Serravalle Jazz 2018

A unique free jazz festival in Italy: concerts and seminars in the lovely hamlet near Pistoia

From 26 August 2018 to 29 August 2018

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From August 26th to 29th 2018 Serravalle Pistoiese will hold the 17th edition of Serravalle Jazz, one of the many events in the province of Pistoia that animate the summer. An unmissable event for all lovers of jazz, but also for those looking for an opportunity to explore this fascinating musical genre. The Jazz festival has been organized for the past several years by the Municipality of Serravalle Pistoiese, the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Pistoia and Pescia and the Promusica association following a line-up that remains fundamentally unchanged but which improves with each edition. The jazz concerts in Italy’s Serravalle, all free, take place in the suggestive location of the Rocca di Castruccio. This alone would be worth a visit, but 'filled' with melodies it becomes truly magical.

Serravalle Pistoiese is a small and picturesque village located on a hill halfway between Pistoia and Montecatini Terme. The concerts of the Serravalle jazz 2018 will start at 21.00 and, fingers crossed it won’t be needed, but in case of rain they will conveniently move indoors. During the entire duration of the Tuscany jazz event interesting seminars and meetings will be held at the Oratory of the Assumption of the Virgin, which delve into aspects and themes related to the Italy Jazz events of the various evenings. You can take advantage of the break between Serravalle jazz seminars and concerts to enjoy a tasty break: near the Rocca you can find food stalls where to taste some Tuscan delicacies. If, instead, you prefer something more intimate and characteristic, you can opt for the restaurants of the village. Enjoying the concerts of the Serravalle Jazz Festival in Italy is also made as hassle free as possible: there is a shuttle bus service that starts from the bottom of the hill in Masotti (in front of the branch of the Cassa di Risparmio) and takes you to the top of the village avoiding the obvious parking troubles. We’d recommend taking a look at the event website to discover the rich and varied Serravalle program Jazz and spot any updates.

The event, this year in its 17th edition, was born following an amazing concert performed by the Barga Jazz Big Band that presented the 'Sacred Concerts' by Duke Ellington on the occasion of the 170th anniversary of the birth of the Cassa di Risparmio di Pistoia and Pescia. So wide was the success of the evening that people began to think about repeating the experience every year. First of all, they created a sort of twinning with Barga Jazz, one of the most important Jazz events in Italy. While working on the design of the event that would offer Pistoia truly unforgettable ‘jazz Italiano’ concerts, it was decided that the fantastic Barga orchestra would perform every year on the stage of Serravalle (Pt). It was also decided that each edition would be built around a theme that would characterize the concerts and the seminar-meetings in the afternoon. The 2018 edition of one of the most anticipated Jazz events of Tuscany will focus on singing, so much so that the title is 'Ti Va di cantare’ (do you feel like singing). The inspiration comes from the 1968 edition of the Festival di Sanremo which was attended by Louis Amstrong with a song called "Mi va di Cantare", which was authored by Giorgio Bertero, Marino Marini, Aldo Valleroni and also the gastronomist Vincenzo Buonassisi. Just imagine that on that occasion the great Amstrong had not understood that he was participating in a competition and continued to play as if it were a mini-concert! It was poor Pippo Baudo who had to interrupt the master!

Also, this year in the small village in the province of Pistoia Jazz will also be master and the program is as usual full of really interesting events, starting right from the highly anticipated concert of the Barga Jazz Big Band. This year it will be directed by Mario Raia and will also see perform the great American trumpet player Jeremy Pelt. Absolutely not to be missed is the performance of Maurizio Berti, one of the most important Tuscan harmonicists, together with his Jug Band. Do you know what the Jug bands are? They were ensembles of the American lower-class tradition, often characterized by the use of self-made tools, with makeshift containers, broom handles or even boards for washing clothes. The band that will perform at Sarrevalle 2018 will give a concert where, in a unique and engaging mix, blues, country and swing will merge.

Among the jazz shows scheduled this year in Serravalle Pistoiese it is worth mentioning also the Luca Giometti Ensemble, a band directed by the great percussionist, student of Tullio de Piscopo. On the stage of Serravalle Ada Montellanico Group will also perform, one of the most beautiful voices of the Italian jazz scene, currently working on the set of a film on the great Luigi Tenco. As for the 2018 edition of the Jazz Festival Serravalle, the program will also feature Claudia Soleil (daughter of the French pianist Martial Solal) with her Quintett.

Like every year, during the final evening, the Renato Sellani Prize will be awarded in memory of the great pianist who passed away in 2014. The seminars of the Serravalle Jazz will take place at 18.00 at the Oratorio della Vergine Assunta and the speakers will be: Francesco Martinelli, jazz historian of international fame, the artistic director of the event Maurizio Tuci, and Claudio Rossini, author of a book on vocality in jazz.

Yep, the Serravalle Jazz 2018 can be really nice opportunity to spend a few days in Tuscany! In the evening you can enjoy the concerts and during the day you can visit the beautiful areas near Serravalle. We assure you that you will be spoiled for choice! You can visit the hills of Montalbano, the splendid Pistoia and treat yourself to a day of relaxation in Monsummano Terme.

We also highly recommend our 'half-day tour to Florence: guided tour of the unmissable places. By participating you will be sure not to miss any of the beauties of Florence. And you’ll be back in time for your concerts in Serravalle! We wouldn’t want you to be late and miss them! We at toscanainside.com always think of everything!