Cabarete is once again filled with music that empowers us, as humans, to express ourselves and our freedom through art

By Yasmín Cid G.

Cabarete and its beaches have a life of their own. Its streets and avenues become arteries, through which oxygen allows millions of things to pass. Its beaches are pure magic. And from time to time, jazz visits them. November is when most of the festivals and celebrations take place, around the different areas of Puerto Plata. And last Friday the 11th, Cabarete began theirs. Everywhere was full of music that empowers freedom through the expression of art.

The Dominican Republic Jazz Festival 2022, by Adolfo Faringthon, is made up of several concerts, master workshops and other jazz related activities, that seem unlikely to fit into a 2-day schedule. This year in particular, the return of the event was much anticipated since it hasn’t been able to run for the last 2 years due to the pandemic. On the 11th of November, Joel & Mushy Sistema Temperado & Néstor Torres, filled the stage with life and joy.

As a closing special for the 24th run of the event, on Saturday 12th, Néstor Torres, one of the most well-known flute players of the Puerto Rican vanguard, made an appearance on stage. Concha Buika performed a magnificent set of her most successful work, which livened up the crowd. While Bonyé, the famous, 14-member orchestra, had the audience dancing.

Cabarete sounded like freedom, as the town was once again full of the kind of vibrancy and diversity that only music can bring.