The event, over the years asserts on a regional level as one of the most innovative ones and on a national and international level as a unique event of its kind created to give space to young artists and to a more contemporary jazz. Young Jazz is the only “young” festival that can count on an important following and an always amazing audience response (about 8,000 people in the last edition).

It is not by chance that for the fifth consecutive year, also the Umbria Jazz Foundation gave its sponsorship to the event in Foligno. This year the relation between Young Jazz and the important and famous jazz festival in Perugia strengthens even more: this collaboration reserves other surprises inside the 2013 Umbria Jazz Festival taking place in Perugia from July 5th to July 14th.

Moreover, the next edition of the Young Jazz Festival will be the occasion to restart an old collaboration that the festival had already uptaken in the past with the Norwegian Embassy. This time an entire day, the “Norwegian Day” will be dedicated to this country with artists from Norway and with some tastings of typical products. It will take place on May 24th with concerts by Bjorn Torske, Steinar Raknes, Arve Henriksen, Jan Bang Duo, Sidsel Endresen, Erik Honorè Trio.

Backing up this “focus” on the new jazz from Norway the classic program with concerts by artists such as Cristiano Arcelli Quartet (May 23rd at 06:30pm, court Palazzo Deli), Guano Padano (May 23rd at 09:30pm, court Palazzo Trinci), Mauro Ottolini & Trio Marrano (a tribute to the 100th Anniversary of Gori Kramer on May 23rd at 11:00pm, Taverna Ammaniti), Rainer Davies Trio (May 25th at noon, Taverna Ammaniti), Dinamitri Jazz Folklore (May 25th at 11:00pm, Piazza Don Minzoni). Also this year the street band performing along the streets of the historical center of Foligno: protagonist will be the P-Funking Band (May 25th, Parco dei Canapé at 04:00pm and at the Center at 06:00pm).

Artistic director of Young Jazz is still Giovanni Guidi, young piano player from Foligno who is more and more inserted in the Olympus of the great, not only Italian, jazz pianists. He is also member of the Young Jazz Association. After the great music, Foligno and its locations will be the other great protagonists of the festival, organized by the cultural Association Young Jazz with the sponsorship and support not only by Umbria Jazz and the Embassy of Norway, but also by the Region Umbria, Province of Perugia, Municipality of Foligno, Chamber of Commerce of Perugia, Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio of Foligno and Afam.

For the occasion, streets, courts, places, auditorium, taverns and shops will dress for the festivity. As locations for Young Jazz already successful spaces such as the Auditorium San Domenico, the Taverna Rione Ammaniti, the Court of Palazzo Trinci, Piazza Don Minzoni, the Court of Palazzo Deli, the Canapé Park and also the wine bar Dieci & Dieci, especially with its “YJ Feeling” (Aperitifs in Jazz).

In addition to maintaining the features of “young jazz” that allow the Festival to establish as a peculiarity of great interest in Italy and abroad, the event’s aim is also for the 2013 edition to repeat, but also develop, all the projects created during the last years.

To carry on the fundamental interaction built together with the social and commercial partner of the territory, Young Jazz has strongly researched also the generation of collateral activities inside the festival, remarking the importance of socio-cultural and recreational events for the city that host and sustain the festival each year. From here two “sections” mostly aimed to the city of Foligno arise: “Jazz Community” and “Jazz Zone”.

“Jazz Community” is created to not forget the social contents giving space to disability and integration, with jazz that becomes the music that unites and give voice to all the community. For its third year “jazz della comunità”, jazz of the community will be focused on physical disability, through the concert of the Liberorchestra (May 25th at 09:30pm, Auditorium San Domenico), and mental disability, thanks to the theater performance by the Giezzisti 2.0 (May 22nd at 09:00pm, Auditorium San Domenico). In this way Young Jazz confirms itself as one of the few festivals, if not the only one, that offers such initiatives that address to the more underprivileged and often excluded by society categories. A special attention will be paid to children, with interaction and integration between Italian and foreign kids at the Parco dei Canapè – through “spring games” promoted by the Municipality of Foligno – with Spring Jazz with the P-Funkin

