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Amidst the rhythm of the waves and palm trees of its famous Varadero Beach, Cuba kicked off its annual jazz festival on Thursday (September 6). While the event brought together international jazz musicians, Cuban Culture Minister Abel Prieto lamented the absence of U.S. artists. "At the same time, we're showing the great quantity of opportunities that are lost to lovers of Cuban jazz from the United States-- as Chucho (Valdes) insists on saying and I totally agree with him-- who could come to enjoy this moment, and even the artists to participate here in this great creative moment." The artists played in several venues throughout the Varadero beach resort, a major tourist destination. Chucho Valdes, the renown Cuban pianist and composer, remarked that the beauty of the event was the improvisational skills of the musicians. "It's the emotion of an adventure, of seeing how people who haven't worked together intertwine, how they exchange ideas, it's a beautiful musical exchange," he said. "I think one of the best and most emotional aspects of jazz is precisely this: the jam session." The festival runs through Sunday, September 9.