Perugia editorial team
PERUGIA – Quality of the musical offer, formula and location: here is the secret of Umbria Jazz which will return to invade Perugia from 12 to 21 July with a new cycle, in continuity with the formula of the fiftieth anniversary celebrated last year, and without ever derogating from the search for quality.
The program is a mix of big names and emerging young people, of pop stars and orthodox jazzmen, of Italian musicians and others from all over the world, of music for large spaces and more intimate situations, of free concerts (mostly) and events for a fee. The concerts are accompanied, but with equal importance, by musical teaching activities (the Berklee courses in Boston), initiatives dedicated to children (UJ4Kids) and a competition to elect the winner of the Conad Jazz Contest.
SANTA GIULIANA ARENA
The Arena Santa Giuliana is the space of rock stars: the great Lenny Kravitz, the timeless legend of Toto, the best black music of the genius Nile Rodgers with his Chic. It is also the venue for Vinicio Capossela’s inaugural concert in memory of Sergio Piazzoli, a great friend of his, ten years after the death of the promoter from Perugia.
Furthermore, a substantial selection of highly topical female voices: the English Raye, winner of six Brit Awards; Icelandic Laufey who took home a Grammy; the African Fatoumata Diawara, spokesperson for a young continent on the rise; the American jazz vocal star Veronica Swift; Lizz Wright, songwriter and singer with a voice that recalls, it has been written, “bourbon aged in wooden barrels”.
Jazz is never lacking at the Arena: the Gil Evans Alumni are on stage, for a creative remake of the great bands led by Evans, also at Umbria Jazz, in the 70s and 80s: title, “Gil Evans Remembered”; the all-star quartet Chris Potter, Brad Mehldau, John Patitucci and Jonathan Blake; Hiromi with her electrifying band Sonicwonder.
The sounds of the South American continent find space with the Cubans Roberto Fonseca and Chucho Valdés, who celebrates fifty years of history of Irakere; Brazilian star Djavan; the spectacular Pacific Mambo Orchestra.
A separate chapter is Cha Wa, heirs to the culture of the Mardi Gras Indians of New Orleans.
Finally, it is useless to introduce Richard Galliano, much loved by the Italian public, who returns with the New York Tango Trio.
The MORLACCHI THEATER
The Morlacchi theater is the venue for jazz concerts. No encroachment into other genres. It’s the part of the bill for “purist” jazz fans. Charles Lloyd, the great guru of contemporary jazz, brings his quartet which includes piano star Jason Moran. Then there are the three greatest Italian trumpeters: Enrico Rava with The Fearless Five, Paolo Fresu with the Devil Quartet, Fabrizio Bosso with the “About Ten” project, with Paolo Silvestri.
More Italian jazz with three important pianists: Alessandro Lanzoni with special guest Francesco Cafiso, a tribute to Bill Evans with Dado Moroni in trio with Eddie Gomez and Joe La Barbera, two musicians whose career was closely linked to Evans, and the solo piano by Danilo Rea. Sticking to the piano, here are two American artists of different generations such as Kenny Barron and Christian Sands, both in a trio. Something Else! it is a true celebration of the genre that went down in history as soul jazz: seven musicians led by a master like Vincent Herring.
Guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel leads a quartet of the highest artistic level, perfectly suited to contemporary jazz.
NATIONAL GALLERY OF UMBRIA
The most niche proposals are set in the National Gallery of Umbria, on the upper floors of Palazzo dei Priori: often sophisticated jazz, however original, for curious listeners. Here a real collection of pianists takes place: the American Micah Thomas, the Spaniard Marco Mezquida, and then Enrico Pieranunzi, Rita Marcotulli, Giovanni Guidi,
Franco D’Andrea, Ramberto Ciammarughi.
If it is true that jazz is the art of meeting, here are tantalizing duo partnerships: Francesco Bearzatti and Paolo Birro with a tribute to Billy Strayhorn, the French Vincent Peirani (also in a single performance) and Émile Parisien, Miguel Zenón and Luis Perdomo with “El arte del Bolero”, Gianluca Petrella and Pasquale Mirra with the unusual trombone-vibraphone-electronics formula. The billboard is completed by the trio of guitarist Eleonora Strino, the Italian-French quartet Weave4, the trio Pieranunzi – Mirabassi – Bulgarelli with the project “Racconti Mediterranei”, the transgenerational trio Eddie & The
Kids by the young guitarist Edoardo Ferri and the “veterans” Enzo Pietropaoli and Fabrizio Sferra.
