Mapping MONTALCINO

Edition 22 of Montalcino Jazz & Wine will bring seven jazz concerts to Brunello town. The first two are held in the courtyard of Castello Banfi (small space, make sure to book in advance, details below), while t he concerts from July 10 to 14, 2019 will happen in Montalcino's fortress, the long-standing, spacious festival venue und the Tuscan stars.  Montalcino Jazz & Wine 2019 The incredible Dee Dee Bridgewater, a frequent guest at Umbria Jazz, will be in Montalcino this year with her new program dedicated to Josephine Baker. Another big name is Grammy award nominated Canadian saxophonist Ben Wendel (who played at the Incontri festival in Val d'Orcia a few years ago) together with Mexican drummer, singer and composer Israel Varela.  Montalcino Jazz & Wine - July  As every year, the excellent Italian jazz scene is present on several nights with Rosario Giuliano, the Flavio Boltro trio, the Roberto Gatto quartet and Dario Deidda together wi...

Montalcino Jazz & Wine, July 12 to 22, 2018 All concerts start at 9.45pm in Montalcino's fortress, apart from the pre-concert on Ju ly 12 which will take place in the courtyard of Castello Banfi.  Banfi's courtyard can get jammed, but there is always space at the fortress even if you arrive late. However, if you want a table close to the stage, be sure to make a reservation via Montalcino's tourist office.  Phone : +39 0577 849331;  email:  info@prolocomontalcino.com  

Summer Wine Notes at Castiglion del Bosco The Castiglion del Bosco winery opens the doors of its luxury estate to the north-east of Montalcino for wine tastings and Jazz concerts during the summer of 2017.  Enjoy golden hour at CdB with a glass of wine and good music or ask for a visit to the wine cellar. And if  you're not convinced by music and vino alone, you may be interested to hear that Montalcino's top luxury hotel is owned by Massimo Ferragamo and  Barack Obama played golf here during his time in Tuscany last May (he and Michelle stayed at Borgo Finocchieto not far from CdB). Summer Wine Notes: July 21 and August 18, 2017 Castiglion del Bosco winery - 7pm to 9 pm.  The tasting includes three wines - a Chardonnay and, of course, a Rosso and Brunello di Montalcino - and a buffet with Tuscan cold cuts, cheeses and starters.  Prize per person: 25€.  For details about the Jazz bands playing on the night have a look at Castiglion del Bosc...

In the summer of 1999 I arrived in Montalcino as a young Swiss woman traveling on her own. I expected beautiful views, great wines and sultry summer nights - but I had no idea that those nights would be accompanied by the soundtrack of a young and little-known Jazz festival with an incredible lineup.  Nearly two decades have passed and I'm still here, but many things have changed: I have two kids (with an Italian, of course), wrote a book  - music plays a big part in it too - about a side of Tuscany that is hardly known and Italy has been stuck for years in an economic crisis which saw harsh cuts to the funding of the country's cultural life. However, the first music festival I ever attended in Tuscany is still here and still going strong.  Founded in 1997, Montalcino Jazz & Wine celebrates its 20th anniversary this July. I'll be toasting along with lots of wine, as the week of world-class Jazz in Montalcino's medieval fortress has been making up for man...

MONTALCINO JAZZ & WINE: July 12 to July 17, 2016 All concerts take place in Montalcino's medieval fortress with the exception of the first night when the Johnny O'Neal trio will open the festival in the courtyard of Castello Banfi on July 12. Concerts start at 9.45 pm. There is always space even for late arrivers at the fortress (Fortezza di Montalcino), but come early for the gig at Castello Banfi since space is more limited at the courtyard of the Banfi winery.   Johnny O'Neal (one of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers) live in New York . 

Montalcino jazz and wine 2015 The program of the 18th edition of Montalcino Jazz & Wine brings one of my favorite Italian musicians to Brunello town on the evening of the 17th of July. Sergio Cammariere may not be known as well as Paolo Conte out of Italy, but his music will definitely be enjoyed by the fans of the latter.  The seven concerts of the 2015 festival have something for every taste: two Saudade inspired nights on the 14th and 19th of July and an evening in the footsteps of Django Reinhardt with French gypsy jazz guitarist Angelo Debarre on July 16. Debarre also offers a master class on the afternoon of July 15 (contact  marketing@banfi.it  if you'd like to participate).  For bepop lovers the highlight of the music festival in Brunello town will be the Cookers on July 18. The American members of the septet look back on half a century of jazz music played in the company of the most famous names of the genre (Art Blakey, Sony Rollins, Din...

(Looking for the program of Jazz & Wine 2015? Read on here .) Montalcino Jazz & Wine is in its 17th year and as usual the festival opens up at Castello Banfi, the initiator and main sponsor of the event. After the first two nights in the courtyard of the American Brunello winery, the concerts will take place in Montalcino's medieval fortress in the town center.  The great Danilo Perez ready to jam it in Montalcino this year Starting off with two Italian gigs at the Banfi winery, the festival works its way up to 'The Children of the Light', the trio of pianist and Grammy award winner Danilo Perez and closes with British jazz funk band Incognito.  MONTALCINO JAZZ AND WINE 2014 Courtyard of Castello Banfi (former Castello Poggio alle Mura) Aspettando il jazz - waiting for Jazz &Wine July 10 FABIO MARIANI – GIPSY THREE July 15 DEIDDA BROTHERS plus A. SRIANO e P. BISOGNO Fortress in Montalcino July 16 6 IN JAZZ -  TRIBUTE To LUCIO BATT...

