Connoisseurs know this all too well: nothing goes so well with good wine as jazz music, where the warm, vibrant notes warm the heart in much the same way as an excellent Brunello or a Chianti can capture the palate. The combination of jazz and wine might be considered traditional, especially in Montalcino, the land of Brunello and Moscadello, which has been hosting Jazz & Wine in Montalcino for 25 years now, a festival all about music and wine, devised by the Banfi winery, together with the Rubei family from the Alexander Platz in Rome and the Municipal Authority of Montalcino.
In the stunning setting of Fortezza di Montalcino and for the opening evening on 19 July, Castello Banfi, internationally famous jazz artists will be playing live in a packed, thrilling program of new performances, under the artistic direction of Eugenio Rubei.
The program for Jazz & Wine in Montalcino 2022 begins on 19 July in an exceptional location: the historic Castello Banfi, located in the heart of the Tuscan countryside in Poggio alle Mura, and will continue for the rest of the week inside the charming Fortezza di Montalcino, until the grand closure on 24 July. Every evening, starting at 9:45 pm, jazz music will be the undisputed star of the evenings in Montalcino, only sharing the stage with some fine wine.
The first artist on stage will be Jacques Morelenbaum, an internationally famous cellist, who will be warming up the atmosphere with his hot, passionate Brazilian jazz. With him, Lula Galvão on guitar, Rafael Barata on drums, with vocals by Paula Morelenbaum. The opening evening of Jazz & Wine in Montalcino 2022 will be held at Castello Banfi, a romantic location, full of charm, familiar to and much loved by wine enthusiasts, as well as ready to be discovered by those who have yet to visit.
On the second day, the location is different but the atmosphere is no less charming: the famous jazz musician, Ron Carter (accompanied by Jimmy Greene on sax, Renee Rosnes on the piano, and Payton Crossley on drums) will be playing at Fortezza di Montalcino.
Performing on the third day, 21 July, will be Orchestra Nazionale Alexanderplatz, conducted by Maestro Franco Piana and founded at the initiative of Eugenio Rubei, Artistic Director of Jazz & Wine in Montalcino 2022. The evening continues on the notes of guitarist and composer Francesco Bruno and his 4et, with the Blue sky above the dreamers project.
The fourth day is an important date for all enthusiasts: Richard Galliano, a French jazz musician known the world over for revolutionizing the history of jazz thanks to his performance with the accordion, will be celebrating his 50-year career with a live concert at Jazz & Wine in Montalcino in Fortezza.
On the fifth day, you can immerse yourselves in the hot Brazilian summer to the rhythm of the bass played by John Patitucci, the drums of Rogerio Boccato, and Yotam Silberstein on guitar. This formidable trio has been able to bring the liveliness of Brazilian music with the passion and emotional intensity of chamber music to create a whole new concept in jazz.
The final evening is dedicated to Paolo Rubei, who recently passed away: with a tribute, on the stage at Fortezza di Montalcino, by his long-standing friend, Mario Biondi, special guest of Daniele Scannapieco 5et, a lively quintet that brings the energy of jazz to the mellow style of soul.
But Jazz & Wine in Montalcino 2022 is not just about jazz music - there’s also some great wine. The event is the result of an idea by the Banfi wine company, which, together with the Rubei family (in charge of the artistic part), dedicates care, attention, and professionalism to the organization of the whole event, offering jazz enthusiasts the opportunity to enjoy the region's very finest wines.
The proposals made by Banfi are refined, exclusive and focus on wines with close, profound links to the Montalcino area, including world-famous Tuscan excellences, such as Chianti, as well as some renowned Piedmont names, both sparkling and still.
Of all the wines that go best with Jazz & Wine in Montalcino, there is, of course, Brunello, a wine with a sweet, fruity nose, like a night spent under the stars, listening to great artists, or Moscadello, with its crisp, effervescent aroma that pairs beautifully with the lively notes of Brazilian jazz, or even Rosso di Montalcino, ideal to accompany the typical cuisine of the area, like pappardelle pasta with rabbit ragout, or truffles.
