Nestling along the Adriatic coast of the South of Italy, Bari is a city where history, culture, and creativity come alive - making it the perfect destination for our annual gathering.
A port city at the heart of the Mediterranean, Bari has a long history of hosting and welcoming individuals, demonstrating hospitality and solidarity during various periods of migration. As a gateway to Europe, the city has received refugees from diverse regions, showcasing the openness and generosity of its local community. This unique cultural and historical context makes Bari an ideal location for addressing the theme of this year’s conference: the positive contribution that migrants - and global movements of people - have played in the development of culture and diversity, and the vital role that culture must play in tackling the present societal challenges. The conference’s title, “Somewhere Called Home”, inspired by Norma Winstone’s 1987 ECM album, captures this theme, reflecting the universal search for belonging, and the profound connections that music can create.
The theme for the 2025 edition highlights the transformative potential of cultural initiatives in addressing pressing global challenges. It aims to inspire action, reaffirm our shared human values, and demonstrate how arts and culture can foster inclusion, solidarity, and resilience within diverse societies. Creative music - and jazz in particular - offers a powerful example of how we can build thriving communities based on our shared values, while helping us understand and navigate the complex dynamics now present in Europe, and the world at large
Co-organised by the Europe Jazz Network in collaboration with EJN member Puglia Sounds, the project of Puglia Culture promoted by the Puglia Region, the European Jazz Conference is a leading event for jazz professionals from across Europe, and beyond.
We warmly welcome you to Bari, and to the European Jazz Conference 2025. Together, let's continue to inspire, innovate, and grow the vibrant world of jazz and creative music in Europe!
PROGRAMME
Thursday, 25 September 2025
- FOR EJN MEMBERS ONLY -
13:00 - 20:30 Registrations for EJN members Kursaal Foyer
15:00 - 15:50 Welcome session for new members and ‘30 under 30’ Kursaal Galleria
16:00 - 17:15 Presentation of the EJN activities and general discussion Kursaal Sala Teatro
17:15 - 17:45 Coffee break Bar La Biglietteria
18:00 - 20:30 FORMAL EJN GENERAL ASSEMBLY Kursaal Sala Teatro
- OPEN TO ALL -
21:30 - 00:00 FRINGE festival: Street concerts by students of Niccolò Piccinni Conservatory & Pentagramma music school City Centre
Concerts and performances by young and emerging jazz musicians, nurtured in conservatories, music schools, workshops and clubs, will take place across the old town and Murat district of the city. The event highlights Bari’s role as a cultural hub connecting the Mediterranean and Europe through music and dialogue.
Friday, 26 September 2026
09:30 - 13:00 Registrations for everybody Teatro Piccinni Foyer
10:30 - 11:00 Official opening and welcome speeches Teatro Piccinni
11:00 - 11:20 KEYNOTE SPEECH: Nabil Bey Salameh “Home in the In-Between” (speech in Italian with on-screen translation in English) Teatro Piccinni
A poetic and political journey in search of what “home” means for those who live between worlds. Drawing on his personal experience as a Palestinian migrant artist, Nabil Bey weaves together reflections on music, migration, and the Mediterranean as a shared space - to speak about life “in the in-between,”
that liminal space between languages, cultures, and memories. This keynote explores the power of music - and jazz in particular - as a language of resistance, restoration, and reconciliation in a time marked by war, exclusion, and dehumanisation. It is an invitation to imagine and build a new kind of home: open, plural, and rooted in listening.
11:30 - 12:30 PANEL DEBATE: Sounds of Home - Can music help overcome fear and division in our societies? Teatro Piccinni
In an era of extreme polarisation, increasing division and hostility toward the "other," can music truly foster a sense of belonging and break down barriers? This panel debate brings together artists, promoters, and researchers to explore the power of music, and in particular of jazz and other creative music, in shaping inclusive societies. Can it counter stereotypes, challenge hostility toward migrants, and inspire genuine connections? Or is the idea of music as a tool for social change just an oversimplified and idealistic narrative? Join us as we debate the real impact, challenges, and potential of music in building bridges across cultures and in creating more open and just societies.
Moderator: Anna Umbima (writer and broadcaster, UK)
12:40 - 13:10 SHOWCASE: Camilla Battaglia ‘ELEkTRA’ Teatro Piccinni
13:30 - 14:30 Lunch Mövenpick hotel
14:30 - 19:00 Late registrations Castello Svevo Entrance
15:00 - 16:30 Five parallel DISCUSSION GROUPS Castello Svevo
#1 - Embracing cultural entrepreneurship to future-proof our organisations Sala Conferenze
As public and traditional funding models become less reliable, embracing cultural entrepreneurship is increasingly a path that can help ensure the sustainability of our organisations. This session will explore how entrepreneurial thinking can help festivals, venues, and cultural operators become more financially resilient. From collaborations with innovators and startups, to alternative financing models, participants will examine practical examples from other cultural sectors and discuss how to fundraise and foster public-private partnerships tailored to the jazz and creative music field.
Speaker: Gökçe Dervişoğlu Okandan (academic & cultural policy expert, Türkiye)
Moderator: Murat Sezgi (Bozcaada Jazz Festival, Türkiye /Germany)
#2 - Sharing the message: communicating social and environmental values in live music
Torre dei Minorenni
Effective communication is at the heart of meaningful change. This session explores how festivals, venues, and organisations can communicate their commitment to sustainability and broader social values in ways that resonate with audiences, focussing on strategies to build trust, inspire action, and make responsible practices an integral part of the live music experience. With real-life examples from the sector, we will highlight how thoughtful messaging can turn participation into a shared cultural statement.
#3 - The social and political role of curators and programmers
Sala Federico II
How do our curatorial choices navigate the complex social and political landscape of today? This discussion group will delve into the responsibilities we hold in shaping our programmes, fostering partnerships and creating space for artists. We'll explore how to cope with political tendencies, how we can facilitate discussions, and how we can ensure our programming is accessible to diverse audiences. Join us to collectively consider how we can empower artists through our programmes and engage communities through the power of music. We will not find all the answers, but we can certainly try.
