Canarias Jazz & Más Festival Enters Peak Week With Concerts and Cultural Forums

The 35th Canarias Jazz & Más International Festival has reached its busiest point, cementing its status as a highlight of the islands' cultural calendar. Organizers say this third week of the festival goes beyond live performances, offering a series of talks that explore both the history and the future of jazz.

This year’s festival aims to balance cutting-edge music with thoughtful discussion. Under the leadership of Miguel Ramírez, the event is hosting forums where international experts and journalists—including Larry Pryce, Nuno Catarino, Rosarita Crisafi, Christoph Giese, and Maria Zimny—will discuss the current state of jazz across Europe. These sessions will be held at the Teatro Leal in La Laguna and the Teatro Pérez Galdós in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Additionally, the Casa de Colón will host a retrospective on the festival’s 35-year history, featuring insights from key figures like Alberto Hernández Sicilia, Tato Bethencourt, Míchel Jorge Millares, and Nacho González.

The performance schedule offers a wide variety of styles. Pianist Marco Mezquida, joined by Martín Meléndez and Aleix Tobias, will present his Táctil project at Espacio La Granja and the Rincón del Jazz at the Auditorio Alfredo Kraus. Meanwhile, double bassist and 2025 Canary Islands Music Award winner Carlos Meneses will perform his album [Collabs] at the Casa de Colón alongside Marcos Pulido, Daniel González, and Yul Ballesteros, showcasing contemporary jazz to a broad audience.

Finally, the festival celebrates the legacy of soul and R&B with a special tribute to Marvin Gaye’s I Want You, marking the album’s 50th anniversary. Led by José James and Célia Kameni, this performance at the Teatro Leal and the Teatro Pérez Galdós highlights the festival’s commitment to connecting classic musical history with modern audiences.