Beat Onto Jazz Festival launches 25th edition in Italy

The Beat Onto Jazz Festival opened its 25th edition on Friday, July 31, in Piazza Cattedrale, Italy, featuring the Aaron Goldberg Trio (Aaron Goldberg – piano, Joe Santoro – drums, Matt Penman – double bass). The trio presented a mix of standards, original compositions and free improvisations. The concert was followed by the Nuovo Trio Accord, which paid tribute to Astor Piazzolla with arrangements of classics such as “Adios Nonino,” “Oblivion,” and “Libertango,” accompanied by Argentine dancers.

On Tuesday, August 4, trumpeter and bandleader Pino Minafra will close the festival with “La Banda,” his 1993 project that revives the musical heritage of southern Italy. The performance will include a saxophone quartet honoring the centenary of Miles Davis and John Coltrane, a full ensemble of more than 40 musicians, guest vocal quartet Faraualla, and a reading of Franco Cassano’s text. The event highlights Minafra’s role in securing regional legislation to protect Apulian band traditions.