Barga Jazz Festival celebrates 40th anniversary

The Barga Jazz Festival is celebrating its 40th anniversary with an international program of concerts and competitions. In the Barga Jazz contest, the Berlin-based Bulez Trio, featuring Daniel Shachar, Yonatan Harari, and Gili Kovesh, won the final against the Rome-based Francesco Zanotti Quartet.

During the event, saxophonist Andrea Cardone was awarded the special Luca Flores prize for best soloist. The festival schedule includes an international arrangement and composition competition for jazz orchestra at the Teatro dei Differenti, featuring the BargaJazz Orchestra directed by Mario Raja. Upcoming performances include a tribute to Stevie Wonder featuring harmonica virtuoso Grégoire Maret.

Additionally, the festival hosts ‘Enojazz’, a long-standing tradition of informal after-hours jam sessions. These sessions allow participating musicians to perform together in a less structured environment, currently held at Pub 46, fostering interaction between artists and the audience.