Moderator: Marzio Scholten (Jazz International Rotterdam / RAUW, Netherlands)
#4 - The elephant in the room: addressing burnout in the music industry workforce Sala Aragonese
Burnout is a growing issue across the music sector, yet too often ignored or minimised. This session addresses the systemic causes of burnout in the music sector, from blurred work-life boundaries to the culture of overwork, and explores practical ways to build healthier, more sustainable working environments. We’ll look at how to manage time, teams and events amid limited resources, and how to foster workplace cultures where speaking openly about stress and workload is not a weakness, but a necessary step toward long-term well-being.
Chair: Rosana Corbacho (M.I. Therapy, Spain)
#5 - Unseen faces / unheard voices: how to ensure migrant communities have a meaningful place in our programmes and organisations Cappella Palatina
How can the music sector more meaningfully include migrant communities, not just on stage, but across audiences, teams, and decision-making spaces? This session will share practical examples of how EJN members and partners have built inclusive programmes, collaborated with migrant-led organisations, and responded to social and political tensions through music. We’ll also explore internal strategies for structural change, including data collection and inclusive governance, to ensure migrant voices are not only heard, but empowered.
11:40 - 13:00 Four parallel WORKING GROUPS Castello Svevo
#1 - Meet your fellow members: Speed Dates (for EJN members only) Sala Normanna
An informal and fast-paced networking session exclusively for EJN members. In a series of 10-minute one-to-one conversations, you’ll have the chance to meet up with your colleagues-new or familiar-and exchange ideas, needs, and opportunities. A simple and effective way to connect, share, and spark new collaborations within the network.
Facilitator: Mark van Schaick (Buma Cultuur / inJazz, Netherlands)
#2 - Good vibes only: How do we define and prevent unwanted behaviours and create welcoming spaces in our festivals and venues? Sala Conferenze
Where do we draw the line between problematic behavior and freedom of expression? Who gets to define what harassment is? Uncertainty makes it hard to speak up, and take actions. Therefore, in this session, we will look at gray areas of behaviours, and try to pinpoint what harassment and sexual harassment are. We will look at statistics, risks in the music sector and possible measures to prevent it. Balansekunst is a Norwegian membership association for cultural institutions working towards an equitable and diverse industry.
Chair: Eivind Breilid (Balansekunst, Norway)
#3 - Smart sounds and smarter systems: AI tools for creative music organisers Torre dei Minorenni
This session introduces generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) as a transformative set of tools capable of supporting, and not replacing, the creative processes in the live music sector. From automating administrative workflows to generating visual and audio promotional assets, GenAI empowers event organisers to focus more on curating experiences and less on routine technicalities. The session will also focus on the ethical and regulatory dimensions of this technological shift. Emphasis will be placed on ensuring transparency, human oversight, and creative control in all AI-mediated processes. This vision, aligned with the European AI Act, advocates for a cooperative model in which AI enhances cultural innovation without eroding human authorship or rights.
#4 - For a better music ecosystem: joint session for agents and programmers Sala Federico II
A dedicated space for an open dialogue between programmers and artists' agents and managers, building on similar previous EJN sessions on the topic. This joint session will explore how to improve mutual understanding, build stronger working relationships, and promote fairer practices across the whole music ecosystem. A chance to address common challenges and work together toward more balanced and sustainable collaboration models for promoting creative and improvised music.
Moderator: Sylvain Elie (Le Petit faucheux, France)
Moderator: Malwina Witkowska (No Earplugs, Norway)
13:00 - 13:15 Group photo Castello Svevo Scalinata
13:30 - 14:30 Lunch Mövenpick hotel
15:30 - 16:00 Celebration of the EJN Awards 2025 Teatro Piccinni
16:00 - 16:30 SHOWCASE: SC’ÖÖF (CH), EJN Zenith Award winner 2025 Teatro Piccinni
16:30 - 17:00 Closing remarks & presentation of the European Jazz Conference 2026 Teatro Piccinni
17:00 - 17:30 SHOWCASE: Esmeralda Sella Teatro Piccinni
17:45 - 18:15 SHOWCASE: Matteo Paggi ‘GIRAFFE’ Teatro Piccinni
18:15 - 20:00 Free time / Networking
20:00 - 21:30 Dinner Mövenpick hotel
FRINGE festival in an outdoor stage: Piazza del Ferrarese
Walking tour of Alberobello transfer from/to Bari by coach
CULTURAL TOURS
On Sunday 28 September 2025, our hosts and the ‘Velo Service” travel agency are offering for free to all the participants of the European Jazz Conference two fascinating options for experiencing a taste of Bari and its surroundings. The two cultural tours are by reservation only, and you can reserve your spot by filling a simple form that you will receive in your mailbox. You will be asked to re-confirm your attendance at the conference registration desk in Bari, and you also can sign-up directly there, according to availability. Both tours will be booked until they reach their maximum capacity.
Option #1:
Walking tour of the old town and Bari city centre
Explore the historic heart of Bari with a guided walking tour through its charming streets and landmarks.
The tour explores Bari’s historic old town, visiting key landmarks such as the Basilica of Saint Nicholas with its Crypt, the Cathedral of Saint Sabinus, and the exterior of the Swabian Castle. Walking through charming narrow streets, visitors experience authentic local life- handmade pasta, children playing, and the aroma of home-cooked meals. The tour ends in the vibrant squares near the French district, famous for its opera houses, elegant shops, waterfront, and lively fish market, capped off with a tasting of a local delicacy.
• 10:30 – Meeting point at Largo Eroi del Mare, Bari
• 10:30 – 12:30 – Guided walking tour of Bari city center
Date: 28/09/2025
Language: English
Duration: 2 hours
Max. participants: 75
Meeting point: Largo Eroi del Mare, Bari
Option #2:
Walking tour of Alberobello - transfer from/to Bari by coach
Discover the magic of Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its unique “trulli” houses.
The tour begins with a stroll through the iconic trulli houses of Alberobello, including a visit to the interior of the renowned Sant’Antonio Church. It continues to the historic Rione Monti district, where you will have free time to explore charming artisan shops, souvenir boutiques, and trulli restaurants. The tour concludes at the Santa Lucia Belvedere, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the town and its distinctive trulli rooftops - an ideal spot for unforgettable photos.