A sui generis rereading of Louis Armstrong is that offered by the “My Louis” project of the trumpeter Mirco Rubegni’s quintet.
PIAZZA IV NOVEMBRE, CARDUCCI GARDENS AND COVERED MARKET TERRACE
Music for everyone, with popular genres without ever sacrificing quality and free entry. Irony, rock ‘n’ roll, swing and vintage atmospheres in the music of the very Italian Lovesick and the British Ray Gelato & The Giants, much loved by the Umbria Jazz audience. From the United States come the strong colors of Louisiana with Cha Wa, the fun soul, made to induce good humor, of Sammy Miller & The Congregation, the Detroit blues of Thornetta Davis, who inherits the charisma of the queens of the blues. Mitch Woods is a pianist with a sparkling technique who has won many prizes in the main American blues and soul competitions. His faithful Rocket 88’s accompany him.
Accordi Disaccordi are very Italian, an acoustic trio that started from the gypsy tradition to arrive at sophisticated and atmospheric music; the quartet of clarinetist Nico Gori, a true virtuoso of the instrument; the pianist and singer Lorenzo Hengeller, polite entertainer and storyteller; Sticky Bones which recall the jazz of the origins; the well-known Funk Off, the Festival’s unfailing marching band for twenty-five years. Finally, in Piazza IV Novembre, the “cultured amateurism” of the youth orchestras of universities, cultural institutions and schools, mostly American.
This is the program: Utah State University Jazz Band (Logan, Utah); University of Montana Jazz Band (Missoula, Montana); Utrechtse Student Bigband (Utrecht, Netherlands); John Hersey Jazz Band (Arlington Heights, Illinois); University of Delaware Jazz Band (Newark, Delaware); Jazz School Studio Band (Berkeley, California); Kansas University Jazz Band (Lawernce, Kansas); Antares Flare (Rotterdam, Netherlands). Another very different orchestra is the Tribunal Mist Jazz Band, whose members are lawyers and jurists. The House Band with Piero Odorici and Daniele Scannapieco is the quintet of the midnight club, also open to jam sessions. It’s late-night jazz, the ideal conclusion to a day of music.
To all this we must add the ten finalist bands of the Conad Jazz Contest and those formed by the best students of the Berklee courses.
UJ4KIDS
UJ4kids is a successful synthesis of play, culture, creativity and sociality for children and teenagers (and their families). The objective is to encourage the promotion of a musical culture and in particular the knowledge of jazz. The Umbria Jazz Foundation carries it forward with conviction, in synergy with the local educational institutions. The event takes place in the gardens of the Arena Santa Giuliana, from 14 to 21 July.
IN THE CONSERVATORY
Not just the Berklee Clinics. Umbria Jazz opens its program at the “Francesco Morlacchi” Conservatory to promote jazz at the highest levels of musical education. In this context, three concerts will take place by students and teachers of the jazz courses of the prestigious Perugian institution. The venue for the concerts, from 15 to 17 July, is the Conservatory auditorium.
THE MIDNIGHT CLUB
For some editions, Umbria Jazz has resumed what was an ancient custom: the nocturnal jam session as a beautiful conclusion to a day of music. Every self-respecting jam session starts after midnight and goes on as long as there is the desire to play.
THE PREVIEWS
Also this year, Umbria Jazz will have two special previews on Thursday 11 July. The first will be held at 6.30 pm: “UJ4Kids presents Bourbon Street at Borgobello”, the white midnight of jazz with the music schools of Perugia.
The second will be the concert of the Italian Army Musical Band which will play in Piazza IV Novembre at 9.30 pm
The work of the official poster of Umbria Jazz 2024 is “Del drawing… gold” by Gianni Dessì. The entire detailed program on the official Umbria Jazz website.
