Serravalle Jazz 2019

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

From 25 August 2019 to 28 August 2019

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From August 25th to 28th 2019 Serravalle Pistoiese will hold the 18th 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 2019 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 Jazz program and spot any updates.

THE HYSTORY OF THE FESTIVAL

The event, this year in its 18th 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.

PROGRAMM OF SERRAVALLE JAZZ 2019

The 2019 edition of one of the most anticipated Tuscany Jazz Festivals will see the return of many musicians who have already played its mesmerizing stage. This is why ‘Sometimes they come back’ has been chosen as the title for this jazz festival in Italy in 2019. What performers are coming back to the Jazz festival in Serravalle? That’s easily answered and we will give a few A-list names: Gianluigi Trovesi, Rosa Emilia Dias, Riccardo Tesi, Piero Frassi, Rebecca Scorcelletti, Patrick Vaillant, Cocco Cantini, Nico Gori and many others!

This year again in the small village in the province of Pistoia, jazz will take centre stage and the program is as usual full of really interesting events, starting right from the highly anticipated concert of the Barga Jazz Big Band on 25 August at 21.00. This year it will be directed by Mario Raja and will also see perform the great American trumpet player Dave Douglas. Jazz lovers will not want to miss Danilo Rea! The concerts of one of the greatest Italian pianists, in fact, thanks to his impromptu, magical and impeccable execution are always guaranteed to deliver unique performances. You will be able to see him on 26 August, after Stefano ‘Cocco’ Cantini Trio consisting of Cantini and his magical saxophone together with Ares Tavolazzi (double bass) and Andrea Berinati (drums). The rich Serravalle Jazz program of 2019 continues on 28 August with two concerts: Silvia Benesperi (vocals) and Piero Frassi (piano) will be the first to play the stage at the Rocca and to enchant the audience with their polished duo. After them there will be the performance of 'Etnica Immaginaria' a formation of great artists whose concert, as their name reveals, will offer interesting ethnic influences: on the stage there will be Riccardo Tesi (accordion), Patrick Vaillant (mandolin) Andrea Piccioni (hand drums) and Gianluigi Trovesi (clarinets). The Serravalle Jazz 2019 program will come to a close on 28 August with concerts kicking off at 21.00. First on will be Arcetra Quartet with a tribute to the famous Quartetto Cetra. The honor of closing the event will be entrusted this year to Vocal Blue Trains: a singing group consisting of thirty-seven members, founded and directed by Alessandro Gerini, and Italian-Polish singer and arranger, whose performances combine the choral tones of gospel and traditional polyphony with the modern sounds of electronic and ambient-house music.

Like past years, during the final evening, the Premio Renato Sellani will be awarded in memory of the great pianist who passed away in 2014, in 2019 the award will be given to maestro Danilo Rea. A skilled instrumentalist with musical characteristics very close to those of Sellani, in forty years of solid career he has followed different musical paths that have taken him from the avant-garde of New Perigeo to collaborations with Paoli, Cocciante, Modugno, Celentano, Zero, Mannoia and Mina.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 2019 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 tour of Florence, a walk in the historic center and guided tour of the Accademia Gallery tour of Florence, a walk in the historic center and guided tour of the Accademia Gallery. 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