Santeria and Espiritism. Here, we will have a tour and discussion on the importance of music in Cuba and the Caribbean. Then we continue on a short excursion to the foothills of the Sierra Maestra Mountains, where we will visit the National Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, one of the most important shrines in Cuba and a place where the devoted believe miracles have occurred. After lunch, we move on to visit an adjacent Santeria cemetery connected with the church. Later visit the El Morro Fortress. Dinner on your own at a local restaurant or paladar. After dinner, an optional group visit to a local Jazz Club. Melia Santiago Hotel (B/L)
HAVANA, like San Francisco, is the hub of one of the world’s greatest natural harbors. Havana was a showcase for the wealth, power, and sophistication of Cuba from the time of it’s 16th century founding as the greatest port of New Spain. Today, it is a place of beautiful decay and the stirrings of change, along with all the best in Cuban art, music and culture. Day 4: Friday, January 9. Santiago de Cuba / Havana. We depart this morning for a flight to Havana. Upon arrival and en route to the city, we drive by Revolution Square. After lunch a visit to Casa de Africa for a private presentation of Afro Cuban dance and music, followed with a discussion with the musicians and dancers. Dinner is on your own with the option to visit one of the many Havana jazz clubs after dinner. Havana Sevilla Hotel (B/L) Day 5: Saturday, January 10. Havana. We start the day with a briefing and slide presentation by a city planner and architect on the history of Cuba and its relevance on the development and architecture of the city. Our knowledgeable Cuban guide will then take us on an orientation walking tour of Havana Vieja (old city) pointing out historic buildings of interest. We will stop and talk with local people along the way, and with entrepreneurs about their new businesses that are now legal under current Cuban law. We stop for lunch at one of the many outdoor restaurants on Cathedral Square in Old Havana, and afterwards visit the beautiful, historic Cathedral. This afternoon, there will be a tour through the Museo de la Revolución and private guided visit through the Museo de Bellas Artes’ contemporary section where our guide will help us see the history of Cuba through its art. Enjoy a late afternoon performance of the Havana Cuban jazz orchestra, Gala Mayor, recipient of numerous awards. Meet the musicians afterwards. Dinner is on your own. Optional jazz club visit. Havana Sevilla Hotel (B/L)
CROSS CULTURAL JOURNEYS FOUNDATION WWW.CROSSCULTURALJOURNEYS.COM PO BOX 1369 SAUSALITO, CA 94966 T. (800) 353-2276 F. (415) 332-0683 [email protected] Day 6: Sunday, January 11. Havana This morning, we visit with Cuban musicologist, who will present an in-depth talk on the lyrics, chants and history of the five main categories of Cuban music: Son, Rumba, Cancion, Danzon and Punto Guajiro. Understanding the history of the present day music and instruments is integral to understanding the contemporary music of the Cuban people, including jazz. We then visit an artist gallery and co-op with local artists in residence. Lunch at El Ajibe, a popular restaurant known for its traditional Cuban chicken cuisine. This afternoon we visit the family home and studio of famous Cuban artist, Jose Fuster. His home is filled with his ceramic craftwork and overflows from his residence transforming the entire neighborhood. Continue to the home of Pablo Menendez, founder of the group Mezcla, to share his music and to meet local musicians who play with him. This is a chance for informal talk about jazz in Havana. Dinner is on your own. Optional jazz club visit. Havana Sevilla Hotel (B/L) Day 7: Monday, January 12. Havana Take the local ferry across to the island of Regla, where we visit the Church of the Seafarers with the Black Madonna, their patron saint. You can talk with the Santeria priestesses outside the church, learning about the rich roots of an African tradition very much alive in Cuba and serving as a mainstay of faith in their everyday lives. Walk around the small town and meet local merchants and tradespeople such as shoemakers and bread bakers. Visit to Museo de la Musica, an institution with treasured collections of rare and folkloric musical instruments; scores and compositions; music machines; artwork about music; and other music related treasures. After lunch, visit to the community project Bailadores de Santa Amalia, a group of friends that for the last 60 years reunite periodically to dance jazz in Santa Amalia, an area on the outskirts of Havana. Interact with the dancers and musicians. Dinner is on your own. Havana Sevilla Hotel (B/L) Day 8: Tuesday, January 13. Havana Alexis Bosch, of Proyecto Jazz Cubano, is a prominent figure in the current Cuban Jazz scene. He will meet with the group and talk about the format of jazz band orchestras, the Feeling Movement, Latin jazz, or other jazz topics; followed by questions and answers. After free time for lunch on your own, the group will sit in at the rehearsal of a modern dance group Malposa, performing to music composed by Latin jazz artist, Arturo O’Farrill. This is a spectacular combination of dance and jazz in an unusual blending. On your last night in Cuba, enjoy a gala farewell dinner celebrating the people you have met and the music you have enjoyed while in Cuba. Havana Sevilla Hotel (B/D) Day 9: Wednesday, January 14. Havana / Miami Departure for the airport, flights to Miami, and home. NOTE: In addition to the above artists, we have contacted and are awaiting responses from: Alejandro Falcon, jazz pianist; Roberto Carcasse, jazz pianist and educator; Yasek Manzano, jazz trumpet; and Raul Gonzalez (Lali), Havana rumbero and composer. Meetings with these individuals will be inserted into the program upon receipt of confirmation.