• 10:00 – Departure from Bari (Largo Eroi del Mare) by private coach
• 11:15 – 13:00 – Guided walking tour of Alberobello
• 13:00 – 15:00 – Free time for lunch and personal exploration
• 15:30 – Departure from Alberobello
• 17:00 – Arrival in Bari
Date: 28/09/2025
Language: English
Duration: 7 hours
Max. participants: 50
Meeting point: Largo Eroi del Mare, Bari
SPEAKERS
Nabil Bey Salameh
Soweto Kinch
Titia Bouwmeester
Pino Pecorelli
Gökçe Dervişoğlu Okandan
Mathilde Sallez
Marzio Scholten
Rosana Corbacho
Háshem Kabreet
Eivind Breilid
Emanuele Frontoni
Nabil Bey Salameh
Keynote speech: Home in the In-Between, on Friday 26 September at 11:00 Teatro Piccinni
Nabil Bey Salameh is a Lebanese-born Palestinian singer-songwriter, ethnomusicologist, writer and journalist. Exiled by family history from Jaffa in 1948, he has long transformed memory into a powerful artistic and cultural vision bridging East and West. Based in Bari, Italy, since the 1980s, he co-founded Al Darawish, among the country’s first global music groups, and later the acclaimed Radiodervish, releasing 15 albums and performing widely across Europe.
From 1998 to 2007, he served as Italian correspondent for Al Jazeera, offering an exiled yet deeply rooted perspective on the Mediterranean. He currently teaches Ethnomusicology at the Conservatory “Tito Schipa” in Lecce in the Puglia region, mentoring the next generation of artists and researchers in the field of popular music and cultures of the Global South.
Salameh’s work spans music, theatre, literature, and cultural translation. He has collaborated with artists such as Franco Battiato, Noa and Stewart Copeland. His publications include translations of Nizar Qabbani and anthologies amplifying Palestinian and Arab voices. He is the founder and artistic director of FalastinFest, a cultural festival in Puglia dedicated to Palestinian memory and resistance.
www.radiodervish.com
Soweto Kinch
Plenary panel debate: Sounds of Home, on Friday 26 September at 11:30 Teatro Piccinni
Soweto Kinch is an award-winning alto saxophonist, MC, composer and cultural curator whose work bridges jazz, hip hop, theatre and community engagement. A Modern History graduate from Oxford University, he is one of the most innovative voices in British music, with accolades including two MOBO Awards for Best Jazz Act, a Mercury Prize nomination and international acclaim for his genre-defying albums.
Based in Birmingham, Kinch is the creator of The Flyover Show, a groundbreaking urban arts festival that transforms neglected spaces — under motorway flyovers and beyond — into platforms for dialogue, performance and reimagined Black British identity. The festival has featured artists across genres and continues to inspire versions abroad, including in Johannesburg and Mumbai.
As a curator and educator, he has worked with the BBC, Goldie, and Jonzi D, exploring new approaches to mentorship, storytelling and social impact through music. His recent projects include The Legend of Mike Smith, a concept album and live performance fusing Dante’s Divine Comedy with hip hop and jazz, and White Juju, a large-scale orchestral work examining race, class and nation in post-pandemic Britain.
His work blends sharp political insight, virtuosic improvisation and theatrical flair — using music as both a mirror and a tool for transformation in contemporary society.
www.soweto-kinch.com
Iza Korsak
Titia Bouwmeester
Plenary panel debate: Sounds of Home, on Friday 26 September at 11:30 Teatro Piccinni
Titia Bouwmeester (Amsterdam, 1965) is a Dutch theatre maker, visual artist and artistic leader engaged in socially driven performance. She is the founder and artistic director of 5eKwartier, a company creating site-specific documentary music theatre, and general director of Orchestre Partout, a music project involving refugee and local musicians in the Netherlands.
Trained in visual arts at the Amsterdam University of the Arts, Bouwmeester began her career with the renowned company Dogtroep, known for large-scale visual performances in unconventional spaces. From 1998 to 2004, she served as Dogtroep’s artistic director, creating poetic, multidisciplinary productions in locations such as prisons, housing estates and Red Square - places undergoing visible social transformation.
In 2004, she founded 5eKwartier to explore urgent topics like food sustainability through immersive, community-based theatre. Her approach brings large societal issues to a human scale, always rooted in the context of the people and places involved.
With Orchestre Partout, co-founded in 2010, she promotes inclusion and intercultural dialogue through music, offering platforms for both professional and amateur musicians with refugee backgrounds to create, connect and be heard.
www.titiabouwmeester.nl www.orchestrepartout.nl
Pino Pecorelli
Plenary panel debate: Sounds of Home, on Friday 26 September at 11:30 Teatro Piccinni
Pino Pecorelli is a bassist, composer, and artistic producer whose work bridges classical training and contemporary creativity across music, theatre, film and interdisciplinary arts. A graduate in classical double bass from the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome, he has collaborated with a wide range of artists in both live and studio settings.
As bassist and artistic producer of the Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio, he won the David di Donatello Award for Best Musician in 2020. He is currently the artistic director of the Piccola Orchestra di Torpignattara, and was musical director of Lisbon’s intercultural Orquestra Todos until 2012. In 2024, he founded BabelNova Orchestra, which debuted at the Sanremo Festival alongside Dargen D’Amico.
His studio and live collaborations span artists such as Daniele Silvestri, Peppe Servillo, Matthew Herbert, Francesca Michielin, and Mario Martone. He has composed and arranged music for numerous films, including works by Paolo Virzì, Vittorio De Seta and Fariborz Kamkari, and created original scores for theatre and multimedia projects.
Discussion group on cultural entrepreneurship on Friday 26 September, at 15:00 Castello Svevo - Sala Conferenze
Dr. Gökçe Dervişoğlu Okandan is a cultural policy expert, academic and consultant working at the intersection of arts, management, and innovation. She holds degrees in economics and business administration from Istanbul and Innsbruck Universities, and completed her PhD on the relationship between art and management at Istanbul University, supported by the Art & Leadership Center at Copenhagen Business School.
