"Jazz Plaza" fills Havana with music this past Weekend

Havana, Cuba (NTN24)- Jazz festival in Cuba sows seeds of hope for cultural thaw between the U.S. and Havana.

The curtain was raised on Havana's 27th International Jazz Festival on Thursday, bringing together musicians from Cuba and the United States.

The event has long been one of the most important cultural dates of the year for Cubans, but the marked difference this year is that there were more U.S. citizens in the audience, as they were given special authorization to fly direct to the island to attend.

Gregorio Rodriguez, from Denver, Colorado, explained his reasons for making the journey.

On the bill for the opening gala at the city's Mella theatre was Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba, a resident in the United States, who had also flown over.

There has been a growing number of cultural exchanges between the US and Cuba in recent years, as the longtime ideological foes seek common ground they have been unable to find politically since Cuba's 1959 revolution.

U.S. pianist, Arturo O'Farrill, who is of Cuban origin, shared Rubalcaba's feeling that such events could have an impact in warming relations.

Many also hope that travel restrictions will be lifted.

Orisel Sierra, an art historian, was among optimistic audience members.

Musicians from various countries will participate in the event, known as Jazz Plaza, which lasts the whole weekend.

Around 300 foreigners are believed to be attending, with the majority coming from North America.

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[somepinkflowers]

{{ life, love & music! }}

what a good sound bite,

i must say!

how cool is this!

wish i were there...