It's called the first Belizean International Jazz Festival, an event that
brought some seriously accomplished jazz musicians from across the world to
play for charity on San Pedro. Our colleagues at the San
Pedro Sun were there, and as they found out, the event was about more than
just jazz, it was music with a mission.
Jules Vasquez Reporting,
He event was organized by Rendezvous Restaurant owner Glenn Schwengdinger.
Glenn Schwengdinger, Organizer
"Jazz we play every night in our restaurant and it just becomes part
of your soul and the musicians that are doing this are also soul people and
they are so into helping things that are for a worthy cause. And they come from
all over the world, we have eighteen nationalities with thirty-five musicians
playing over two days. It is an incredible show."
And to see that show, fans traveled by ferry to the beachfront of the Rendezvous
restaurant miles north of San Pedro for the first Belize International Jazz
Fest. And while jazz music like this fiery percussion solo was being served
up, there were all types of artistic expressions, from sketch artists to free
form dance and painting set to live jazz guitar. And while the paint was left
to fall where it would, that same spirit of improvisation would dominate the
day, whether on steel drums or later in the evening when highly regarded Canadian
trumpeter Nick Brownman Ali took stage. And while the event was colored by jazz,
it was about charity.
Glenn Schwengdinger,
"The purpose of the jazz festival is to create an ongoing support mechanism
for children's charities around Belize, one of which is the Ambergris Caye Chamber
of commerce emergency fund so when there is a child that needs special help
that we have funds to support them and not give a $100 donation. We have created
a fund for $20,000 where we can make real life decisions. The second one is
we are working with the church for the new school building being built in San
Mateo."
And on this night, as the notes of "Brownman" Ali's trumpet lilted
into the night air, the cause and the concert seemed to find harmony
Sadly, the event did not meet attendance or revenue raising expectations.
But organizers say the jazz festival was just to launch the charity effort which
continues with aggressive marketing, including selling awareness bracelets for
$5.
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