Her work bridges strategic consulting, participatory programme design, and international research. Since 2006, she has designed and facilitated initiatives for NGOs, artist networks, cultural policy bodies, and women’s entrepreneurship programmes. A TÜBİTAK fellow, she completed postdoctoral research at Princeton University’s Center for Arts Policy and has taught in Istanbul, Sharjah and Berlin.
She is an advisor to the Theater Cooperative and Turkey Jazz Network, and a
Mathilde Sallez
Discussion group on audience and environmental sustainability on Friday 26 September, at 15:00
Castello Svevo - Torre dei Minorenni
Mathilde Sallez is coordinator of Better Live, at Le Périscope in Lyon. Better Live is a Europe Creative funded cooperation project between eleven European partners involved in the jazz and improvised music scene. From 2023 to 2025, it will be studying and producing new models of live music events towards a more sustainable circulation.
Since graduating from a master’s degree in management of international cultural projects, she has taken a close interest in the European mechanisms for actors in the cultural sector that led her to work within a few cooperation projects (We are Europe, Re-image Europe, Better Live).
Discussion group on the social/political role of programmers on Friday 26 September, at 15:00 Castello Svevo - Sala Federico II
Marzio Scholten (1982) is the artistic and managing director of Jazz International Rotterdam, the organization behind the RAUW festivals in Rotterdam. RAUW presents progressive, current day jazz that’s fused with electronic music, indie rock and hip hop.
All this with a strong focus on emerging local and regional talent. RAUW is programmed in non-typical jazz venues throughout Rotterdam, in a standing setting for a youthful, diverse and urban audience.
Besides leading this organization, Scholten himself is a professional recording and performing artist, with an extensive, and active, career in both jazz and pop.
Rosana Corbacho
Discussion group on burnout in the music industry on Friday 26 September, at 15:00 Castello Svevo - Sala Aragonese
Rosana Corbacho is a clinical and humanistic psychologist specializing in the music industry, with over 15 years of experience working with artists, industry professionals, and creative teams. She collaborates with organizations like Spotify, Believe, Live Nation, and Berklee, and has spoken at major festivals including Primavera Sound, Reeperbahn, ADE, and BIME-where she received the Keychange Inspiration Award in 2022.
She is the founder of M.I. Therapy, a specialized clinical team focused on the physical and mental health of professionals in music, the arts, and creative industries. The project offers therapy, prevention, and education tailored to the emotional demands of artistic careers.
Her work has been featured in El País, Cosmopolitan, and RNE, and she has contributed to mental health initiatives across Europe, Latin America, and New Zealand, supporting the global creative community.
Discussion group on migration and music workforce on Friday 26 September, at 15:00 Castello Svevo - Cappella Palatina
Háshem Kabreet is a Syrian-born percussionist, composer and handpan player based in the Netherlands. Raised between Latakia and Beirut, his musical journey began with traditional Arabic and Middle Eastern music before expanding into global percussion styles and instruments, including daff, riq, darbuka, cajón, djembe and drum kit.
He has performed on leading stages such as Bimhuis and Tivoli, and at major festivals including Music Meeting, Oerol, and Amsterdam Roots. His collaborations span a wide range of artists and ensembles, including ÁMÀL Ensemble, Orchestre Partout, and Cosmic Orchestra. As a handpan player, he composes original works that fuse Middle Eastern and Western influences, performing solo, with poets, and in cross-disciplinary groups.
Beyond performance, Háshem is a committed workshop leader and educator, giving training and lectures across Europe and beyond. He is the artist coordinator of Orchestre Partout, and leads collaborative music programmes using a unique ‘Musical Sign Language’ - a method he developed for guided group improvisation through hands and body gestures, promoting connection,
Working group on AI tools and digital ethics on Saturday 27 September, at 11:40 Castello Svevo - Torre dei Minorenni
Emanuele Frontoni is full Professor of Computer Science at the University of Macerata and co-director of the Vision, Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Lab (VRAI). He is affiliated with the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Genoa and serves as Scientific Director of NemoLab at Niguarda Hospital in Milan.
An expert in artificial intelligence, computer vision, human behaviour analysis and smart environments, he has authored over 300 scientific publications and is listed among the “World’s Top 2% Scientists” by Stanford University. His research bridges academia and industry, collaborating with national and international companies on technological innovation.
SHOWCASES
Camilla Battaglia ‘ELEkTRA’
VMV Trio
Anaïs Drago ‘Relevé’
Bring Your Horn
Matteo Bortone ‘No Land's’
SC’ÖÖF
Esmeralda Sella
Matteo Paggi ‘GIRAFFE’
Camilla Battaglia ‘ELEkTRA’
Friday 26 September, 12:40-13:10 Teatro Piccinni
Camilla Battaglia - vocals, electronics
Francesco Fiorenzani - guitar
Simone Graziano - piano, keys
Stefano Dalla Porta - double bass
Francesca Remigi - drums
ELEkTRA is a musical suite divided into 9 (+1) parts, each dedicated to an archetypal female figure from mythology, history, or literature: Cassandra, Electra, Molly Bloom, Aspasia, Phryne, and a nursery rhyme that embodies the desire of contemporary women to be “no one,” free from appearances. Each figure explores social themes and gender stereotypes that remain relevant today, raising the question: what has truly changed? The music blends acoustic and electronic sounds, incorporating synthesizers, effects, and samples to reflect the complexity of the characters and their stories - crafting a bold and distinctive musical language.
Contacts: marina.vermiglio@sienajazz.it
VMV Trio
Friday 26 September, 17:00-17:30
Vincenzo Di Gioia - alto sax
Marco Cutillo - guitar
Vito Tenzone - drums
The trio focuses on the search - primarily through original compositions - for a personal and distinctive sound that draws from contemporary jazz and film music. The group’s musical offering is the result of blending their diverse influences and broad, varied backgrounds, making their style essentially boundaryless in terms of genre, writing approach, and improvisation. The trio’s core aim is to convey emotion and prioritise the communicative aspect of music, while still embracing the rhythmic and harmonic complexity that characterises each member’s compositions. In 2024, the trio released their debut recording - the EP “From Now On, Live at FDS Records” - on all digital platforms, under the FDS Records label. The EP features three original compositions, each penned by one of the trio’s members.contemporary society.