Jazz and Wine - one of the main events of a summer spent in Val d'Orcia The 16th edition of my favorite festival in Italy starts with three concerts in the courtyard of Castello Poggio alle Mura, the HQ of the Banfi winery. After that the festival moves on to its traditional home, Montalcino's imposing fortress right at the entrance of Brunello town.  WAITING FOR JAZZ & WINE AT CASTELLO BANFI The flyer of this year's Jazz & Wine  shows the pianist Bill Evans absorbed in his magical play. This even though piano solo and piano trios play a minor role in the 2013 edition of the festival than in previous years. Nevertheless, the program awaits us with some great names from the Italian and international Jazz scene.  26th of June STEFANO SABATINI TRIO Stefano Sabatini - piano Luca Pirozzi - bass Pietro Iodice - drums 10th of July  PAOLO RECCHIA - T hree for Getz Paolo Recchia - alto sax  Enrico Bracco - guitar Nicola Borrelli - bass 1...

As every year Montalcino's Jazz and Wine festival takes its time with letting us know who'll be in town and who won't. So far there's only one thing set. The dates.  Be sure to book your hotel room in the week from Tuesday 16th to Sunday 21st of July 2013.  You don't make a down payment, unless you know the gig? If you're already out here in June or early July, look up the program of one of Montalcino's two twin cities when it comes to Jazz & Wine. Because, yes, Banfi and Brunello town aren't the only Italians to blend jazzy vibes with classy wines.  You know how some generations are full of Kevins and others abound with swarms of Jennifers? The same thing happens with festivals. In the 90s Italy gave birth to one Jazz & Wine festival after the other. And like the pairing of cheese and wine, the combination was meant to stay.  Montalcino's fortress: from medieval battlefield to Carnegie Hall

The flyer of the 2012 edition of Jazz & Wine is out and the attentive observer will spot a few changes to the  festival's program mentioned at the beginning of June .  As announced earlier this month the festival will be opened by American saxophonist Scott Hamilton at Castello Banfi on Tuesday 17th of July. However on Wednesday 18th of July the Israeli Avishai Cohen quartet is being replaced by an evening with Italian jazz and folk musician Nicola Stilo and his band. Flutist and pianist Stilo played with Chet Baker in the 80s, and also toured with singer/songwriter Fabrizio de André, one of the most talented and beloved musicians in Italy in the 20th century. Reggie Washington is still coming but his gig has been postponed to the 20th of July (instead of the 19th). Sadly we'll have to do without Flavio Boltro this year, but let's hope he and Avishai Cohen are on the list for the 2013 edition.  However on the 19th of July fab American trumpeter Tom Harr...

Montalcino's fortress - main venue of the Jazz & Wine festival Hurrah! Banfi has finally published a preview of the program of Montalcino Jazz & Wine 2012 ! The long wait was worth it. The collaboration between main sponsor Castello Banfi, the Roman association Jazz & Image and the council of Montalcino is in its 15th year. And as with every Tuscan summer the festival brings some of the best names in Jazz to Brunello town. Tuesday 17th of July - Scott Hamilton   American tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton will open the festival at the Banfi winery's Castello Banfi (also known as Castello Poggio alle Mura).  Wednesday 18th of July - Avishai Cohen Quartet   The first concert at Montalcino's fortress is with Avishai Cohen. The Israeli jazz bassist came to fame when Chick Chorea took him under his wing in the mid 90s. Thursday 19th of July - Reggie Washington   An evening dedicated to Funky Jazz. American acoustic an...

Surprisingly Montalcino isn't just Brunello wines, Tuscan food and beautiful views. Car races seem to become favorite weekend events in Sangiovese town. The famous Mille Miglia old-timer rally  in May whizzes through nearby Buonconvento not Montalcino, but  on the first June weekend we had the second Panda Race of history , an event surely due to emulate Mille Miglias's fame. On the second June weekend we're in for a dirt road race - they are kind of everywhere in Tuscany -  sponsored by the Castello Banfi winery .  And I thought all Banfi vintners cared for was Jazz & Wine! On a side note, the 2012 program of their Jazz festival is still not out. I start to fear that Banfi may have spent the money put aside for fab Jazz musicians on race drivers instead.  TUSCAN REWIND : June 9-10, 2012 If you care less for cars than Jazz, here's a video to kill some time whilst waiting for that program. Pianist Enrico Pieranunzi is one of the gods of...

Festival season hasn't started yet. We still have to wait for another 4 months till Montalcino's fabulous Jazz festival is ready to go. The 2012 Jazz & Wine program isn't out yet, but I'm on the heel of Banfi vintners and will have a shout out on this blog as soon as I can get them to disclose some of the big names that will make it to Montalcino this July. In the meantime Italian Jazz musician Valerio Annicchiarico is taking it up to him to open the music season. With the warm spring temperatures we are all ready to leave the house and join some life events. Restaurant La Pieve close to Banfi's Castello Poggio alle Mura provides the beautiufl location. WHERE: LA PIEVE DI POGGIO ALLE MURA WHEN: Every Friday in March WHAT:  Four evenings in the name of Jazz, wine and Tuscan cuisine.  WHO: Jazz Guitarist Valerio Annicchiarico organises the sessions at La Pieve and will play a different programme each Friday. La Pieve also of...

Hanging out in Tuscany next weekend? You are just in time then for a sleepover in Montalcino. The mother town of the world famous Brunello wine is always worth a visit, but during the next weekend with the  Festa della Musica  in full swing, things get even better. Every town square in Montalcino will stage live performances of all kind of music genres; an eclectic mix with talented locals and some big names strewn in. The one not to be missed is without doubt Riccardo del Fra, a Roman double bass player who has jammed with many of the big names in Jazz (see his  biography ) and has written the film music for Federico Fellini's Città delle Donne. This said, ambience is king, and with free live music in a stunning setting, you may want to pop in for a drink or two even if you can't make it for Riccardo's gig. View onto Montalcino