PESCARA. Eleven evenings, 19 concerts, two locations and many internationally renowned musicians ready to make Pescara resonate with the best jazz music. The Adriatic capital is preparing to welcome the 52nd edition of “Pescara Jazz”, the event promoted by the Pescaresi Events Authority, with the support of the Ministry of Culture, the Abruzzo Region and the Municipality of Pescara, scheduled from 10 to 21 July.
FESTIVAL. The event, which as per tradition features the best artists on the world scene, without however neglecting the new promises of jazz, passing through established artists from Abruzzo, was presented yesterday by the artistic director Angelo Valori, by the president of the Pescaresi Events Authority, Valter Meale , by the mayor Carlo Masci and by Gianni Taucci, president of the Marina di Pescara which will host many evenings this summer. Following the unavailability of the Flaiano Theatre, in fact, the 2024 edition of Pescara Jazz will be staged at the tourist port, which will host almost all the concerts, except for two events scheduled at the Teatro Massimo.
«We have created a kaleidoscopic festival», highlights Valori, «during which, even if there will be no pop contamination, we will certainly have many beautiful surprises, with stars on the world scene but also rising stars of jazz». President Meale was also satisfied and recalled how Pescara Jazz, founded in 1969, was the first in Italy and one of the first in Europe dedicated precisely to this musical genre and is still active today, with growing public success every year.
MARINA. It starts on July 10th with a double date: Bokantè, Michael League group, leader of Snarky Puppy, shared with his two bandmates Chris McQueen and Bob Lanzetti, and Malika Tirolien, eight musicians from four different continents who will then leave the stage at the Ada Montellanico Quintetto, with guest Giovanni Falzone presenting his new project “Canto Proibito”. On Thursday 11 July, the arena will resonate with the music of the quartet of Abruzzo guitarist Franco Finucci with guest Rosario Giuliani on sax. Followed by the Fusion Project of guitarist Fabio Mariani. On July 12th, Nausica, a dialogue between the two musicians Simona Severini and Jacopo Ferrazza, and then the Cuban group, The Real Project Cuba. On July 13th, the Abruzzo native Marcello Di Leonardo will present his first recording project as a leader, “The Magic Box”, accompanied by saxophonist Rick Margitza. Following, Khalab returns to the stage in live band formation. On July 16th, there will be space for African-American jazz drummer Hamid Drake with the concert “Turiya: Honoring Alice Coltrane”, dedicated to one of the symbols of music without borders. On July 17th we continue with the Chiara Civello band, followed by the drummer Amedeo Ariano with a band made up of some of the most interesting Italian musicians.
On July 19th it will be the turn of Matteo Mancuso, one of the brightest stars of the new guitar scene and, following, the American drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, also appreciated for her social commitment in favor of women. On July 20th, the protagonist of the Arena will be the young Brazilian pianist Amaro Freitas, followed by Flavio Boltro and Simone Sala Double Drums Sextet. Closing the 2024 edition, on July 21, will be Lakecia Benjamin who, with three nominations for the Grammy Awards, is one of the new international stars of jazz, with traditional sounds and a blend of hip hop, soul, R&B, funk. Alongside her, Oscar Perez, Elias Bailey and EJ Strickland.
MASSIMO THEATER. There will be two evenings of Pescara Jazz hosted by the Teatro Massimo. The first, on 15 July, will see an original production by Pescara Jazz take the stage, Take 6, an extraordinary vocal group that has revolutionized the way of singing a cappella, meet the Medit Orchestra directed by Angelo Valori. On July 18th, however, the first to take the stage will be Mark Lettieri, one of the most acclaimed guitarists of the new generation and member of Snarky Puppy. Following, space for Terence Blanchard E-Collective & Atom String Quartet. The American artist is one of the most prominent and acclaimed trumpeters in jazz today, also as a composer of soundtracks: his music for Spike Lee’s film, Blackkklansman, in fact, was awarded a Grammy and a Oscar nomination.
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