The inflatable flowers scattered across Anderson Park on the campus of the Aspen Ideas Festival were part of a zero waste initiative. Created by the Australian artist Cj Hendry, Bloom is a cross-section of Hendry's ongoing exploration of botanicals and inflatables. Whimsical and naturally beautiful, this landscape is the perfect complement to the brilliant Afro-Cuban singer Daymé Arocena. A dynamic performer con carisma y fuerza, her ebullient personality and performance shines brightly even under the hot Aspen sun.
Embellished by vocalists Ayme Canto and Hilaria Cacao, who takes a tenacious trombone solo in the first tune, their ensemble is exquisite despite. Arocena then performs three powerful solo arrangements, including two passionate blues compositions: "Mean," written when she was just 15 years old, followed by "Coda" written earlier this year.
SET LIST
- "American Boy"
 - "Amor de Invierno"
 - "Mean"
 - "Coda"
 
MUSICIANS
- Daymé Arocena: vocals, keys
 - Ayme Canto: background vocals
 - Hilaria Cacao: trombone, background vocals
 
PRODUCTION TEAM
- Director: Mito Habe-Evans
 - Editors: Annabel Edwards, Michael Zamora
 - Videographers: Mito Habe-Evans, Nickolai Hammar, Ryan Lohr, Will Sardinsky
 - Audio Engineer: Neil Tevault
 - Post-Production Coordinator: Tsering Bista
 - Senior Producer, Aspen Institute: Ava Hartmann
 - Program Associate, Aspen Institute: Jacqueline Olivas-Sison
 - Festival Director: Graham Veysey
 - Supervising Editor: Becky Lettenberger
 - Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
 
SPECIAL THANKS
- Jaidyn Hurst
 - Ben James
 - Sylvie Labalme
 - Samuel Lasater
 - Matt Windholz
 - Keith Jenkins
 
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