The second section, “Jazz Zone”, aims to the construction of synergies between the musical activities of the festival and the commercial ones in Foligno’s historical center, especially in the streets of the Festival’s locations. A project that enriches the former “Via del jazz”, the Jazz Streets and that give the possibility to have free pass/season ticket and free tickets for the concerts to those who buy in the shops in Via Gramsci (via del jazz) and the surrounding area, adhering to the initiative (point collection and sales receipt from May 2nd to May 21st). Not to forget the yearly meeting between festival and the event “Cantine Aperte”, open wine-cellars: even this year “Jazz in Cantina”, on the last day of the festival on Sunday May 26th. For the occasion the winery Scacciadiavoli of Montefalco will host the concert by the band Jellico.

With a billboard of striking appointments and original initiatives, Young Jazz combines concerts with the esteem of the excellences of the territory, to promote even more the meeting between music, cultural heritage, art and food and wine: thanks to the guided visits at the museums of the area (Foligno, Spello, Montefalco, Trevi), with tickets at promotional prices for those showing a Young Jazz concert ticket, to the “Jazz Tour” packages (with the aim to promote a “going to jazz” tourism that starting from 89 Euros includes an overnight stay, tickets for two concerts, an entrance ticket at the museum, a guided visit with tasting at a winery, one jazz lunch and one jazz dinner).

There will be also a rest stop, “Osteria delle 7 spighe”, designed in collaboration with the Antifestival in Trevi to enhance and promote the products of the territory, rigorously at “km zero”. All this at the Tavern of the Rione Ammaniti, one of the ten Taverns of the famous Giostra della Quintana and symbol location of Foligno. Here it will be possible to taste typical products and listen to jazz every evening of the festival with dj sets, evening concerts and jam sessions by young artists till late.

On Friday May 24th also an Intensive Workshop looked after by professor Sandro Paradisi in “Show Business Legislation” (inscription till May 21st – info line: +39 328 728 81 08).

Last but not least space to the exhibition “It’s a jungle in here” (militant and beyond graphic works) that will open on Wednesday May 22nd at the Palazzo Candiotti at 05:30 pm, looked after by Francesca Briganti. The works in exhibition are by Andrea Pinchi and take inspiration by an album of the American jazz band Medesky Martin & Wood.

Tickets for the concerts available online on www.youngjazz.it.

Ticket prices: Guano Padano (10 Euros), Mauro Ottolini (5 Euros), Arve Henriksen/Jang Bang Duo + Sidsel Endresen/Jang Bang/Erik Honorè Trio (10 Euros), Bjorn Torse Dj set (5 Euros), Rainer Davies Trio (5 Euros), Giezzisti 2.0 and Liberorchestra (10 Euros, both not included in the season ticket).

Free Pass/Season Ticket for 20 Euros (15 Euros for under 18),

(3rd May 2013)

Info: www.youngjazz.it

Over the years this festival has been certainly changing, but not in its spirit and identity, which together with the quality of the artistic proposal have made the luck of the festival. A festival that supports the trend embarked some years ago: music all around for everybody but with a soul that goes hand in hand with jazz and the history of this extraordinary music.

To confirm this, the billboard was also changed, trying to outline the different kinds of music, presenting not only jazz in its manifold expressions, but also a musical proposal that includes pop, soul, blues and experimental. On the stages of Umbria Jazz 2012 will interchange famous artists and young coming-up artists, icons and monuments of music, jazzmen with absolutely innovative and fascinating projects.

The main location continues to be the Arena Santa Giuliana, where the big names will perform, and the Morlacchi Theater, dedicated to more classical jazz. Absolute novelty will be the concerts at the Palazzo della Penna, in collaboration with Young Jazz and the Municipality of Foligno, a comeback is the National Gallery of Umbria, at the Sala Podiani, with the concerts “Jazz goes to the Museum”.

The possibility to combine good music and good food with Jazz Aperitifs, Jazz Lunch and Jazz Dinner at the Bottega del Vino and the Restaurant La Taverna.

