MUNA Hosts 12th Naturajazz Festival in November

The Museum of Nature and Archaeology (MUNA) is set to host the 12th International Jazz and Nature Photography Festival, Naturajazz, throughout November. This festival promises to be a key event for anyone who loves jazz and nature photography. Concerts will be held every Thursday and Friday at 8:00 PM. Admission is free, but you'll need to get an invitation beforehand from the festival's website. Over the coming weeks, musicians from the United States, Cameroon, and Italy will perform.

Festival director Néstor Yanes explains that this year's edition will highlight percussion. The festival kicks off on Friday, November 7, with the Belgian Julien Tassin Trio, who will blend contemporary blues, jazz, and African music. On Thursday, November 13, the Ancor Miranda Quartet will launch their new album, taking listeners on a journey through contemporary and traditional jazz. The following day, Friday, November 14, Cameroon's Michel Mbarga Quartet arrives at MUNA, offering a mix of jazz, blues, afrobeat, and traditional African sounds. Thursday, November 20, features music professor Manolo Rodríguez in a trio, presenting his unique blend of jazz, folklore, and various musical traditions. That Friday, November 21, don't miss John Wooton & Friends, with a special appearance by Tenerife's Polo Ortí. The final week begins on Thursday, November 27, with the Imazighen collective, led by Tenerife musician Kike Perdomo, fusing traditional North African rhythms with jazz, rock, and other roots music. Naturajazz concludes on Friday, November 28, with the Laura Klain Trío. This project, led by Italian drummer Laura Klain, combines classical jazz, sound experimentation, and original compositions.

José Carlos Acha, the Culture Councilor for the Cabildo de Tenerife, notes that Naturajazz has become one of MUNA's most important annual events. He is pleased that the quality of submitted photography projects has significantly improved this year, with over 60 entries from diverse countries like India and Argentina, though most are from Spain. Acha stated, "They give us a different vision of nature, which makes this event a gathering place for those who appreciate both jazz and nature." He also highlighted the festival's strong focus on sustainability, as it "raises awareness about the importance of ecosystem conservation" and "encourages us to observe the planet's biodiversity."

Alejandro de Vera, MUNA's Marine Biology curator and a member of the Naturajazz 2025 jury, reviewed the outstanding photography projects. He echoed Acha's sentiment, saying the "level is increasingly high, which makes the jury's job difficult." De Vera mentioned that some truly excellent images had to be left out of the final selection of eleven works, despite "bordering on excellence." This year's overall winner is "Pinceladas" by photographer José Luis Gigirey, praised for capturing nature's poetic essence through light and color compositions that evoke movement, delicacy, and beauty. Other selected series include "Córdoba salvaje. Fauna entre bosques, ríos y dehesa" by Jesús Miguel González Palmero, and "El reino alado" by Eduardo Ramos Castañeda, both exploring Mediterranean wildlife and landscapes. "El pulso del océano" by Jesús Yeray Delgado Dorta, and "Islas Canarias. Territorio limitado, avifauna sin límites" by Sebastián Francisco Pagés González, showcase the power of the oceans and the rich biodiversity of the Canary Islands.

Alejandro de Vera also pointed out that all these awarded photographs are not just recognized but are also acquired by the museum, which then uses them in various activities. MUNA now boasts a collection of over 250 photographs from the twelve editions of Naturajazz. The winning images from this year's festival will be displayed on the museum's facade in the coming weeks.