Castello Svevo Contacts:
Anaïs Drago ‘Relevé’
Friday 26 September, 17:45-18:15
Castello Svevo
Anaïs Drago - violins, electronics
Federico Calcagno - clarinets
Massimiliano Trabucco - drums
Violinist and performer Anaïs Drago - winner of the Top Jazz 2022 award for Best New Talent - leads the trio "Relevé" alongside clarinetist Federico Calcagno and percussionist Max Trabucco. Strings, winds, percussion, and movement: the music takes on a dimension that is not only sonic but also sculptural, evoking motion, upward momentum, and the body's irresistible impulse through space. In "Relevé", Anaïs Drago composes each piece, translating into music the poetics of artists and authors such as Paul Klee, Umberto Boccioni, and Alejandro Jodorowsky, infusing it deeply with the languages and forms of our contemporary world. The trio was formed in 2023 as an original production of the WeStart Center in Novara. "Relevé" - a term from classical dance meaning “to rise onto the toes” - highlights the upward thrust and explosive energy that pervade both their music and live performances
Contacts: christian@novarajazz.org
Bring Your Horn
Friday 26 September, 18:30-19:00
Castello Svevo
Emanuele Coluccia - sax
Filippo Bubbico - keys
Alberto Manco - drums
The pieces performed on stage will be entirely original, unique, and unrepeatable. The core theme of the trio is “pure” improvisation - absolute, unrestrained - a constant effort to compose music in real time: not on paper, not on a screen, but directly in the air, just as light impresses itself into film in photography, or as a painter breaks the silence of the canvas, staining it irreversibly. The idea is to embrace this inevitable beginning in order to enter the real, living essence of sound - drawing from tradition while never holding back when it comes to exploration. Guided by this vision and trained in extreme flexibility, the trio explores the possibilities offered by the moment with complete freedom, achieving peaks of expressive intensity.
Contact: info@workinlabel.it
Matteo Bortone ‘No Land's’
Saturday 27 September, 11:00-11:30
Castello Svevo
Matteo Bortone - bass
Julien Pontvianne - tenor sax
Benjamin Garson - guitar
Yannick Lestra - rhodes/synth
Ariel Tesssier - drums
The name of the band is a true statement: No Land’s - no land, no fixed place. The landscape changes, and the traveler changes with it. Matteo Bortone draws inspiration from ancient myths and cosmologies that don’t celebrate the essence of being or the ideal, but rather the process of becoming - an exploration of inner transformation that takes place when we travel, dream, or remember. Rooted in contemporary jazz with pop/rock influences, No Land’s music explores both acoustic and electroacoustic soundscapes, developing a creative process that
SC’ÖÖF (CH) - EJN Zenith Award winners
Saturday 27 September, 16:00-16:30
Teatro Piccinni
Elio Amberg - saxophone & electronics
Noah Arnold - saxophone
Christian Zemp - guitar & electronics
Vincent Glanzmann - drums & laptop
Jonas Häni - audio engineer & sound design
Sc’ööf are a Lucerne-based quartet made up of drums & laptop, electric guitar, and two saxophones with electronics. They create acoustic glitch music using extended techniques on their instruments, weaving atonal melodies into tight, complex rhythms, and mixing a wide range of musical ideas within a single piece. Their sound blends jazz, rock, metal, punk, and experimental music into something truly their own. A strong affection for captivatingly odd grooves and an excessive live energy makes Sc’ööf an exciting bag of surprises
Contacts: scoeoef@daenemark.club
Esmeralda Sella - piano
Federico Giolito - double bass
Giovanni Nardiello - drums
Esmeralda Sella
The trio performs original compositions by Esmeralda Sella, inspired by events, artists, and other works. Every action is aimed at fostering a rhythmic-melodic exchange based on the sharing of fundamental elements such as sound and form. The compositional approach favours the expression of individual freedom in improvisational choices, resulting in a compact and cohesive sound. Since 2022, the trio has been meeting with determination and consistency, developing ideas, sounds, and spontaneous choices to support an immediate understanding of each member’s proposed material. In July 2024, the trio recorded its debut album - MAGMA - in Ferrara with Feggi Sound. Saturday 27 September, 17:00-17:30 Teatro Piccinni
Contacts: jazzengine@gmail.com
Matteo Paggi ‘GIRAFFE’
Saturday 27 September, 17:45 - 18:15
Teatro Piccinni
Matteo Paggi - trombone
Lorenzo Simoni - alto & soprano sax
Vittorio Solimene - piano
Jonathan Ho - double bass
Andrea Carta - drums
The giraffe, in the world of symbolism, represents "foresight." With its head far from its heart, it is able to make decisions with detachment and clarity. In the band's music, the mind is free to soar and express itself with the spaciousness that defines it. Yet at the same time, the fire of passion burns fiercely in the chest, finding no obstacles, burning ceaselessly. It is with this concept that Matteo Paggi composed the band’s original pieces. GIRAFFE's style succeeds in blending rationality and passion, creating a unique aesthetic strongly influenced by pop, rock, and melodic music - all within a jazz framework. This project is the winner of the 'Next Jazz Generation 2025' award by I-Jazz.
Street concerts by the students of Niccolò Piccinni Conservatory & Pentagramma music school
The closing events of the first day of the European Jazz Conference will be more than just a series of concerts. It will be a symbolic celebration of encounter and exchange.
The Fringe Festival's opening night will be dedicated to two true "institutions" that have been promoting jazz with passion and quality teaching for over forty years, each with its own distinctive characteristics: the Jazz Music School of the Niccolò Piccinni Conservatory of Bari and the music school Pentagramma, coordinated by Roberto Ottaviano and Guido Di Leone.
In a dialogue between teachers and students, the two institutions will integrate on stage, creating a sonic mosaic full of surprises. At the heart of the evening will be one of the oldest and most vital practices of this musical tradition, the jam session, in which improvisation becomes a common language and a common ground. There will also be a selection of pieces specifically chosen to highlight both the collective and individual potential of the artists involved, offering audiences a vibrant, authentic, and ever-evolving jazz experience.
