On Sunday, May 4, La Paz welcomed international jazz musicians Doug Webb and Sonny Step on the main stage at the Kiosk as part of the 2025 La Paz Jazz festival, the town’s first-ever jazz festival. The Malecon witnessed jazz enthusiasts of all ages gathered in appreciation and enjoyment. Webb and Step played alongside local talents, including Tito Rodriguez and Mario Patrón, and toured different venues between Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo, Todos Santos, and, of course, La Paz between April 27 and May 4.
Across various events, both local and expat patrons have consistently expressed their amazement at the recent surge in the quality of musicians and events. This enthusiasm is particularly striking considering a vibrant jazz scene was virtually non-existent in La Paz just a year ago.
I had the pleasure of experiencing Doug and Step’s magic firsthand thanks to restaurateur Silvia Bernadini’s intimate private events at L’invito. A jazz enthusiast, born and raised in Italy, Silvia has been successfully pairing good music with good food across mainland Mexico. Once she moved to La Paz, she realized the nonexistence of a local jazz scene compared to the rich and varied scene in CDMX, Veracruz, and San Miguel de Allende.
Last year, Silvia curated a jazz evening to celebrate and share her love for the genre, inviting some of her favorite musicians to perform locally. While the event was a success, it was evident that flying musicians into town wasn’t sustainable, and she needed a different solution. Her determination to find a more effective way to host such events eventually led her to connect with accomplished musician Rey David Alejandre and Tito Rodriguez. Aside from being a musician, composer, and jazz promoter, Rodriguez is also the artistic director of the jazz club “Jazz on the Rocks at Sunset Point”. The club has hosted performances by renowned figures such as Stevie Wonder, Richie Cannata (Billy Joel’s saxophonist), and more.
Their collaboration has led to multiple jazz evenings in La Paz, offering talented musicians from all over a chance to perform for a growing La Paz audience. Watching the crowd at L’invito and on the Malecon, it was evident that the audience was as mesmerized as I was by the performances.
Music enthusiasts of all genres have been known to share a special bond through their collective devotion to their passion. Jazz lovers are no exception, and this bond permeates deep into the community Silvia is building. Extending her hospitality beyond and staying true to the community values she stands for, Silvia transforms her home into a guest house post-event, hosting family-style meals for the musicians and the rest of the team as they unwind by the pool before their long drive back to Los Cobos.
It was during one of these casual, day-after-lazy-morning gatherings that I got to hang out with the highly respected, admired, and accomplished jazz saxophonist Doug Webb and genre-bending, versatile, and captivating vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Sonny Step.
I could go on about their accomplishments, such as Doug playing the saxophone for Lisa Simpson in the popular animated television show “The Simpsons” or Sonny sharing the stage with global superstars like Rihanna at the VMAs and Diplo at Governor’s Ball, but you already have the internet for that.
What is lesser known is Doug’s two-decade love affair with Loreto, where he and his wife own a home, or that Sonny and his band played at a botanical garden in Sinaloa as his first Mexican gig.
La Paz is just at the dawn of its musical exploration, and the city is very grateful to individuals like Silvia, Rey, Tito, and their teams for their tireless dedication and passion. To visit and connect with Silvia at L’invito for future events: Whatsapp +52 612 161 6616 or L’invito on Google Maps.
Naailah Auladin – For more on my work: www.naailahauladin.com
Naailah Auladin is a life and relationship doula in La Paz, specializing in emotional trauma, crisis management, mediation, and mental health. She focuses her writing on inspiring individuals to take responsibility and ownership in participating in their civic duties, focusing on the well-being of the self-first, as she believes that fostering and maintaining well-managed emotional, mental, and physical health is our first civic duty.