Havana Jazz festival
With the LA African Marketplace & Cultural Faire
December 15 - 22, 2015
We are pleased to announce the much anticipated special People to People trip to Cuba, scheduled for Sunday, Monday 14 to Tuesday, December 22. 2015
The Havana International Jazz Festival is the focal point of this tour organized by the Los Angeles African Marketplace & Cultural Faire as it makes its way towards restoration
Cuba offers an artistic and cultural experience of the African Diaspora but different from that of any other place on earth. Explore historic Havana, learn about the historical influence of Africa and African religions on the island; the art; and the colonial art deco architecture. Attend Jazz performances as part of the tour and speak with Cuban caregivers, historians, artists about the history and the people of Cuba.
Join the PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND at the Festival!
Be Part of Musical History and see Cuba in the process!
Your trip will include accompanying the Preservation Hall Jazz Band to their first major concert date in Havana. This quintessential American Band will open the festival and you will be right there with them! They will be performing with the incredible Cuban Musician Ernan Lopez Nussa. The festival will be especially joyful this year as musicians from the US and Cuba formally take the stage and do what they do best! Other major US bands will also be performing along side Cuban bands to truly make this festival a celebration of US and Cuban friendship!
Journey to Jazz Cuba
Learn about the culture of Cuba, meet the Cuban people, see the architecture,
and experience its soulful music and deep-rooted culture. Meet musicians, and experience wonderful concerts with Cuba’s welcoming people who are waiting to engage with you to learn about the United States and the American people and our values.
This in an eight-day and seven-night trip focused on giving you access to the best and most innovative music venues, musicians and composers on the island. You will also visit artist studios, see the enchanting architecture in the city, dine at the best home restaurants (Paladares) in Havana and other activities consistent with your People to people license. You will be able to visit Old Havana, art galleries, restaurants, and churches that practice Santeria. There is a lot to do in Old Havana and I promise you will not get bored. If you have any questions, please call me at (213) 290-2386. I look forward to you joining us!
James V. Burks
You will stay at the historic Hotel Plaza in the heart of Old Havana.
It's now easier to visit Cuba!
On January 16, 2015 President Barak Obama liberalized People to People educational travel, which now allows Americans to travel to Cuba without all of the paperwork previously needed. This makes travel to Cuba infinitely easier. People to People travel is not tourist oriented or self directed but it is both rewarding and unique. It allows participants to visit a wide scope of organizations, institutions, and community projects that provide a deeper understanding of Cuba, its people and its culture. This PVAC trip includes a full time schedule of educational exchange activities designed to promote meaningful interactions between Americans and the people of Cuba.
Trip Costs at Hotel Plaza (3 Star)
Air $ 545.00
Total $ 2760.00 Double Occupancy
If you would like a single room please add $550.00 to price total
Space is extremely limited--we urge you to bring a roommate!
Program price includes
* Meet and greet at the Miami International Airport
* Round trip air Mia-Hav-Mia, Departure Tax in Miami
* Airport tax on day of departure from Havana
* Cuban Visa
* US Traveler General License paperwork
* Transfers in and out from the airport to hotel
* Medical Insurance in Cuba
* Accommodations for 7 nights at Hotel Plaza
* Daily breakfast at the hotel
* Five lunches at some of Havana's best restaurants & paladares
* 4 dinners (welcome and closing dinners + 2)
* Luxury Motor coach transportation as per itinerary
* Full translation by professional Cuba based guide
* Program Management in Cuba
* Full entrance to all Havana Jazz Festival events (all access pass)
* A day trip to Las Terraza Biosphere Preserve in the Cuban countryside
* City tours and visits to a variety scenic places in Havana
* Visits to three museums
* Participation in all of the lectures and symposia of the Jazz Festival
* Our Cuba Travel Tips publication and extensive traveler guidance
*Tips for restaurants and baggage handlers
PROGRAM PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
*Passports
*Tips for (Guide and Driver)
*Single room differential ( $450 per single traveler)
*Trip Interruption Insurance
*Air from Home City to Miami
*All other items not listed in “PROGRAM PRICE INCLUDES”
Meet James Burks
JAMES BURKS is a cultural impresario and world traveler. He has served in various capacities at the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department where he started as Director of the William Grant Still Arts Center, and later as Director of the William Reagh and Encino Photography Centers, and The Nate Holden Performing Arts Center. He has been Director of the Performing Arts Division and Folk Arts Program of Cultural Affairs. He is currently the Director of Special Projects where he oversees a myriad of projects along with directing the Leimert Park Vision Theater, and The Canoga Park Madrid Theater.
