The Trombone Shorty Foundation and Cuba Educational Travel partnered to present “Getting Funky in Havana,” a five-day cultural exchange trip with Academy students sponsored by the Gia Maione Prima Foundation this past January. New Orleans’ Trombone Shorty, Tank and the Bangas, The Soul Rebels, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux and Anders Osbornejoined forces with Cuba’s musical tour-de-force, Cimafunk, to create an absolutely incredible experience. Beautiful images were shared, from New Orleans’ photographer Jafar M. Pierre, to photographer Michael Weintrob. Videos were posted from Terapia Productions, and social media images shared by Cimafunk as well as travel partner Cuba Educational Travel. The trip also received press from outlets like The Guardian, Cuba Television, the New York Times, and NPR. New Orleans’ WWL TV covered the trip with a 2-part series in early February. To view photos, videos, and more links, visit our “Getting Funky in Havana” page!
“Music [in New Orleans and Havana] serves the dual function of celebration and spiritual connector, giving the people a way to embrace life and the search for the divine. At the invitation of the Cuban artist Cimafunk, musicians from two seemingly different cultures… did a deep dive into these musical bonds. And it was physically impossible to not be picturesque.” – NPR