Portón del Jazz Festival opens

The 28th year of the Portón del Jazz Festival will bring the finest international jazz talent to the stage every Friday in July, with concerts starting at 10pm. 

Tickets for the four performances are now on sale at El Portón’s box office and online via Mientrada.net, priced at €25 per concert. A festival pass for all four shows is available for €85, with parking tickets also up for grabs.

Sara Dowling, the vocalist that won Best Vocalist at the British Jazz Awards 2019, will be leading the Sara Dowling quartet on the 4th of July. Dowling, hailed as Europe’s most influential voice of her generation and a jazz vocalist who is also a composer, began as a cellist. She draws inspiration from Betty Carter, Sarah Vaughan and other jazz greats. Dowling now lives in Spain and performs across Europe. She has headlined festivals in France and Switzerland, Italy and Hungary and shared stages with many of the top jazz musicians. She’ll be releasing Bons Amigos this summer, a collaboration between the Aquarela Guitar Quartet and herself, which will showcase her abilities as a singer, cellist pianist and composer.

On July 11, the CMQ Big Band, led by musician Luis Guerra, takes the stage with a 17-member ensemble of Cuban and Spanish musicians paying homage to the legendary Cuban artist Beny Moré. Guerra has meticulously transcribed 15 of Moré’s songs note-for-note from original recordings, reviving the legacy of the “Sonero Mayor” with vibrant arrangements.

Seamus, a New York-based composer and saxophonist born in England, will lead the Seamus-Blake Quartet on 18 July. Blake is a leader in the contemporary jazz scene, known for his distinctive style, sophisticated sound and bold improvisations. In his 25 year career, Blake has been praised for his leadership skills and his ability to compose. He’s worked with artists like Eric Reed and Ethan Iverson.

Jonathan Kreisberg’s Quartet will close out the festival, closing it on Saturday, July 25, with Marko Chürnchetz at the piano, Luca Alemanno at the bass and Colin Stranahan playing drums. Kreisberg began playing the guitar at the age of 10 and was one of the youngest students at the New World School of the Arts. He is one of New York’s top guitarists today, often performing with musicians like Gary Versace, drummer Mark Feber, and pianist Mark Feber.

Don’t miss this extraordinary celebration of jazz in Alhaurín de la Torre, presenting a diverse lineup of global talent. Tickets and more information can be found at Mientrada.net. El Portón is on Calle Juan Carlos I, Alhaurín de la Torre.