Havana Jam 79

Havana Jam ’79 is an hour-long documentary written, produced and directed in 2009 by Cuban author, journalist and filmmaker Ernesto Juan Castellanos.

It tells the story of the celebration of the historic three-day Havana Jam festival at the Karl Marx Theater, in Havana, Cuba, from 2–4 March 1979, sponsored by Bruce Lundvall, the president of Columbia Records, Jerry Masucci, the president of Fania Records, and the Cuban Ministry of Culture.

The documentary includes interviews with some of the Cuban musicians who participated, as well as critics and some who were in the audience.

Havana Jam ’79 recreates the performances by Weather Report, the CBS Jazz All-Stars, the Trio of Doom, Fania All-Stars, Stephen Stills, Billy Swan, Bonnie Bramlett, Mike Finnigan, Kris Kristofferson, Rita Coolidge and Billy Joel from the American side, as well as Irakere, Pacho Alonso, Zaida Arrate, Elena Burke, Orquesta de Santiago de Cuba, Conjunto Yaguarimu, Frank Emilio, Juan Pablo Torres, Los Papines, Tata Guines, Percusion cubana, Sara Gonzalez, Pablo Milanes, Manguare, and Orquesta Aragon, from the Cuban side.

Ernesto Juan Castellanos also shot, produced, and directed the documentary Barefoot on Abbey Road.