He has specialized in the field of Arts for Community Economic Development, and Cultural Tourism. He is the Founder of the African Marketplace, Inc. and the Annual African Marketplace and Cultural Faire, the LA African American Tourism Council, the Global Cinema & Urban Media Symposium, the Leimert Park Small Business Incubator, and consultant to Lennar Developers and the City of San Francisco on the design and development of a permanent year-round International African Marketplace. He orchestrated the successful African Marketplace incubator that evolved into two co-op Import/Export Centers in Los Angeles and has presented papers on the African Marketplace at cultural tourism and Arts conferences and symposium in Sweden, Germany, Canada, London, France, Cuba, Trinidad, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Salvador, Brazil; Jamaica, the Bahamas, Bermuda, South Africa, Namibia, Dubai, Jordan, and at the Congressional Black Caucus in Washington DC. He has presented his vision of the arts and economic development in urban communities and at summit organizations and events throughout the United States. He has produced more than 500 Theater and musical events, Curated or directed the installation of more than 100 museum and fine art exhibitions, and has been annually responsible for presenting more than 60 special events in Los Angeles. He has served as consultant to special events in Ghana, Jordan, Brazil, Hawaii, South Africa, Dubai, and Jamaica, and is currently working with the AfricaUSA Chamber of commerce on the presentation of the GCUMI Summit in Africa. He currently serves on the Boards of the Africa USA International Chamber of Commerce, California Conservancy Solutions, LA Sister Cities, Inc., and Los Angeles Southwest College Foundation.
He has lost count of how many times he has visited Cuba.
The African Marketplace and Cultural Faire
The African Marketplace was created to increase the understanding and appreciation of
the global influence of Africa and its Diaspora. It has demonstrated that communication locally, nationally and internationally, has allowed the African Marketplace, Inc. to help build worldwide recognition of the economic potential or the arts and culture as tools to revitalize and develop urban and extended communities.
Using the resources in the Creative Industry that allows for positive exploitation of economic resources in African American communities is the goal. The strengthening of opportunities for artistic creativity and cultural expression will generate the hope, understanding, courage andconfidence needed for societies to help citizens fulfill their potential.
Following the 1965 Civil Rebellion and 1992 civil unrest, economic disasters faced South Los Angeles’ Black Community. Other predominately American special events while taking advantage of African American resources have left very little in this community. Other immigrant communities came with little understanding of the social, educational, and global economic impact of African Americans while visiting international visitors found the community easy targets for their enterprising economic capacity building, thus leaving very little for the urban communities to build upon and grow its economy.
2015 provides an excellent opportunity to restore the once prominent International African Marketplace & Cultural Faire. Join us in this trip that will also help kick off our campaign to raise the 2 million dollars required to produce once again, “A Top 100 Event in North America.”
Cuba Tours and Travel
Cuba Tours and Travel has over fifteen years of experience offering expert-driven cultural travel to Cuba. Our management and program-design team, working together with a team of superb Cuban travel associates in both Havana and Miami, are uniquely suited to offer you the finest in-depth travel program to the island. We are licensed by the US and Cuba and are fully insured. Most importantly, we have an abiding love for Cuban art and culture and have strong connections to the cultural institutions on the island.
Cuba Tours and Travel is a full-service agency licensed by the U.S. Government
TSP# CU-077926-b. CST number 2073790-40. Fla. Seller of Travel Reg. No. ST39635
Long Beach, CA. Office
320 Pine Avenue. Suite 503
Long Beach, CA. 90802
Miami, FL. Office
10631 N. Kendall Drive
Suite 1208
Miami, Fl. 33176
For more information please write to customerservice@cubatoursandtravel.com
or call us at 888 225-6439 Ext. 804
Images on this flyer by Michael Ontko and Jose Rizo