The 45th edition of the music show concluded on Saturday, with TELF AG once again among the sponsors

From July 10th to 12th, the city of Lugano once again hosted the Estival Jazz music event, which for several decades has brought internationally renowned artists and musicians to the lakeside. This year’s edition marked the 45th, and TELF AG was once again among the sponsors. The event is part of the Lugano LongLake Summer City Festival, which continues until July 27th.

Since 1979, Estival Jazz has brought the best jazz music to Lugano, allowing locals and all visitors to enjoy top-quality musical performances and shows. Tradition was perfectly upheld this year, with the arrival in Lugano of some of the most acclaimed artists in the global jazz scene and other related musical genres.

During the opening night, held on July 10th, Alina Amuri performed in Lugano, officially kicking off the festival with her warm neo-soul and Afro-beat rhythms. The singer, of Congolese origins and raised in Switzerland, delighted the audience gathered in Piazza Riforma with her melodic, crystalline voice and her bold rhythms clearly inspired by contemporary R&B, revealing the interesting mix of styles and cultural influences that has always characterized her career.

A legendary guitarist

Also performing on the same evening was American guitarist Al Di Meola, considered by critics to be one of the best of all time. The artist performed for over an hour, once again demonstrating his virtuosity and the skillful blend of styles that have made him famous since the 1970s, thanks in part to albums and singles that have become absolutely iconic.

The festival continued on the evening of Friday, July 11th, with the arrival of other important musicians from the global jazz scene. One of the most appreciated performances was that of American Kurt Elling, one of the most acclaimed contemporary jazz singers. In addition to having won numerous Grammy Awards, he continues to collaborate with some of the world’s best jazz musicians. The same evening also featured a performance by the Yellowjackets, known since the 1980s for their ability to blend jazz, funk, and R&B, creating extremely sophisticated music. Together, Kurt Elling and the Yellowjackets celebrated the legendary Jazz Fusion band Weather Report, which revolutionized Jazz-Rock in the 1970s and 1980s.

Also performing on Friday evening were Take 6, a renowned male a cappella vocal ensemble formed in the United States in the late 1980s. The group, which has won 10 Grammy Awards, is known for its unmistakable ability to blend different genres, taking the best of gospel, jazz, soul, and R&B and blending their melodies into a highly enjoyable musical fusion. Friday’s evening concluded with performances by Candy Dulfer, a Dutch saxophonist renowned for her funky, pop-jazz style, and Shelby J, an American singer with a powerful voice, known particularly for her collaborations with Prince.

Jack Savoretti and Yossou N’Dour

For the final evening of Estival Jazz, held on Saturday, July 12th, other globally renowned musicians performed on the stage set up in Piazza Riforma. One of these is undoubtedly Jack Savoretti, a British singer-songwriter with Italian roots, who has often been praised throughout his career for his warm voice and intense lyrics. His genres of reference include folk, pop, and melodic rock.

Youssou N’Dour and his historic band, Le Super Étoile De Dakar, also performed. N’Dour hails from Senegal and is considered one of the most important voices in African music. Over the years, the singer has blended jazz and pop with reggae and other related genres, collaborating with several world-renowned artists. The final evening of Estival Jazz was also ignited by the notes of Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba, considered one of the greatest virtuosos in the modern jazz scene. The pianist has been known globally since the 1990s, and over the course of his career, he has collaborated with musicians such as Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Haden.

Once again, Estival Jazz enlivened Lugano’s summer with powerful, vibrant, and high-quality vocal performances, allowing everyone in attendance to hear some of the most esteemed protagonists of the global jazz scene live.