Manacor strengthens its ties to jazz with Salvador Sobral and Caramelo de Cuba.

PalmFeaturing some of the best jazz musicians from around the world and a strong representation of the exceptional local talent. This is how the second edition of the Manacor Jazz Festival arrives, an initiative of the s'Escat cultural association organized by Manacor City Council. If concerts such as those by Maria Schneider and Jorge Pardo, which took place during the first edition of the event to great acclaim, still resonate with attendees for their quality, this year's lineup suggests they will be no less so: Salvador Sobral, Caramelo de Cuba, and Benji Habichuela are just some of the names to be featured in October, along with Magalí Saré and Sebastià Gris, Roger Pistola and Jorra Santiago, and Carles Benavent, Dani Pérez, and Salvador Font, who will participate in the tribute concert to Jordi Bonell with the Voodoo Kids Orchestra, conducted by Toni Vaquer.

"Last year everything was new and we were excited just to get it going, even more so with the line-up we got, with some really good artists," explains Llorenç Barceló, from the s'Escat association, "but the weather wasn't on our side and this has left us with a bit of a feeling. We've opted again for a good line-up, with some really good musicians who we think will give us concerts as unforgettable as those of the first edition. If it doesn't rain, everything will be fine!" adds Barceló, who constantly demonstrates that the event is born from a deep devotion to a style of music that, today, is still largely unknown.

"There's always been a rock scene in Manacor. As a child, I remember the Manacor rock shows, which would start at dusk and end the next day because of the number of bands that came through," recalls musician Llorenç Barceló, "and, in general, there's always been Manacor, but, above all, there's always been Manacor. Now, we've finally been able to open a window to another type of music that we hope can consolidate and continue for many years to come." In this sense, for Barceló, it's important to emphasize "the scarcity of quality jazz." "Many people think they don't like jazz and what they've heard is background music that was playing one night on a restaurant terrace," he explains, "or from people who are just starting out in the world of music and still have little experience or tools. Well done and authentic, all music in the world is good, and jazz is no exception, but in jazz it is no exception, but it understands it, and it comes to acquire its own language and communicate through it. Ido with jazz is exactly the same.

Salvador Sobral, Caramel from Cuba and tribute to Jordi Bonell

Thus, the program for this second edition of the Manacor Jazz Festival offers a range of offerings as diverse as the origins of its participants. It all begins on Saturday, September 27th, at 8:00 p.m. in the Plaza del Rector Rubí, with a duo concert by Manacor natives Jorra Santiago and Roger Pistola. In conversation with ARA Baleares, Pistola announced that one of the featured instruments in the recital would be the double bass and celebrated the launch of this initiative. "It comes from a self-managed and independent association like S'Escat, which for years has tirelessly offered a regular, high-quality program with weekly concerts and jam sessions. And with this, what they do is return jazz to its original purpose: bringing it closer to the people and to everyone," he stated. On Saturday the 27th, at the same venue, there will also be a musician who, despite not having been born in Manacor, has strong ties to it: Salvador Sobral. He will, in fact, perform with a band formed by some members of S'Escat. "He's a friend of ours," Llorenç Barceló acknowledges, "because he lived here as a young man and we already played together. He's always been a fabulous singer, and we're very excited to be reunited with him on stage."

A week later, on Saturday, October 4th, it will be Flamencuba's turn, with Caramelo de Cuba, considered one of the best pianists in the world, and Benji Habichuela, a musician based in Mallorca. "Having Caramelo de Cuba on board is truly a luxury for us. The best musicians in the world request him and he is a global reference, one of those musicians who have made a name for themselves and who we long to hear live," explain the festival organizers. The performance will also take place in the Plaza del Rector Rubí, where Magalí Sare and Sebastià Gris will also perform, two young musicians and composers with a more than established career, as demonstrated by works such as Unmarried, the latest offering from Sare, which will premiere in Manacor. The recitals in the Plaza del Rector Rubí will also include food and beverage service, with the aim of turning "every jazz night into a space for cultural encounter and coexistence," according to Manacor City Council.

In any case, one of the most emotional moments of this second edition of the festival will take place on Sunday the 5th, starting at 8:00 p.m. in the Manacor Auditorium. It will be there that the tribute concert will be held for Jordi Bonell, one of the great exponents of the so-called Catalan guitar, who passed away last November. Among the participants in the tribute are musicians such as Carlos Benavent, Dani Pérez, and Salvador Font, who will join the Voodoo Kids Orchestra, conducted by Toni Vaquer. "This Big Band we'll be putting together will be something to watch," Barceló anticipates, "because we'll have the pride of having Carles Benavent, a bassist who has played with the best musicians in the world, with people like Chick Corea, and having twenty musicians share the stage with him is truly a stroke of luck," the organizers share.

2025 Manacor Jazz Festival Program

September 27

Roger Pistola

Salvador Sobral

October 4th

Flamencuba

Magalí Sare

October 5th

Tribute concert to Jordi Bonell

The Voodoo Kids Orchestra conducted by Toni Vaquer with Carles Benavent and Salvador Font