This evening will also shine a light on Bari’s international soul-a crossroads of cultures and conversations, facing the Mediterranean and looking towards Europe. Like jazz itself, Bari is a meeting point of histories, languages, and identities. Through the figure of Saint Nicholas-icon of peace and coexistence-the city reaffirms its deep-rooted vocation for dialogue and inclusion. Music, in this context, becomes a powerful tool for openness and connection: a universal language that bridges generations and backgrounds. This event will celebrate not only jazz and creative music but also a vibrant, contemporary, and inclusive vision of the city. On this night, Bari presents itself to the international audience of the European Jazz Conference as a living laboratory of creativity and dialogue, where cultural heritage meets the pulse of the present and the promise of the future.
FRINGE festival
Friday, 26 September / Saturday, 27 September, 21.00-00.30
As part of the European Jazz Conference 2025, the Fringe festival offers an evening programme that opens the Conference up to the city. Through a diverse and high-quality artistic offering, it showcases the vitality and excellence of today’s Italian jazz scene while inviting everyone to take part.
On the evenings of Friday 26 and Saturday 27 September, the Fringe Festival will unfold across three emblematic venues in Bari, each echoing a distinct aspect of the city’s historical and cultural fabric.
On Friday 26, concerts will take place at the Auditorium Diocesano Vallisa, set in the heart of the old city, and the Teatro Kursaal Santalucia, a recently restored jewel of the Murat district, now reinvigorated as a central hub for cultural production.
On Saturday 27, the festival moves outdoors to Piazza del Ferrarese, one of Bari’s most iconic squares, where tradition meets modernity, and where people naturally gather to share space, time, and music.
The programme has been curated to reflect the broad spectrum of languages and visions shaping the current Italian jazz landscape, with a strong emphasis on artists from the Puglia region and an openness to international collaborations. At its heart is the belief that intercultural dialogue fuels a dynamic and forward-thinking music scene.
Particular attention has been given to female artists and bandleaders, in recognition of the essential role that women play, as performers, composers, creators, and innovators, in redefining today’s musical aesthetics.
With its inclusive spirit, the Fringe festival paints a picture of jazz as diverse, evolving, and deeply connected to the world around us, an artform that belongs equally to local communities and global audiences.
Zoe Pia & le Sculture Sonanti
Friday 26 September, 21:00-21:30
Auditorium Diocesano Vallisa
Zoe Pia - sound sculpture (clarinet embedded in ceramic, designed by Luca Zarattini), traditional clarinet, launeddas, Sardinian cowbells, loopstation
Zoe Pia and the Sounding Sculptures is a project where the Sardinian musician plays the sculptural works of artist Luca Zarattini-surprising hybrid musical instruments crafted from glazed ceramics and transformed into true works of art. In her set, Zoe Pia adds traditional clarinet, is launeddas (a traditional Sardinian triple-pipe instrument), Sardinian cowbells, and soundscapes. The creation of soundscapes and artistic fusion shapes a unique experience, offering a 360° panorama of jazz, expansive improvised music, ethnic sounds, and the most stimulating cross-genre contaminations. It is a refreshing immersion into both familiar and unusual sounds, craftsmanship, and art music.
The new project by double bassist and composer Federica Michisanti features a trio with vibraphonist Gianluca Manfredonia and drummer Alessandro Marzi. The group primarily performs Michisanti’s original compositions, characterized by a sound that draws from European classical music and jazz avant-garde, while leaving ample room for spontaneous improvisation.
Sliders
Friday 26 September, 22:20-22:50
Auditorium Diocesano Vallisa
Filippo Vignato - trombone
Federico Pierantoni - trombone
Lorenzo Manfredini - trombone
Sliders is a unique trombone trio founded in 2018 by Filippo Vignato, Federico Pierantoni, and Lorenzo Manfredini-three leading voices of Italian and European jazz. Stripping the brass ensemble down to its essence, they reinvent jazz tradition through a minimalist setup that echoes the three notes of a major triad. Their music spans blues, free improvisation, folk, and contemporary sounds, showcasing the trombone’s expressive range. Their debut album, released by HORA Records in November 2024 with support from Nuovo Imaie, features original works and reimagined pieces by Coltrane, Gismonti, Bley, and Ellington.
The project stems from a musical aesthetic conceived by Parmegiani, which began in 2018 with the album Under a Shimmery Grace. In this work, the idea of jazz is strongly influenced by the new generations exposed to jazz, indie music, and electronic sounds. The album transports us into a world where sound guides us into a lucid dream, where the colors of acoustic and electronic instruments create a sonic magma in which the vision takes shape.
Contacts: management.parmegiani@gmail.com
Pierluigi Balducci Ensemble feat.
Badrya Razem ‘Kosmos & Chaos’
Friday 26 September, 21:00-21:40
Kursaal Santalucia
Pierluigi Balducci - electric bass
Badrya Razem - vocals
Fabrizio Savino - electric guitar
Vitantonio Gasparro - vibraphone
Dario Congedo - drums
KOSMOS & CHAOS is the new ensemble led by bassist and composer Pierluigi Balducci, in collaboration with vocalist Badrya Razem. The group presents visionary songs-windows into an "elsewhere" made of sounds and silences-offering “cosmic” music for the soul with a repertoire rich in evocative power. The fluid, creative, and emotional themes stand out for their poetry and inspiration. The compositions, imbued with dance, quickly reveal their nature as dreams told through notes that flow like a motivated and powerful current. Alongside Balducci’s originals, the repertoire includes masterpieces by Jan Garbarek and John Taylor.
