Skip to main content

MONTALCINO JAZZ & WINE JULY 2012, UPDATED FESTIVAL PROGRAM



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 Harrel and his quintet will be a fantastic add-on to Montalcino's 2012 Jazz&Wine. 


Concerts start at 9.45pm. Ticket price ranges from 10 to 15€ depending on the concert. If you can, come early and taste some of Banfi's Brunello, Supertuscans or sparkling wines whilst having a small bite to eat at the fortress. However make sure you bring a warm jumper and a pair of leggings to wear under that light summer dress for later in the night. It can get cold in Montalcino's fortress even in the middle of July. 

If you are having dinner somewhere else before, you may want to book a table via Montalcino's tourist office (the first rows book out quickly). However, if you can't be bothered the fortress has plenty of space if you don't mind listening to your favorite jazz musician from a bit further away. Bookings via Proloco Montalcino: +39 0577 849 331; info@prolocomontalcino.com


Popular posts from this blog

SANT'ANTIMO ABBEY - TUSCANY'S ROMANESQUE TREASURE

Sant'Antimo abbey near Montalcino You don't have to be a catholic to remain spellbound by the eternal beauty of the Sant'Antimo abbey. The Tuscan church and monastery can turn a stubborn skeptic into a reborn spiritual. At least for the time of the visit. 

SWIMMING, READING AND DINING IN BAGNO VIGNONI

Whilst  the  sell-out of tourist destination is a well known plague all through Italy, t here exists a tiny town in UNESCO Heritage Val d'Orcia which forgoes made in  China souvenirs and just opened a bookshop instead. Bagno Vignoni is one of  Tuscany's oldest tourist destinations.  In fact the historic spa town has never been anything else than a tourist destination,  and the ratio of inhabitants to visitors must always have been at least 1 to 10. Having looked after  medieval  pilgrims, ailing popes and saints ( St.  Catherine of Siena used to live here for a while),  Bagno Vignoni isn't tempted at all  to put out plastic chairs or pizza takeaways for  present day travelers.  I used to live close to Bagno Vignoni and have fond memories of chasing my first -born around the town's main square  which consists of a steaming hot  water pool (a  must-see sight for urban architects!).  Our healthy mornings were usually finished off  with a slice of fudge chocolate c

VAL D'ORCIA: A MAP OF THE UNESCO HERITAGE SITE

About 40 minutes south of Siena and a bit over an hour from the Tuscan coast, Val d'Orcia lies to the east of the Maremma and to the west of Montepulciano and Umbria. The UNESCO world heritage site is made up by the territories of Montalcino, San Quirico d'Orcia  (with historic spa town Bagno Vignoni ) , Pienza, Castiglione d'Orcia and Radicofani. The Orcia river crosses two more municipalities (Castel del Piano and my hometown Cinigiano ), where it divides the province of Siena from the province of Grosseto (Tuscany's two southernmost areas) before flowing into the Ombrone river.    View VAL D'ORCIA MAP in a larger map