A big week lies ahead for Birmingham-based jazz band Sacred Funk Quartet as its members prepare to showcase their music at the renowned Havana International Jazz Festival in Cuba.
The quartet, which has been together for over 20 years, is composed of Kate Luxmoore, Lekan Babalola, Tom Marsh, and Jon Escoto Brown.
Performing at the festival on Thursday and Friday is a significant milestone for the band, offering them a chance to share their unique sound with international audiences.
“This festival is really well-respected and it’s not often you get an opportunity like this. It’s a big deal for us,” said Luxmoore, expressing the band’s excitement.
Founded in 1979 by Cuban musicians, the Havana Jazz Festival has become a premier event in the jazz world, featuring over 100 performances last year alone.
Grammy award-winner and festival organizer Chucho Valdés encapsulated the event’s essence, describing it as “if it ain’t got that swing, it ain’t Havana.”
Luxmoore, who is returning to Havana after more than two decades, shared her enthusiasm about reconnecting with the Cuban music scene.
“That’s the joy and excitement in it—it means potential new collaborations and it will take us down an interesting road,” she said.
For the band, the festival offers a unique opportunity to connect with musicians from different cultures and expand their musical horizons.
Babalola emphasized the importance of the trip, noting that it would allow the band to interact with people who “live the same lifestyle using the same music,” further deepening their appreciation for the global reach of jazz.
While the band received funding from the PRS Foundation to cover some of the trip’s expenses, they were unable to secure enough funding for Marsh to attend.
Despite this, Marsh expressed his support for his bandmates.
“I’m really wishing them all the best for this festival. The opportunities this will give the band are unmatched,” he said, adding that he would be cheering them on from Birmingham.
To help cover accommodation and transport costs, the band has set up a JustGiving page, hoping to raise the remaining funds needed to complete their journey.
The Havana International Jazz Festival represents not only a professional milestone but also a chance for Sacred Funk Quartet to embrace the rich musical heritage of Cuba and create lasting connections with artists from around the world.
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