Contacts: info@innerurgemusic.com
Mike Rubini ‘Extensive Quartet’ feat. Andrea Andreoli
The Mike Rubini Extensive Quartet was born from a desire to organically blend composition and improvisation. Led by saxophonist Mike Rubini, the group brings together some of the most original musicians from the Apulia jazz scene to create a distinctive sound inspired by both the classical repertoire and contemporary music. Drawing on experiences gained on some of Italy’s most important jazz stages, the quartet returns with a new lineup, enriched by the special presence of trombonist Andrea Andreoli, for a set where freedom and structure coexist naturally
Contacts: carla.bley@flatnine.co
Lisa Manosperti ‘Uncaged Bird’
Friday 26 September, 22:40-23:20
Kursaal Santalucia
Lisa Manosperti - vocals
Roberto Ottaviano - sax
Umberto Petrin - piano
Silvia Bolognesi - double bass
Cristiano Calcagnile - drums
This album was born from a deep love for this extraordinary performer, composer, and songwriter. Abbey Lincoln's voice stood apart from all other great jazz singers for the essential quality of her tone, the dramatic intensity, and at times the irony in her interpretations. With this project, I chose to focus on Lincoln as a songwriter and composer-a side of her artistry that, unlike many of her illustrious
Giuseppe Bassi Quartet
Giuseppe Bassi - double bass
Javier Girotto - soprano sax
Daniel Karlsson - piano
Lorenzo Tucci - drums
Giuseppe Bassi’s new quartet brings together some of the most prominent musicians on the international jazz scene, creating a project with a refined and innovative sound. The repertoire blends original compositions with pieces by German, French, and Japanese composers, weaving together diverse cultures and sensibilities into a deeply evocative musical journey. At the heart of the project is the universal theme of love, explored in its many shades and emotions, serving as both narrative thread and emotional lens. The group’s debut album, produced in Japan by Carlo Lomaglio and recorded live in Sweden, has inspired the works of painter Hiroyuki Kimura and photographer Yoshie Nishikawa, giving rise to a multimedia project in which music and visual arts merge into a truly Friday 26 September, 23:30-00:10 Kursaal Santalucia
Following the success of their first two albums and over sixty performances across Italy, Croatia, Albania, and Brazil, Boom Collective returns powerfully to the Italian music scene with a brand-new repertoire featuring special guest, American trumpeter Hermon Mehari. Since its debut in 2018, the group has been in constant pursuit of a fusion between diverse styles and sounds, staying closely connected to the pulse of the contemporary music world-always through the lens of jazz musicians deeply rooted in their time and place. Their live show promises to be an explosive blend of sound and energy, sure to captivate even the most discerning audiences.
Raffaele Casarano ‘Anì Live’
Saturday 27 September, 21:50-22:30 Piazza del Ferrarese - Outdoor stage
A world united by the boundless language of music. Through it, everything becomes magically simple-even between cultures and languages that seem irreconcilable and incomprehensible. Casarano inevitably draws inspiration from his homeland, Salento, a region that saw an entire generation leave in the post-war years to seek fortune and now has become a place of refuge for new migrants. As a land between East and West, it has absorbed for decades all the shades of those who arrived across the sea-the Mediterranean-a border yet also a connection, full of beauty and at the same time a continuous witness to pain. In this way, Casarano transcends the stereotype of the jazz musician, and the clear sound of his saxophone becomes a storytelling voice, weaving its narrative over a tapestry blending acoustic and electronic sounds. Melodies repeat like loops, turning into mantras intended to free the listener’s mind from its inner boundaries.
UMOJA in ancient Swahili west african language means Unity, a spiritual unity among the people and the higher spheres. The live project derives directly from the group who attended the recording session for the album released by UK label FAR OUT and released in the summer of 2023 and again in the summer of 2024 in special revisited version by afro american legendary producer Joaquyin Claussell. Centered on the urge to portray a different idea of society based on equality, freedom and progress, it evokes the tribal ancient dances and rites drawn into a contemporary contest. The music of Umoja draws on the deep-dug 70's independent spiritual & free jazz sounds, private-press soul records, and African & Afro Caribbean rhythms. But equally recognises its debt to many of the decade’s more celebrated musical icons, such as North American cosmic jazz masters Lonnie Liston Smith and Gary Bartz, and Afrobeat originators Fela Kuti & Tony Allen.
ARTCHIPEL & GUESTS will appear at European Jazz Conference in Bari with an exceptional lineup featuring the orchestra alongside three distinguished guests: Roberto Ottaviano (soprano sax), Gianluca Petrella (trombone), and Luisiana Lo Russo (violin). The program includes original orchestral arrangements of works by Hugh Hopper, Frank Zappa, and Ferdinando Faraò. Recognised as one of the most original ensembles in European jazz, the Artchipel Orchestra has earned wide acclaim from audiences and critics alike, winning Best Ensemble of the Year in Musica Jazz magazine’s Top Jazz poll in 2012, 2017, and 2022. From original compositions to reinterpretations of music from the ’70s to ’90s (Mike Westbrook, Fred Frith, Dave Stewart), the orchestra
EJN and the conference hosts are committed to providing a safe, relaxed and friendly environment for all participants of the European Jazz Conference 2025. Following the approval of the Code of Conduct by the EJN General Assembly of 2024, this policy is now fully in place and applied to all EJN events, including the Conference 2025.
We ask all the participants to be respectful of each other, aware of the cultural differences that are present in such an international context and to be supportive of and kind to each other. A truly safe environment can only be achieved when everybody is actively contributing to it
We have zero tolerance for all discriminatory behaviours and remarks, sexual harassment in any form, physical and verbal violence, insulting, intimidating or other offensive behaviours. We take this very seriously, and have established a reporting and disciplinary protocol. Disciplinary actions may include, depending on the gravity of the incident, the immediate exclusion of an individual from an event, and/or the prevention of participation of an individual to future EJN activities.
For the European Jazz Conference 2025 we have appointed an external trust person: Caterina Petronella. If you experience or witness a behaviour perceived as inappropriate, even if you are not the direct victim of it, you are encouraged to talk to her about it. As a confidential contact, she can offer you a first conversation and think together with you on possible next steps
Caterina will be available at the following times:
Friday 26 September 2025: 09:30 - 13:00: available in presence at Teatro Piccinni and on the phone/sms/whatsapp
14:30 - 18:30: available in presence at Castello Svevo on the phone/sms/whatsapp
Saturday 27 September 2025: 10:30 - 13:00: available in presence at Castello Svevo on the phone/sms/whatsapp
14:30 - 18:00: available in presence at Teatro Piccinni and on the phone/sms/whatsapp
Sunday 28 September 2025: 9:30 - 13:00: available on the phone/sms/whatsapp
After this time Caterina will be available at the email address confidential@europejazz.net for five additional days after the conference. After this date this email address will be handled over to the EJN Staff, and will continue working.
