The persistent rain in the night of Havana did not stop the Cubas jazz lovers of assisting to the Opening Gala of the International Competition of Young Jazz musicians, “Jojazz 2009" at the Mella Theatre of this city. With a prolonged applause and numerous standing ovations began formally the XII issue of this jazz festival 2009 with a full house.

The opening words were made by the vice president of the Cuban Institute of Music, who recalled the beginnings of these events and almost clandestine in its genesis foundation. Despite setbacks and difficulties this event has transcended the importance of gender on the island and the vigour with which new talent daily strive to keep on top of Cuban music, the jazz music.

The Festival started officially with the performance of the award-winning Cuban jazz group “Jazz Band" under the direction of maestro Joaqun Betancourt, who was accompanied by some young musicians who were awarded in the previous edition of this festival as Yassek Manzano y Jorge Luis Pacheco. Subsequent to this band joined the concert Michel Herrera and his band that performed three musical pieces: Ocho veces La Habana (Eight times Havana), La verdad (Truth) y Carolina.

The program presented by Jazz Band, in the words of his own director Joaqun Betancourt, will be part of an Album that will be recorded under the label Colibr. Their presentation went through major genres in Cuba as the cha-cha-cha, son, salsa, rumba and rap.

It was a luxury night where the biggest winner was the audience who enjoy loads of virtuosity, improvisation and technical purity. Each instrument spoke from its language, a common language: the music.