TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival 2012

Jazz is one of those types of music that I have always loved and will continue to love forever. In previous years I have not only attended but also covered the Vancouver International Jazz Festival. This year I’m a little bit late to the party as I have been travelling (if you have noticed my tweets and blog posts) but didn’t want to miss out on sharing information about this fun event: the TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival 2012.

The story of Coastal Jazz and Blues Society is the story of determination, passion, idealism, community, and of course, music. Incorporated in 1986, as a community based, not-profit, charitable arts organization located in Vancouver, British Columbia, the society, from the very beginning, has worked diligently to establish Vancouver as a center for the creation and exchange of sounds and ideas between the local, national and international music community. Our mission is to not only increase the appreciation of the music, but to strengthen the arts community by developing special projects, artistic exchanges, partnerships, educational initiatives, community programs, and collaborations that further the art form. Our vision encompasses a wide spectrum of jazz, blues, world, creative, and improvised music, including evolving forms of jazz and the technologies and media that influence jazz as an art form.

Today, the Society ranks as BC’s largest music presenter producing the annual TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival, the Music Series at the Winterruption Festival on Granville Island, the Time Flies Improvised Music Festival and several year-round concerts. Along with music presentation, the Society also has a long standing commitment to music education, presenting the TD High School Jazz Intensive Program exclusively for high school students, the Creative Music Think Tank Symposium exploring the nexus of innovation and social practice, regular workshops by local visiting international artists, children’s music programs, and more.

The Society is also a significant part of Vancouver and BC’s economic engine and tourism industry, attracting over half a million people to the annual jazz festival and generating over $35 million in economic activity.

To celebrate the TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival 2012 I am giving away a pair of tickets to the July 1st concert of Los Amigos Invisibles (The Invisible Friends). Check out below their tune Vivire Para Ti (I will live for you) with Natalia Lafourcade.

Latin Grammy award winners Los Amigos Invisibles have been spreading their fiery dance band grooves around the world ever since they roared out of Venezuela in 1995. The band actually got its first break when David Byrne discovered one of their albums in a record shop and shortly after signed them to his label, Luaka Bop. Years later, these Latin alternative kingpins continue to electrify audiences with their explosive live shows.

To enter my giveaway all you need to tell me is what you love the most about the Latino culture. Most people seem to love the food (personally, that’s one of the elements that makes me proud of my Latino heritage, but I am most proud of the culture, dance, architecture, history and archaeology). How about you? What fascinates you the most of Latino culture and society?

You can earn up to 2 entries (one by commenting, one by posting the following on Twitter):

Shared what I like about Latin culture @hummingbird604 and @vanjazzfest http://is.gd/ymWLFe 2 enter 2 win tix to Los Amigos Invisibles

I will draw winners on June 29th at 4pm. Please check back here frequently as this is a quick contest. If you drop your Twitter handle on your comment here, I can contact you via Twitter as well.