Every evening was electric. My husband and I were front and center, bare toes buried in the cool sands of Mexico’s shores. There’s an unstoppable energy in the air, not unlike that found walking the streets of Manhattan. Only take that throttle and kick it up a notch. Wrap it up in starlit oceanfront nights. Toss in family-, pooch- and picnic-friendly, along with a pulsating backdrop of the world’s most cutting-edge music and mind-boggling special effects. Now we’re jammin’.

The Yucatan Peninsula is host to the sizzling Riviera Maya Jazz Festival each year during Thanksgiving week

By Lisa Codianne Fowler

Published on March 14, 2011 in TravelWorld International Magazine

Music in Paradise

Each November, 14,000 “jazzophiles” make a pilgrimage to Playa del Carmen—the heart of the Riviera Maya, located just south of Cancun, Mexico—for the explosive concerts at the world-renowned Riviera Maya Jazz Festival. Living legends wow the crowds with musical performances ranging from old-school swing to hip hop and fusion.

During our visit, the festival once again featured greats from across the globe as well as several nationally known Mexican bands, among them, Narima, Malo Agua and The Royal Band, one of the country’s most popular. All are wildly creative and formidable contenders for the most sought after sounds in the international jazz scene.

But the major draw for us was being able to get up close and personal with some of our own jazz heroes: Al Jarreau, Herbie Hancock, Sergio Mendes and Spyro Gyra. We were privileged to be among the 60 journalists from around the world permitted in the roped-off press area near the stage to photograph and videotape one minute (only) from each performance, capturing some of the best national and international jazz acts of all times.

Al Jarreau opened to deafening cheers with his rendition of Elton John’s “Your Song,” ended with his classic “Take Five,” and playfully engaged the crowd throughout his set. Sergio Mendes brought down the house with an updated, hip hop version of “Mas Que Nada,” a 40-year-old mega hit reborn in a recent collaboration with Black Eyed Peas.

Pat Martino’s riffs were spot on, despite serious health issues and memory loss that forced him to re-learn the guitar mid-career. Spyro Gyra rocked with funky, urban sounds, and Herbie Hancock gave us delicious tastes of the many musical phases he’s moved through over the years.

What to Expect

The Riviera Maya Jazz Festival takes place outside on the beach at Mamita’s Beach Club. “Doors” open at 6 p.m.; the first concert begins at 7; the last usually ends at midnight. Entrance is absolutely free, and though the festival typically draws a crowd of 10 to 14,000, people are friendly and respectful of each other and the grounds. Bring a blanket, towel or chair to sit on the beach; alternately, if you arrive early enough, you can claim a table at one of two restaurants with al fresco dining. We varied our viewing venues nightly. Since the stage is built to include a super sound-system, multiple mega-screens and strategic lighting, there really isn’t a bad seat in the house.

Mi Casa es Su Casa

The evenings were magical, but so too were the days, as we simply luxuriated at Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun, an all-inclusive resort located 30 miles south of Cancun. A complimentary 40-minute shuttle ride brings guests to and from Playa del Carmen for the festival.

Most afternoons we sampled Secrets’ restaurants, shopping venues and, of course, aqueous amenities, such as the meandering pools and sun-splashed beach. Mornings began with a breakfast buffet that included everything from tamales and pancakes to green health juice and Bloody Mary cocktails. What a grand and unconventional way to spend Thanksgiving.

“Welcome Home!” We heard it a lot. The staff at the resort greeted us this way each time we entered the lobby from an off-property excursion. It always made us smile. Though one can’t help but smile, gush even, at the lavishness of this sprawling adult-only, all-suite resort.

The property certainly lives up to its moniker, “Unlimited Luxury,” featuring seven restaurants, eight bars and lounges, a fitness center, spa, tennis courts, shopping areas, an expansive waiter-attended infinity pool and 12 smaller plunge pools throughout the resort. There are themed parties, live entertainment nightly and big screen movies on the beach. Nestled between more than 500 acres of unspoiled coastal strands and lush rain forests, it retains a feeling of intimacy as well as exclusivity.

Some of the ground floor suites are “swim-out”—step from your room into the refreshing pools that wind around the grounds. Our balcony suite was slathered in marble and featured a whirlpool tub for two; net-draped, four-poster, king-sized bed; step-down sitting area; and all the amenities you would expect from a first-class resort.

We were members of the VIP club, which means we had access to the concierge room with its endless array of gourmet snacks and full bar. But you don’t have to be a VIP to find food and drink at every turn, even if it’s delivered via 24/7 room service. There’s nothing like sipping champagne on a balcony overlooking manicured gardens, lighted fountains, a white sand beach and turquoise waters. Late at night, all you hear are crashing waves. During the day, songbirds serenade.

Beyond the Festival

Few places on earth cause as much amazement as Riviera Maya. What makes the area so different from other coastlines around the world is that here you can completely escape from the outside world. It’s filled with natural wonders: ecological reserves; an emerald-green jungle, a turquoise-blue sea hugged by miles of sparkling beaches and countless lost cities of the ancient Mayan civilization.

Riviera Maya is located within the state of Quintana Roo on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. The terrain is flat and covered by low tropical jungle. Lying hidden amid the intense green is a habitat rich with indigenous flora and fauna and geological formations not found anywhere else in the world. Facing the coast is one of the largest coral reefs in the world, with colorful tropical fish and various types of coral, making the Great Mayan Reef ideal for scuba diving and snorkeling.

Our visit came to an end all too soon. My only complaint about the experience is the weight I gained, courtesy of all-inclusive Secrets Maroma Beach. Still, on a “scale” of one to five, this was a six-star stay, awash in exotic beauty, gracious people, pampered luxury, and, oh yes—all that jazz.

If You Go

* Riviera Maya Jazz Festival www.rivieramayajazzfestival.com
* Secrets Maroma Beach www.secretsresorts.com/maroma
* Riviera Maya information www.rivieramaya.com
* Visit Mexico www.visitmexico.com

Lisa Codianne Fowler is a veteran travel journalist, travel video host and travel radio co-host. She resides in sunny Sarasota, Fla., with her chef-husband and two adorable dogs.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY PATRICK FOWLER AND JUDY EBERSPAECHEN.

Reprinted from Travelworld International Magazine (c) 2011

Hideaway for the rich and famous, favorite of honeymooners, family-friendly for kids and Party Central for singles, Cabo San Lucas is a red-hot vacation spot. Perched at the southern tip of the beautiful Baja Peninsula, this vibrant resort town draws international visitors year-round.

While local Mariachi bands are a year-round treat in Riviera Maya, the area becomes a sizzling spotlight for jazz luminaries at the annual Riviera Maya Jazz Festival each November. We were among the priviledged journalists permitted to get up close and personal with the likes of Al Jarreau, Sergio Mendes, Pat Martino, Spyro Gyra and other national and international acts. We were also enthralled with our headquarters… Secrets Maroma Beach Resort; our new favorite upscale, all-inclusive respite from reality. Admittedly, the other guests were younger – mostly honeymooners. But the incredibly romantic ambiance made us feel like newlyweds.

Travel video produced by Lisa Codianne Fowler