The Siena Jazz International Summer Workshop returns to the Medici Fortress from 24 July to 6 August
Return the Siena Jazz International Summer Workshop, the most representative annual artistic event of the Sienese Academy’s programming. As well as the course that historically began the entire activity of Siena Jazz, starting from 1977 until today. The 2024 edition will be held on the premises of Siena Jazz at the Medici Fortress from 24 July to 6 August.
The 54th edition, presented this morning in the Sassoli Media Center at Palazzo del Pegaso, is dedicated to Franco Caroni, historic founder of the Academy, who passed away last January. The intensive course, lasting almost two weeks, sold out the available places in 6 weeks, reaching a record number of registrations. 14 instrument and ensemble music classes already complete that lead to Siena, 28 internationally renowned teachers made up of first-rate musicians not only Italian and European, but also from the United States. Over 90 students from all over the world. The seminar is also characterized by the presence of musicians belonging to different generations.
“Siena Jazz it is an international reference for jazz and all music. For improvement and high qualification”. He said Stefano Scaramelli, vice-president of the Regional Council. “A reality that has been promoting Italian jazz in Europe and around the world since 1977. Contributing to confirming Tuscany, and in particular Siena, as a land that cultivates, stimulates and encourages creativity.”
“The International Summer Workshop, Siena Jazz will once again place itself at the center of the musical panorama of the Tuscan summer. Attracting students and famous jazz musicians from all over the world.” The regional councilor underlined Anna Paris. “I am sure that the rich program will give fans unique and high-level concerts. I believe it was right to dedicate this year’s edition to Franco Caroni. Franco spent a lifetime for Siena Jazz, today considered among the best Italian schools.”
He intervenes on the event Nicoletta Fabio mayor of Siena. “I am happy to be here today and to celebrate, about a year later, my first success as mayor in office. That is, having managed, by listening and respecting this institution, to bring together all the components of one of the most important realities of the international jazz music scene.”
The councilor for subsidiaries of the Municipality of Siena, Enrico Tucci declares. “I thank the regional administration for hosting the presentation of this important initiative. In fact, the municipality of Siena is very close to Siena Jazz and sponsors all its activities, as an international institution”.
For the president of Siena Jazz, Massimo Mazzini. “This year too, the historic Siena Jazz International Summer Workshop event confirms its international dimension. Prestigious event for musicians and enthusiasts of the sector from all over the world. For years the Sienese Seminars have been an emblem of artistic comparison and educational excellence. But also of cultural development and tourist valorisation for the Siena area and the Tuscany region, thanks to their ability to attract talents, musicians and enthusiasts. This edition validates the relaunch and development path that Siena Jazz, thanks to the closeness of the municipal administration, has undertaken in recent months and which will certainly lead to new prestigious goals.”
Jacopo Guidi, which takes care of the artistic and educational direction of Siena Jazz. “We sincerely thank the Tuscany Region for giving us the precious opportunity to present the new edition of the International Summer Workshop ’24 which, given the number of participants and the enthusiasm already shown by the professionals, promises to be a great success.”
The intensive course lasting almost 2 weeks which opened for registration in the last days of March 2024, ran out of available places in 6 weeks. Reaching a new and historic record of registrations. The 14 instrument and ensemble music classes already complete this year bring to Siena, as well as 28 internationally renowned teachers, 90 students from all over the world.
Point of reference for students of high quality profile, who aim for an in-depth training aimed at a musical career, theInternational Summer Workshop it is at the same time a moment dedicated to all fans of this music. Over the years the level of the event has grown. To the point that each edition now represents a new challenge to surpass the results already achieved. The need to always be updated thus becomes an indispensable condition for proposing new languages and projects capable of significantly impacting the skills and professionalism of the new musicians who will appear on the scene tomorrow.
From this perspective, the 54th edition of the international seminar is characterized by the presence of teachers coming not only from the United States, but also from first-rate Italian and European musicians. As per the tradition of recent years, the presence of musicians belonging to different generations, which unites the great names of international jazz with the very important exponents of the new scene, keeps a peculiarity of this genre alive. Giving strength to the process of constant renewal that has historically allowed the evolution of jazz for over 100 years.
The staff is designed to make the most of the individual characteristics and stylistic features of the individual musicians. But also the musical affinities expressed by shared projects, the result of numerous collaborations that they have developed over the years. The other central aspect, which has now become tradition since the latest editions, is represented by the presence of musicians belonging to different generations. The synergy between the big names of international jazz and those who are today the leading exponents of the new scene keeps a peculiarity of this artistic genre alive. And it gives strength to the process of constant renewal that has historically allowed the evolution of jazz for over 100 years.
A symbolic musical bridge that unites Europe and the 2 parts of the Atlantic Ocean. Which brings together different and often distant generations and musical approaches to create a joint original project. This will be the final result. Which will also be reflected on a performance level in the 10 main concerts scheduled for this edition. Musicians coming from different experiences, who in some cases share the stage for the first time, will give life to unique performances of their kind. Proposing repertoires made up of reinterpretations of traditional jazz classics, original pieces of the individual elements and impromptu improvisations.
The opening concert will, as per tradition, be entrusted to the SJU orchestra. Orchestra of 23 elements directed by Maestro Roberto Spadoni and assisted by international guests as soloists, on 26 and 27 July. On August 1st and 2nd they will subsequently be staged Siena Jazz Masters who will see a vast range of musicians together on stage. From the duo of Theo Bleckmann and Harmen Fraanje, to the quartet of Danish guitarist Lage Lund supported by Ofri Nehemya on drums. From the post-bop quintet of Miguel Zenon, Avishai Cohen, Aaron Parks, Joe Sanders and Jeremy Dutton, to the Italian-French trio Oliphantre. Passing through the quartet of the award-winning saxophonist Melissa Aldana and the avant-garde New Yorkers Jen Shyu, Miles Okazaki and Dan Weiss.
Like every year, there will also be opportunities to see students and teachers of the courses together in the dimension of the jam session and the recitals of the ensemble music groups that will be held in the Contrade of Siena. As well as the original projects specifically selected for the occasion at the opening and closing of the event, which will alternate Front of the pianist
Simone Graziano with guest Ben Van Gelder, and the training of students from academic courses directed by trumpeter Alex Sipiagin, on July 31st and August 6th respectively.
Also for 2024, the concert activities of the seminar allow important collaborations and partnerships with as many festivals and summer jazz events at a national level. This year Siena Jazz, in addition to maintaining the consolidated collaboration with Pisa Jazz, the festival in which the SJU -Orchestra with a tribute to the legendary saxophonist Wayne Shorter, will also be the artistic partner of Riccione Summer Jazz, a new container that will inaugurate next July. As well as 2 concerts in the context of the “Giardino per Tutti” event which establishes a collaboration with the Municipality of Ferrara, which co-produces the event. Furthermore, starting from this edition, some new features are introduced regarding support for students but also for teachers themselves.
In fact, the partnership with the Villa Flora Foundation was established, which supports students in financial difficulty. It will financially support 2 students by making the same number of scholarships available.
It will also be an opportunity to remember Franco Caroni, with the introduction of a prize for teachers and a scholarship for students. At the instigation of the previous President of the Academy, ANCE Siena (National Association of Building Contractors), he has in fact established and will finance the Franco Caroni Award. Each year it will be assigned to 2 teachers of the academic courses, specifically one over and one under 35 years of age. Always dedicated to the historic founder of the Academy, Siena Jazz will introduce, starting from this edition, a scholarship for attending the international seminar. It will be assigned specifically to students of bass and double bass, an instrument to which Caroni has dedicated a lifetime of study.
