Jazz Studies / Jazz Institutions
Support For The Cuban People
Since 2016, CHACO Travel has been committed to legal travel that directly supports Cuba's private sector. Our guests always stay at privately-owned accommodations, eat at privately-owned restaurants, and engage in a full-time schedule that supports private sector businesses, entrepreneurs, artists, and musicians. In other words, we offer our guests the very best that Cuba has to offer.
• Cuban Music & Jazz Programs
CHACO Travel founder Grant Cohen first travelled to Cuba in the early-2000s, largely inspired by Ry Cooder’s Buena Vista Social Club project that resulted in a grammy-winning album and documentary about traditional Afro-Cuban music. World famous Cuban music and some of the best musicians in the country will always be at the forefront of CHACO’s offerings.
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Decades of travel to Cuba have enabled CHACO to develop and extensive reach in Cuba’s vibrant, world-renowned music and jazz communities. So, it’s no surprise that CHACO’s clients include university Jazz Studies programs, jazz institutions, groups of private musicians seeking to train with Cuban greats, and jazz fanatics who want to enjoy as much live music as possible during their time in Cuba.
• University Jazz Studies Programs
Our University Jazz Studies programs are designed based on the desires of the lead professor(s). They can be more or less intensive (see below) in terms of instrument-specific workshops and ensembles, and designed in accordance with the experience, skill-level and goals of each particular group.
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Check our Universities/Education Abroad for more information about Education Abroad opportunities in Cuba.
Check out the video below for an example of an intensive Jazz Studies program.
• Jazz Institutions & Connoisseurs
CHACO also organizes and operates programs for jazz institutions, groups of jazz musicians, and jazz connoisseurs. These programs are designed for musicians and involve workshops, ensembles and performances for musicians, or for connoisseurs, and focus on attending the best public performances, meeting musicians in private settings, and seeing numerous private performances designed especially for each particular group.
• Jazz Program Types
More intensive jazz programs involve daily or frequent workshops with some of Cuba’s best musicians and jazz professors, as well as at least one cultural activity each day. It also includes at least one public performance, often in conjunction with the Cuban musicians you work with throughout the week. In the evenings, CHACO will make reservations at the best venues to see live performances, and organize a few private performances.
Less intensive jazz programs are more focused on meeting and hearing musicians perform, with fewer or no workshops. These programs are particularly attractive for students such as music business majors and others who are integral members of the music department, but not necessarily aiming to become professional musicians.
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​CHACO will meet all of your needs whether your group seeks to focus on performance and training or simply enjoying the music. The final itinerary will be always be designed and customized in accordance with your group’s goals and desires.
​Check out this video of an intensive jazz program that CHACO organized and operated for the Thompson School of Music at the University of Colorado-Boulder.
