Cuba and Spain to Contest for Latin Jazz \"Jackpot\" Award

(Prensa Latina) Madrid, Spain – Cuba, Spain, Argentina, Colombia and Venezuela compete with seven
works, at the 4th SGAE Award of Latin Jazz, the most sought-after in Latin
America.
The winner, chosen from the many composers applying for the top award will
be granted 10,000 dollars, sources of the General Society of Authors and
Publishers (SGAE) told Prensa Latina.

The call for the SGAE Award of Latin Jazz, also sponsored by the Fundacion
Autor, is made every two years and its juries have been formed by legends of
jazz such as Cuban pianist Jesus

Chucho Valdés, Argentinean saxophonist Gato
Barbieri and Spanish pianist Chano Dominguez.According to the organizers, the award is aimed to “boost and acknowledge
jazz creation by the composers of the Ibero-American community.”
Cuba has been the most benefited in this first selection, including three
candidates for the final stage of the award, to be announced on December,
inserted amongst the activities programmed for the Havana Jazz Plaza
Festival.

The rest of the nations contributed with three works each one. The selection
of the compositions to the final was carried out by a jury presided by Cuban
pianist Chucho Valdes. Brazilian saxophonist Carlos Malta and Spanish
singer Soledad Giménez were also members of the jury.

The identity of the finalists will not be disclosed until December to
preserve the integrity of the award. It was known, though, that some of the
compositions in contest are “A pesar de todo,” “Guárdame el rio,”
“Nostalgia,” “Pa´ Elegguá (El Tiempo),” “El Gorgojo,” “Latino soy” and
“Azul.”

The winners will be awarded by places in this order: $9,520 dollars for the
winner; 6,000 dollars for the second position; 3,000 dollars for the third,
and 2,760 dollars shared by three special mentions.

[Photo: Chucho Valdés]