A Jazz Series that aims to create an association of the region with the enjoyment and creation of music, with a natural emphasis on jazz and related music, combining it with the local values of the territory: nature, outdoor sports, tradition, heritage, gastronomy, leisure and rural accommodation.
Since May 2012, this series has promoted a set of initiatives with the participation of national and international artists from areas as distinct as music, video, illustration and comics and photography, covering a substantial part of the territory of the Aldeias do Xisto Network.
The XJAZZ history includes concerts with names like the double bassist Ingebrigt Haker Flaten, the singer Vânia Fernandes in duo with the pianist Júlio Resende, the multicultural Tora Tora Big Band, the trio led by trumpeter Luís Vicente, the duo of New Yorkers Daniel Levin and Rob Brown, Maria João's OGRE, Couple Coffe, José Peixoto and António Quintino, Kátia Sá and João Camões.
However, it is the artistic residencies that have been the highlights of XJAZZ. This was the case with the artistic residence directed by the British saxophonist Evan Parker, held in August 2012, in Pedrogão Pequeno (municipality of Sertã) in which 17 prominent Portuguese musicians participated. In 2013, the village of Cerdeira (municipality of Lousã), hosted the Pedra Contida project, for which guitarist Marcelo dos Reis invited four exceptional young musicians from the current scene: harpist Angélica Salvi, percussionist João Pais Filipe, saxophonist Nuno Torres and the electronics of Miguel Carvalhais.
It is important to mention that this project deserved the High Patronage of His Excellency the President of the Republic, as well as the recognition of some individuals from the world of music: the musician, composer and essayist, António Pinho Vargas; the musician, composer and coordinator of music and sound arts in Coimbra National Capital of Culture 2003, Carlos Alberto Augusto; the essayist, music critic, co-curator of the association Granular and editor of the jazz.pt magazine, Rui Eduardo Paes and the critic of various international publications and director of the online publication Point of Departure, Bill Shoemaker.
XJazz - Jazz Series in the Aldeias do Xisto is an event promoted by JACC - Jazz ao Centro Club and ADXTUR - Schist Villages Tourism Development Agency.
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