And then the outdoor spaces free to the public in Piazza IV Novembre and Giardini Carducci. This is the Umbria Jazz that represents continuity with the past, a dutiful tribute to the formula that has made it famous in the world of show business. Last but not least, impossible to miss, the Street Parade.

The miracle of Umbria Jazz is to have created a very popular crowd pulling event, of great numbers and of great success, immersed in a very special atmosphere, which has no equal in the whole world and which makes it unique and unrepeatable.

The “Evening Concerts” at the Arena Santa Giuliana

In particular, the schedule of the Arena Santa Giuliana is a real festival inside the festival: there have never been so many different music genres and artists at Umbria Jazz like this year, so everyone´s music “gusto” will be fulfilled, for an event inside an event. And all under the sign of the quality that Umbria Jazz proposes since 1973 to the audience.

It will be Diana Krall, who right at Umbria Jazz had her career debut, when the blond singer from Canada was still a promising pianist and jazz singer devoted to the crooner tradition of Nat King Cole, to open on July 5th at the Arena Santa Giuliana the 40th anniversary  with her first Italian concert. Diana Krall will present her latest album “Glad Rag Doll”, produced by T-Bone Burnett. An exhilarating and adventurous explosion of new sounds, new instrumentations and new musicians.

Sonny Rollins making his sole Italian appearance on July 6th. With him on stage two excellent guest stars: Enrico Rava and Paolo Fresu. Rollins, born 1930 in New York, a jazz legend, confirms that he is with no doubt a true living icon with a career that spans more than sixty years and that made him meet all legendary jazz musicians beginning from the be-bop era such as Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Bud Powell or Dizzy Gillespie. The sound of his tenor sax is unique and inimitable.

Back at Umbria Jazz one of the world’s best piano players: Keith Jarrett. A unique event on July 7th to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Umbria Jazz and 30 years of the trio with bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Jack DeJohnette.

Debut at Umbria Jazz for one of the most acclaimed names of soul music of the United States: John Legend, on Monday July 8th. Writer, great musician and arranger, his elegant and old fashion style is much appreciated by the audience and by critics, because he is one of the few, who are able to join the old school soul feelings with the harsh taste of Hip Hop and modern R&B.

Not to miss the “Italian” evening, on July 9th at the Arena Santa Giuliana, where on stage there will be the Mediterranean pop, with its strong shades of blues and soul, of Pino Daniele and Mario Biondi, with his unmistakable warm, sensual and absolutely unique voice.

Dee Dee Bridgewater and Ramsey Lewis propose on Wednesday July 10th a musical journey without time and defined musical genres: when soul was jazz and jazz was soul, and radio played just about everything that was good, no matter what the genres. To open the concert Simona Molinari and Peter Cincotti, accompanied by the historical guitar of Franco Cerri.

On Thursday July 11th Wynton Marsalis with his Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra returns to Umbria Jazz after his exhibition in 2009. Special guest are two extraordinary voices, the one of Cecile McLorin Salvant, the new great promise of female voices and Gregory Porter, returning from his amazing success in Orvieto at the last edition of Umbria Jazz Winter.

On July 12th the highlight of the jazz (and not only) season:  an exclusive one-night only concert of  Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea’s piano duet. Umbria Jazz has gone after this event, that reunites two of the greatest artists of the blacks and whites, for a long time and thank Chick and Herbie, who accepted the invitation to the edition that celebrates the 40th anniversary of Umbria Jazz.

On Saturday July 13th the meeting of jazz and classic: Stefano Bollani and the Orchestra of Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. The musical program is dedicated to the music of Bernstein, Ravel and Gershwin, but extra surprises are not excluded for an evening outside the ordinary.

The closing evening of Umbria Jazz 13 on July 14th is entirely dedicated to Brazil: a homage to a land that is rich in fascination and contradictions and that originated great music and interpreters such as Gal Costa and Gilberto Gil.

(11th May 2013)

Info: www.umbriajazz.com