The JAZZORES’11 Festival opens Friday in Ponta Delgada. The festival, which runs jazz concerts from October 21 to October 30, extends to four islands, São Miguel, Faial, Pico and Graciosa, in an effort to promote cultural decentralization.

“We want this to be a regional festival,” said organizer Rui Melo.

The festival opens with a concert at Teatro Micaelense, Ponta Delgada, featuring American pianist Thollem McDonas, and another concert at the Lajes do Pico Auditorium, Pico island, featuring American pianist John Blum.

Other guest performers include William Parker, Michael Wimberly, Mike Ross, Cooper-Moore, Marco Eneide, Donald Robinson and Juini Booth.

“The festival aims to providing the younger generations in the Azores with different cultural experiences,” said Bruno Pacheco, the Regional Director for Youth. “We want to open new horizons for them,” he said.

The 2011 JAZZORES Festival includes poetry reading and dance performances by Patrícia Nicholson Parker, a photography exhibit by photographer Fernando Resendes and an exhibit by sculptor Ricardo Lalanda.

Started in 1999, the JAZZORES Festival has brought to the Azores many prominent nacional and international jazz performers.

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