Also this year, Milan is ready to transform itself into the Italian capital of jazz, with the ninth edition of JAZZMI. A highly anticipated event. A real point of reference for enthusiasts (and otherwise) which this year offers over 200 concerts, special projects, films and a program that seems to want to embrace every nuance of contemporary jazz. There's a month left until the start, but some of the most anticipated concerts – such as those by Pat Metheny and Murubutu – have already been sold out, confirming the public's interest in what we can now describe, without fear of contradiction, as a among the most significant in Europe.
Photo: Andrea Esposito
Since 2016, JAZZMI has aimed to explore not only the history of jazz, but also its most innovative declinations, with a program that ranges from the most mainstream proposals to the most daring and experimental ones. It is a celebration of jazz in continuous evolution, capable of being contaminated with other genres, bringing with it an increasingly varied audience. Milan, a dynamic city always projected towards the future, is therefore the ideal setting for this festival. The drive towards innovation unites both the city and the music that fills its streets during the festival.
This year's edition brings with it a list of exceptional artists. From the giants of international jazz to emerging talents. Among the most anticipated names are Kamasi Washington (who, however, due to a serious back injury, postponed the concert to Tuesday 22 April 2025), Stefano Bollani, Calibro 35, Seun Kuti, Talib Kweli, Richard Bona, Christian McBride , Moor Mother and many others. The festival will explore every corner of jazz, from the roots of the genre to the contaminations with electronic music, funk, soul and hip-hop. There will be performances that mix improvisation and tradition, such as those by Bill Frisell, the collaboration between Murubutu and the Moon Jazz Band, and the epic musical meeting between Dave Weckl and Tom Kennedy.
Photo: Andrea Esposito
JAZZMI is not limited to the city's historic jazz venues such as the Triennale Milano and the Blue Note Milano, but expands throughout the city, bringing music to symbolic theaters such as the Teatro Dal Verme, the Teatro Carcano and the Teatro Lirico Giorgio Gaber, as well as alternative spaces such as BASE Milano, Santeria Toscana 31 and BIKO Milano. Every corner of the city will be crossed by jazz in all its forms.
Among the most interesting events, there will be the Halloween musical battle between the rap rhythms of Willie Peyote and the piano of Francesco Cavestri. At the Menotti Theatre, however, a reinterpretation of the iconic album “Sketches of Spain” by Miles Davis will be staged, reinterpreted in a contemporary key by the IGalvan Company and Ponderosa Music & Art. Alcatraz is also preparing to welcome the son of the legendary Fela Kuti, Seun Kuti, accompanied by Egypt 80, for an explosion of afrobeat that promises to set the dancefloor on fire.
Photo: Andrea Esposito
Furthermore, the ninth edition of JAZZMI will also offer a series of original productions, specifically created for the festival. Among these, the meeting between Stefano Bollani and the Finnish musician Iiro Rantala, in an event that promises to be rich in contamination and experimentation. There will also be space for the screening of an unpublished documentary film, “BEAT”, which will explore the behind the scenes of the festival and offer an intimate look at the lives of the artists protagonists of the last edition, with testimonies from great masters such as Gilberto Gil, Paolo Fresu, and rising stars like Samara Joy.
This year too, the festival pays particular attention to young talents and new trends. The JAZZDESIGNJAZZ contest, dedicated to jazz musicians under 40, will allow the finalists to perform alongside icons such as Enrico Rava, Tullio De Piscopo and Enrico Intra, offering a highly visible platform to emerging musicians. Volvo Studio Milano, partner of the festival, will be the setting for some of these performances, with artists such as British star Sophie Faith ready to bring her refined soul to the heart of Milan.
Even for 2024, in short, if you love jazz music or if you are interested in understanding the evolution of a genre that has always been dedicated to the search for sound, JAZZMI 2024 is the event not to be missed.
