I attended the jazz festival's third year, and I am still raving about it. Following the official performances at the Teatro Anayansi, the informal late-night jam sessions held in the bar at the InterContinental Miramar were a blast. And I loved the free concerts held in Casco Viejo, the beautiful but ravaged World Heritage colonial center, where families picnicked the day away and young local talents showcased their chops.

The Panama Jazz Festival is the creation of Danilo Pérez, a graduate of Boston's famous Berklee College of Music. The respected composer and pianist very consciously designed the week as a non-elitist affair to honor his country's rich jazz history. Most of us know that from Hall-of-Famer Rod Carew to Yankee star Mariano Rivera, Panamanians have long prospered in baseball's big leagues. But how many of us know Panamanian jazz men have been making their way north since at least the big-band era? With your newfound knowledge in mind, head south and let a little tropic thunder rumble through your January.

More music:
* Danilo Pérezs most recent album, Across the Crystal Sea, features an all-star lineup. His Danilo Pérez Foundation promotes musical development in Panama's youth.
* Watch out for the young tambora sensation Milagros Blades. The eleven-year-old is cute as a button, but she's a mean drummer. Here's a brief clip of her in action.
* My friend Danielle Pergament recently covered the resurgence of Casco Viejo for the New York Times.
* Who knows the old town better than local kids? This video highlights a program started by the country's ministry of tourism to train Casco Viejo youth as tour guides. That's the music of actor, salsa star, and Minister of Tourism Rubén Blades in the background.
* Little-known fact: The Puerto Rican-dominant music genre Reggaetón actually developed in Panama.