The story
Festijazz Bolivia in La Paz
Bolivia FestiJazz Internacional began in La Paz in 1987 under founder Walter Gomez and now spans four cities, La Paz, El Alto, Cochabamba and Santa Cruz, over roughly nine days each September. La Paz's municipal government declared it Cultural Heritage of the Municipality in 2010. Bolivian musicians share the program with international acts, and local lineups often mix jazz combos with Andean instruments like charango and zampoña.
Festijazz began in 1987 on the initiative of Walter Gomez, a Bolivian musician who was then heading the La Paz municipal culture office, and it has run every year since under the full name Bolivia FestiJazz Internacional.