We have arrived at the nine edition of the Tuscia in Jazz Festival. Other than the change in name, we have also changed the venue, moving to a stable home in the pearl of the monti cimini, Soriano nel Cimino. The festival has been strongly supported by the local administration of Soriano and it now returns to the piazze of the centro storico and thanks to their continued support, all the concerts are free. Born in Ronciglione in 2002 as Ronciglione Jazz, it was obvious after the first few years that the festival needed an international name. Now considered one of the most important jazz festivals in Europe, it is proud of its patrons including: Ministero dei Bene Culturali Regione Lazio, Fondazione Carivit, Provincia di Viterbo, Camera di Commercio e Comunità Montana dei Cimini. We add to these patrons, our regular international sponsors: MSC Crociere e Warsteiner Beer, and finance organizations like Carivit. Today with its new name Tuscia in Jazz, the Festival has become a product of ‘Tuscia’ and an important vehicle for the worldwide promotion of this beautiful zone with its Etruscan roots, Roman history, mediaeval hill towns and unspoiled lakes and forests. This year from 18 July through 9 August Soriano del Cimino will become one of the world Jazz capitals and for these 20 days artists from all over the world will be performing on its stage, International and European premieres to delight both passionate Jazz followers and newcomers to this great 19th century genre.
The Tuscia in Jazz Festival has integrated within it the ‘Jimmy Woode Award’ created in collaboration with the daughter of Duke Ellington’s double bass player who died only recently. Aimed at young jazz musicians under 30 years of age, it was always planned to become one of the most important awards worldwide. The winners of the last edition is Karim Blal Trio (Italy).
The Tuscia in Jazz workshops are the opportunity for young players from all over Europe and beyond to deepen their knowledge and experience of jazz in a rich and stimulating international musical environment. For 2010 we have engaged teachers of the highest calibre including Dave Libeman, Flavio Boltro, Antonio Sanchez, Shawnn Monteiro, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Eddy Gomez,Tony Monaco, Dado Moroni, Giorgio Rosciglione, Gege Munari, Karl Potter, Pippo Matino, Eddy Palermo (for more info visit www.tusciainjazz.it ). The success achieved in previous years and the presence of great teachers has given the workshops the reputation of being the most important in Europe.
Tuscia in Jazz Tour 2010, developed in collaboration with Regione Lazio e Provincia di Viterbo, plans to export from Tuscia the success achieved by the festival. It has been conceived with the scope of creating a larger cultural reach which will enable the ongoing international development of this important cultural activity. The local commune interested in the Tour are: Soriano nel Cimino, Vetralla, Nepi, Monterosi, Vitorchiano, Vasanello e Ronciglione.
‘Tuscia in Jazz Jam Sessions’ are incredible jam sessions, open to all who turn up anytime during the festival at the lovely Birreria di Soriano nel Cimino from midnight until dawn. Unexpected and unplanned contributions from top international players have made this a festival within the festival, and not to be missed. Italian Jazz is the week dedicated to Italian jazz and the most important and established Italian players and the best new arrivals on the Italian jazz scene.
New and a great success in 2007 was the ‘Notte in Jazz’. This great Italian tradition of a ‘Notte Bianca’, (literally a white or sleepless night) is dedicated to jazz with a rich offering of 35 concerts staged in and around the mediaeval centre with shops, market stalls and other entertainment open, organised by the traders and associations of Soriano nel Cimino, the Proloco and naturally the Comune. Soriano is a town with a rich and ongoing tradition of ancient sacred processions, it stages the famous sagra della castagna every Autumn. The opening of the ‘Notte in Jazz’ will be trusted to the members of the ancient organisation responsible for the sagra.