The Trombone Shorty Foundation and Cuba Educational Travel will partner again to present “Getting Funky in Havana,” a five-day cultural exchange sponsored by the Gia Maione Prima Foundation! This once-in-a-life opportunity to experience the music and culture of Havana, Cuba takes place January 16-20, 2025. Trombone Shorty and his band Orleans Avenue will join forces with critically acclaimed Afro-Cuban/funk fusion star Cimafunk to create an absolutely incredible experience for our group. This trip will bring together artists, students from Havana as well as the Shorty Academy, and supporters for a transformative journey of music and cultural connection.
We’re bringing along an eclectic lineup of celebrated artists, including Grace Potter, Keyon Harrold, Robert Randolph, Taj Mahal, Yola, and many more. Curated cultural experiences offer an intimate, insightful view of Havana and its people and will offer visitors the opportunity to interact with local artists, entrepreneurs, and activists. Jam sessions, workshops, cultural landmark and school visits, instrument donations, and performances will highlight the deep historical and musical connections between New Orleans and Cuba, fostering collaboration and creativity among all participants. Limited VIP travel packages are available for purchase at the link below!
The historical connections between Cuba and New Orleans date back centuries. Music has been one of the bridges that first connected our lands and has played an important role in keeping the Cuba-New Orleans friendship strong. This trip builds on the robust shared traditions between our two communities and further strengthens our cultural bond.
Approximately 100 supporters will join the musicians and students, forming a VIP travel group to Cuba. Funds raised from this effort will support educational programs led by Cimafunk and the Trombone Shorty Foundation, benefiting young artists and musicians in both Cuba and New Orleans.
Since 2020, dozens of students from the Trombone Shorty Academy have traveled to Cuba to explore the country’s history and culture, build bonds with their peers, visit schools and neighborhood projects, and take the stage at some of Cuba’s most important venues. Young Cuban musicians mentored by Cimafunk and Trombone Shorty are now taking similar trips to New Orleans to visit schools and museums as part of a cultural exchange. They connect with professional musicians and perform at some of the city’s iconic venues including Tipitina’s, The Civic Theatre, and New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Visit our photo gallery page to see images from last year’s unforgettable trip.
“Getting Funky in Havana” is supported by the Gia Maione Prima Foundation, a foundation dedicated to fostering music and the arts at a youth and community level. The long standing relationship and ongoing support from the Gia Maione Prima Foundation made this amazing program possible for Trombone Shorty Foundation Academy students, and has been a cornerstone of the “Getting Funky in Havana” project since its inception in 2020. This experience was also made possible by Cuban Educational Travel (CET), a leader in cultural travel to Cuba.
MORE PRESS FROM OUR 2024 TRIP: NPR / CBS News / Recording Academy / Offbeat / No Depression
WGNO’s LeBron “LBJ” Joseph traveled last year to Havana, and experienced first hand the undeniable musical connections between our two cities. Check out the videos below to watch the features aired on WGNO TV, profiling our trip twice (before and after).
The Gia Maione Prima Foundation, founded by Gia Prima and Anthony J. Sylvester, Esq. (Foundation Trustee), supports organizations and projects that foster and encourage an appreciation for American jazz, American popular music and jazz performance, as well as the fine arts.
Cuba Educational Travel (CET) is the leading organization in connecting the people of the U.S. and Cuba through travel. Founded by Collin Laverty, a leading expert on U.S.-Cuba relations, CET offers cultural, educational, event and incentive and luxury travel to Cuba, working with clients to develop unique, customized and heavily-curated experiences on the island. CET believes deeply in the value of bringing our two countries together and has worked hard to introduce important U.S. policymakers, companies, organizations and thought leaders to Cuba. CET has been on the front lines of cultural collaboration between the US and Cuba — from educational programs to concerts to dance performances, CET has connected its community in Cuba with tens of thousands of American travelers.
The Horns Project/ Horns to Havana is a New York City-based nonprofit organization dedicated to instrument donation, repair and training and education and cultural exchanges. In the improvisational and exploratory spirit of jazz, they strive to fulfill dreams of aspiring young musicians and work to strengthen the ties between countries using shared musical traditions.