Estival Jazz returns to enrich the Lugano evenings on 7 and 8 July, starting with the concert by Ben Harper. But there will be many internationally renowned artists who will inflame Piazza della Riforma, thanks to the now famous event created by Jacky Marti and Andreas Wyden and now in its 43rd edition.
From this year Summer Jazz – will be inserted in the context of the Lugano LongLake Festival, scheduled from 7 to 23 July 2023 – will be organized by the Events and Congresses Division of the City of Lugano, which will continue to make use of the artistic direction of Jacky Marti, supported by Filippo Corbella, music programmer of the Division .
The Ben Harper Show
The first super guest is precisely Ben Harper, winner of three Grammy Awards and author of a piece of current music history, who will be in concert on July 7th together with the Innocent Criminals.
Ben Harper's show will be a special occasion to hear live the songs that made him famous, as well as songs by Bloodline Maintenance, the last album which was produced by Harper himself together with longtime collaborator Sheldon Gomberg.
This record, released last summer, applies the inventiveness of hip hop to the classic paradigms of soul, blues and jazz, reaffirming Harper's place as one of the most important protest songwriters of his generation.
Over the years Harper has amassed a worldwide fan base and critical acclaim, earning three Grammy Awards out of seven nominations for her genre-crossing work, and has also produced albums by artists including Mavis Staples, Rickie Lee Jones, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Natalie Maines, Ziggy Marley and many more. An enthusiastic collaborator, Harper has also recorded with a diverse range of artists ranging from John Lee Hooker to Charlie Musselwhite, Jack Johnson to Ringo Starr, Keith Richards to Harry Styles.
Statements from the organizers of Estival Jazz
“Estival Jazz is alive – declared the artistic director Jacky Marti – and can't wait to embrace again its loyal audience and its magical Piazza. 44 years have passed since the beginning of this magnificent adventure, but the enthusiasm and desire to give great music and great emotions has remained intact, indeed it has been renewed. All this is possible thanks to the City of Lugano, which has agreed to take over the reins of the event and which I thank from the bottom of my heart. Thanks also to Andreas who has shared a long journey with me and who remains close to us. And finally, thanks to Filippo Corbella who supported me this year with his passion, his ideas, his expertise. Long live Estival!”
“The City of Lugano – added Roberto Badaracco, Deputy Mayor and Head of the Culture, Sport and Events Dicastery – is very happy to have taken over the Estival brand, after the difficult years of covid. Indeed, we believe that Estival represents a distinctive brand for our city, giving it significant international visibility. The significant commitment of the City, with the support of RSI, the Canton and Banca del Ceresio will allow the event to continue to shine by continuing to offer unforgettable concerts. I want to warmly thank the historic organizers of Estival, in particular Andreas Wyden who this year leaves the organizational helm to our Division, while remaining available with his precious experience. Thanks also to Jacky Marti who retains his historic role as artistic director, accompanied by Filippo Corbella, music programmer of the Division".
As the director of the Events and Congresses Division Claudio Chiapparino and Filippo Corbella affirm "this is a great opportunity to start a wonderful journey that unites the most important events of the city in the LongLake Festival".