Caterina Petronella’s mobile phone number for the Conference (calls, sms, whats’app): +39 380 6969965
To view the full EJN code of conduct, please check:
Thank you in advance for your cooperation on this important matter!
About Puglia Sounds
Puglia Sounds is a project of the Puglia Region aimed at supporting music professionals and artists from Puglia. With its Puglia Sounds project, Puglia has become the first Italian region to consider music as an economic sector that boosts tourist attractiveness and generates jobs and wealth for the territory, and to devote human and financial resources to its development. Puglia Sounds has been working for years to structure and qualify the music sector, offering opportunities for growth and visibility.
The music sector consists of the creation and production of music, the performance and touring of music, and the internationalization and networking of music projects and players in the music supply chain. This way of looking at the music sector has led to the design and creation of specific calls for proposals. These are published annually and are open to all players in the music supply chain.
Every year, Puglia Sounds produces and hosts Medimex - International Festival & Music Conference. Launched in 2011 as a market fair with a full program of events, live performances and guest artists, in 2017 Medimex became an international festival with great live shows and a constantly updated calendar of events dedicated to the music industry and professional training.
Puglia Sounds, a toolkit designed to contribute to the development of the music industry in Puglia, is a project by Puglia Culture, the Regional Consortium for Arts and Culture.
www.pugliasounds.it
About the European Jazz Conference
Europe Jazz Network (EJN) is a European non-profit association of promoters specialised in creative music, contemporary jazz, and improvised music. EJN’s mission is to encourage, promote, and nurture the growth of creative music across Europe, facilitating opportunities for artists, organisers, and audiences from diverse backgrounds to meet, collaborate, and exchange ideas. Its membership comprises 195 organisationsincluding festivals, clubs, concert venues, and national/regional support organisations- from 36 countries both within Europe and internationally.
The European Jazz Conference stands out as a leading annual gathering for professionals in the creative music sector, particularly promoters, cultural managers, booking agents, and support organisations. Organised each year by Europe Jazz Network in collaboration with one of its members, the Conference fosters long-term relationships, inspires new artistic projects and partnerships, and provides a platform for sharing expertise and exploring current trends in management and programming. Additionally, it serves as a vibrant forum for discovering international music scenes and exchanging best practices from around the globe.
Previous editions of the European Jazz Conference took place in Ghent, Belgium (2024); Marseille, France (2023); Sofia, Bulgaria (2022); Tallinn, Estonia (2021); Novara, Italy (2019); Lisbon, Portugal (2018); Ljubljana, Slovenia (2017); Wroclaw, Poland (2016); Budapest, Hungary (2015); and Helsinki, Finland (2014).
www.europejazz.net
- Largo Eroi del Mare
- Basilica Pontificia San Nicola Bari
- Basilica Cattedrale Metropolitana Primaziale San Sabino
- Piazza Mercantile
- Pinacoteca Corrado Giaquinto
- Teatro Margherita
- Teatro Petruzzelli
- Bari Central - train station
- Aeroporto Internazionale di Bari - Karol Wojtyla
corso Vittorio Veneto
corso Vittorio Emanuele II
Practical info
REGISTRATION DESKS
Please make sure to check-in and pick up your badge, t-shirts, goodie bags receive all possible information and support at the following time and places:
On Thursday 25 Sept, for EJN members ONLY: 13:00 - 20:30 at Kursaal Santalucia Foyer
On Friday 26 Sept: 09:30 - 13:00 at Teatro PIccinni Foyer
Late registrations on Friday 26 Sept: 14:30 - 19:00 at Castello Svevo Entrance
On Saturday 27 Sept: 10:00 - 13:30 at Castello Svevo Entrance
The registration desks will also serve as info points for the duration of the Conference.
TRANSPORTATIONS from/to Bari airport
Bari-Karol Wojtyla airport is 15 km north-west from the city centre.
- BUS: direct connections from the airport (just outside the arrivals exit on the right) to the city centre, operated both by the private company Tempesta, and by the public transport AMTAB (bus number 16). The final stop is Bari train station but before there are stops in the city centre closer to the main conference hotels and venues. Travelling time: 30/40 min. Cost: €5,00.
- TRAINS: direct connection from the ‘Bari Areporto’ station, just outside of the airport, to ‘Bari Centrale’ station and back. Travelling time: 25 / 30 min. Cost €5,30. Timetable and tickets available on Ferrotramviaria.it website.
- TAXI: the cost of a taxi ride from Airport to Hotel is approximately €25,00. Taxi ranks are located directly outside the arrivals area. You can also book a taxi through radio taxi services, such as Radio Taxi Bari, on +39 080-5543333 or +39 080-5346666.
TRANSPORTATIONS
from/to Bari train station and within the city
From central Bari train station all the main conference venues and hotels are easily reachable by walking distance. For example, the distance between the train station and Teatro Piccinni is approximately 15 minutes by walking. In case you need, the public transport in the city of Bari (only local buses) is managed by AMTAB.
EVENT APP
All registered participants will receive an email with a code to access the European Jazz Conference 2025 official app: WHOVA. Please download it to access all the info, last minute changes & updates and the list of participants of the Conference.
CONFERENCE HASHTAGS
We would be grateful if you include the following hashtags and handles in your social media posts about the conference: #EJCBari25 #europejazz25 #WeAreinPuglia @europejazznet @pugliasounds @pugliaculture. Thank you!
Credits
Programme committee 2025: Karolina Juzwa (Wytwórnia Foundation, PL), Steve Mead (Manchester Jazz Festival, UK), Mark van Schaick (Buma Cultuur, NL), Alex Carr (Cheltenham Festivals, UK), Max von Pretz (Südtirol Jazzfestival Alto Adige, IT), Claudia Sergio (Puglia Culture, IT), Maddalena Ciocca (Puglia Culture, IT).
The topics of the 2025 discussion groups were suggested by the EJN members through an open call, many thanks again to all those who replied with their suggestions!
