A Week of Jazz, Education, and Music in Beneixama

Last week, from August 10th to 16th, I had the pleasure of spending an inspiring week in Beneixama, surrounded by music, young musicians, and some of the finest players from the Valencian jazz scene.

From August 10th to 13th, I taught double bass courses, worked with a young ensemble of children and teenagers, and gave a masterclass focused on one of the most important aspects of playing jazz: developing internal time and internal subdivision. It was a wonderful opportunity to share ideas, explore different ways of feeling rhythm, and help young musicians strengthen their musical independence and awareness.

On August 14th and 15th, the focus shifted towards the professional side of the festival. We rehearsed with the professional big band of Mil Estones de Jazz, bringing together some truly outstanding musicians from the Valencian music scene. The rehearsals were intense, inspiring, and full of great musical moments as we prepared for the festival's closing concert.

On August 16th, we finally took the stage for the closing concert of the festival. Performing with the big band in Beneixama was a fantastic experience, and the concert was a great success. It was a beautiful way to bring together everything we had worked on throughout the week and to celebrate jazz and modern music with the local community.

None of this would have been possible without the support and commitment of Sociedad Musical La Pau, Paco Romero, and everyone who contributed to making this week happen. Their dedication and belief in the power of jazz and modern music in small towns is truly inspiring.

Bringing high-quality music education and professional performances to towns like Beneixama is incredibly valuable. Music has the power to connect people, inspire younger generations, and create cultural spaces that can have a lasting impact on a community.

I am very grateful to have been part of this year's Mil Estones de Jazz, and I hope this is only the beginning of many more musical encounters in Beneixama.

Thank you to everyone who made this wonderful week possible. See you next time!