CROSS CULTURAL JOURNEYS FOUNDATION WWW.CROSSCULTURALJOURNEYS.COM PO BOX 1369 SAUSALITO, CA 94966 T. (800) 353-2276 F. (415) 332-0683 [email protected] Mario Guarneri, Founder and Artistic Director Classically trained, with degrees from USC and Julliard, Mario spent 15 seasons with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He has performed on over 300 motion picture soundtracks, most notably the solo work on Godfather III. The idea for Jazz in the Neighborhood grew out of Mario’s lifetime of work in music. His musical career as a trumpet player started in the Bay Area when he joined the musicians union at the age of 13. Among his most transformative musical experiences was the chance to sit in with Louie Armstrong as a teenager. He is passionate about the value of live performance for audiences and musicians alike, and the inspiration and learning to be gained from sharing a stage with professional players. In the last 15 years, Mario has devoted himself more fully to jazz, performing regularly with his own quartet and recording 4 jazz CD’s. A dedicated music educator, Mario teaches at the San Francisco Conservatory, and privately throughout the bay area.
Jon Herbst, Program Coordinator Jon is a Bay Area based film music composer, arranger, music producer and jazz pianist. He has written scores for Academy Award winning documentaries, independent films, PBS and cable TV series, commercials, games and interactive media, corporate videos and museum installations. Jon honed his production skills by working as a radio and television recording engineer for several years before returning to his studies at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he earned a degree in film scoring and jazz piano. Jon plays regularly with several ensembles, and has had the honor to perform with jazz greats Phil Woods and Bob Mintzer. At Coventry Studio, a facility he designed and built, Jon has produced, engineered and performed on numerous jazz CD’s. Jon’s involvement with Jazz In The Neighborhood began through a series of conversations he had with Mario Guarneri while the two of them were collaborating on several recording projects. The next thing he knew, Mario had printed business cards with Jon’s name and a title on it. A longstanding interest in Latin music inspired a trip to the Panama Jazz Festival two years ago, at which point he was officially hooked. He vowed to make his way to Cuba someday and is excited to be part of JITN’s first trip there.
Liz Vasile, Executive Administrator Liz Vasile served as JITN’s first executive administrator, bringing her experience in program evaluation and organizational development to help grow our fledgling project into an effective cultural organization. Underneath it all, however, Liz is a geographer, with a Ph.D. in geography from Berkeley, archival and field research experience in North Africa and Latin America, and a love of field-based teaching. Following a varied career in consulting, in 2011 she made a return to geography through the travel industry, developing several cultural history travel programs in the San Francisco Bay area, and guiding city tours in Spanish. She has led trips to Cuba for National Geographic, Smithsonian, and private groups. Today, in addition to supporting JITN, Liz is executive director of an interdisciplinary social science research center at UC Berkeley, and a consulting public historian.
CROSS CULTURAL JOURNEYS FOUNDATION WWW.CROSSCULTURALJOURNEYS.COM PO BOX 1369 SAUSALITO, CA 94966 T. (800) 353-2276 F. (415) 332-0683 [email protected]
DATES: January 6 – 14, 2015
COST: $4,990
SINGLE ROOM: Add $500
INCLUDED: U.S. government people to people license to travel legally to Cuba; Cuban visa; Cuban medical insurance while in Cuba; international charter air flights from Miami/Holguin-Havana/Miami; in country flight Santiago/Havana; a/c coach transportation per itinerary; hotels (double occupancy), hot breakfast buffet daily at the hotel plus 7 lunches, 2 dinners per itinerary (B/L/D); English speaking Cuban guide; trip coordinator; all guest speakers; all entrance fees on itinerary; preparation materials; tips for included meals on itinerary and bellman; bottled water on the bus.
NOT INCLUDED: Alcoholic drinks; meals not on itinerary (1 lunch and 6 dinners, per itinerary (B/L/D)); excursions not on the itinerary (“optional” on itinerary means not included); tips for local guide and driver (optional, yet customary); travel cancellation and evacuation insurance (strongly recommended, info will be sent upon registration).
ADDITIONAL COST ESTIMATES TO ANTICIPATE: Tips to local guide ($7-8 per day) and driver ($5-6 per day) are optional, yet customary. Of course, more is appreciated if you are happy with their service and your budget allows. $25 departure tax at the Havana airport. Meals not included range from $10-$15 for lunch, $20-$30 for dinner, without drinks. Alcoholic drink prices are comparable to prices in the U.S. (One non- alcoholic drink is complimentary with each included meal.) NOTES: This itinerary is subject to change to take advantage of the serendipity of the moment when we are in Cuba . . . to meet additional musicians, to engage in an activity that might occur unexpectedly, or to accommodate circumstances beyond our control. Restaurants or hotels may change in similar category.
TEL: (800) 353-2276 or (415) 332-0682 EMAIL: [email protected]
CROSS CULTURAL JOURNEYS FOUNDATION WWW.CROSSCULTURALJOURNEYS.COM PO BOX 1369 SAUSALITO, CA 94966 T. (800) 353-2276 F. (415) 332-0683 [email protected]