Jazz from Cuba, Las Vegas and France

This weekend will be all about the jazz as two live music venues host musicians who will share their favourite international jazz melodies. Music inspired by the sounds of Cuba and France but also the Vegas era of the 50s and 60s is on the agenda for Friday and Saturday 22.

Vinylio Wine Etc bar in Limassol welcomes Alice Ayvazian and Dimitris Miaris this Friday to perform jazz standards from Vegas. Their performance pays tribute to the names of great entertainers that graced the marquees in the era of the 50s and 60s such as Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin, the Marx Brothers, Judy Garland, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, Jimmy Durante, Louis Prima and Abbott and Costello.

“It was a wonderful town for musicians,” say the organisers. “Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald were frequent visitors. Count Basie, Harry James, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw also dropped by. Vocal groups were formed with the biggest names in the industry like The Rat Pack, featuring Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davies Jr. and Dean Martin among others. Many jazz songs became world-famous due to their popularity in Vegas shows.” Some of those golden standards will be featured on Friday night at Vinylio Wine Bar.

On the same night a local quintet will take the audience at Sarah’s Jazz Club on a journey through Cuba’s Latin jazz. Havana Noche is a popular Cyprus-based Latin jazz band that aims at transmitting the energy, enthusiasm and passion of Latin music. The band was formed in Cyprus by percussionist Constantinos Paouros and includes musicians from Cuba, Colombia and Cyprus. Their music is based on Latin jazz music genres such as son cubano, salsa, timba and cha cha.

Finally, on Saturday Eleonora Roussou will also take the floor at Nicosia’s jazz club with her quartet Beats ‘n’ Pieces. The ensemble’s repertoire moves through Bolero, Bossa Nova and Samba rhythms, in Spanish, English and Greek as well as Latin jazz tunes and romantic swing songs to add a sweet note to Saturday night.

Jazz in Las Vegas

Live by Alice Ayvazian and Dimitris Miaris. October 21. Vinylio Wine Etc, Limassol. 9pm. Tel: 99-300430

Havana Noche

Latin jazz. October 21. Sarah’s Jazz Club, Nicosia.  9.30pm. €12. Tel: 95-147711

Beats ‘n’ Pieces

Eleonora Roussou quartet. October 22. Sarah’s Jazz Club, Nicosia.  9.30pm. Tel: 95-147711