As summer fades and office days return to the norm, Florence’s Estate Fiorentina shows no sign of shying away from showing our city a good time. The latest new entry consists in internationally renowned Jazz Fringe Festival, which will leave its Turin base for the first Florentine edition from September 13 to 17 under the artistic direction of Furio Di Castri, Italian double bass player and original founder of the event.
“Our Florence Jazz Fringe Festival was born to go against the tide,” Di Castri writes in his event presentation. “It’s not by chance that its main location of choice is the river—the river conveys movement, strength, wisdom, communication and fertility. Tracing a river’s course means exploring, searching for its sources and discovering unknown knowledge.”
It is therefore no surprise that the festival will take place in the Oltrarno, recently named “world’s coolest neighborhood” by travel guide Lonely Planet. From the San Niccolò tower, where the festival will make its grand opening featuring Serbian jazz pianist Bojan Zulfikarpasic and vertical performing dance company CafeLulè to the evocative Specola Museum and the throbbing heart of the quartiere, piazza Santo Spirito, Florence will witness a flourishing of all jazz languages set in our city’s most unconventional corners and venues, showcasing both national and international cool cats and jazz gurus.
Dipping into FJFF’s program, you can pinpoint a range of styles, from swing to vintage-remix, open improv sessions, tributes to jazz legends and full-fledged New Orleans style “second line” parades. A true celebration of a genre that has fascinated millions and is transformative by nature. And to stock up on more feel good vibes before fall takes its toll, all events are free.
