Abitare il Jazz
Music, culture, and local territory between San Donato di Lecce and Carmiano
About Abitare il Jazz
A project that brings jazz to the heart of Salento
Abitare il Jazz is an innovative artistic and social project that, throughout 2026, spans the municipalities of San Donato di Lecce and Carmiano, in the heart of the Lecce province, Puglia. Conceived and promoted by the Associazione Culturale Cromatica APS with the patronage of the Province of Lecce, the project was awarded the "Jazz Music Promotion" grant by the Italian Ministry of Culture, a recognition that validates the quality and substance of the initiative.
More than just a concert series, Abitare il Jazz proposes a methodology: merging artistic production with citizen participation, transforming theaters, civic centers, and town squares into spaces for listening and shared creation. The guiding principle is that jazz is not merely a genre to be heard, but a language to be lived and inhabited together.
Workshops and artistic residencies
The core of the project consists of four artistic residencies and a series of musical workshops, designed as co-creation experiences between established artists, young musicians, and the local community. Each residency explores a different facet of the jazz language:
- Improvisation, to explore the freedom of sound and dialogue between musicians;
- Jazz Vocals, dedicated to vocal technique, scat singing, and the relationship between lyrics and melody;
- Big Band, focusing on jazz orchestration and arrangement;
- Conduction, exploring instant conducting and live composition through signs and gestures.
Alongside the residencies, a cycle of workshops involves students from the Polo per l'Inclusione in San Donato di Lecce, promoting expression, connection, and integration through the language of jazz.
Renowned guest musicians
A distinctive element of the project is the active participation of prominent national and international figures from the contemporary jazz scene: saxophonist Javier Girotto, singer Susanna Stivali, trumpeter Franco Piana, and double bassist Silvia Bolognesi, all under the artistic direction of saxophonist Fulvio Palese. The project also benefits from the collaboration of the "Tito Schipa" Conservatory of Lecce and local schools.
Jazz as a community experience
Open rehearsals, final concerts, and concluding performances from the residencies are designed for the public and, for the most part, offer free admission. Abitare il Jazz thus takes great improvised music out of traditional circuits and returns it to the squares and communities of Salento, with a special focus on the social and inclusive value of music.
Abitare il Jazz — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of Abitare il Jazz launches the project that won the "Jazz Music Promotion" grant from the Ministry of Culture. The calendar is divided into several phases from May to October, alternating musical workshops with the students of the Polo per l'Inclusione, four thematic artistic residencies, and concerts open to the public. Among the most anticipated moments is the Jazz & Joy concert with the Susanna Stivali Quintet on June 21st in Piazzetta Milano, San Donato di Lecce, with free admission. The artistic direction is entrusted to saxophonist Fulvio Palese, with the participation of Javier Girotto, Franco Piana, and Silvia Bolognesi.
Programme Abitare il Jazz 2026
May 2026 — Workshops and Improvisation
- May 4-10 — Musical workshops with students from the Polo per l'Inclusione in San Donato di Lecce: rhythmic, vocal, and collective exercises, with a final participatory concert.
- May 15-30 — "Improvisation" artistic residency at the Teatro Lumière in Carmiano.
June 2026 — Jazz Vocals Residency
- June 4-10 — "Jazz Vocals" artistic residency at the Civic Center of the Polo per l'Inclusione in San Donato di Lecce: vocal technique, scat, interpretation, meetings with instrumentalists, and open rehearsals.
- Sunday, June 21, 8:30 PM — Final concert Jazz & Joy — Susanna Stivali Quintet, Piazzetta Milano, San Donato di Lecce. Free admission.
September 2026 — Big Band Residency
- September 15-25 — "Big Band" artistic residency at the Teatro Lumière in Carmiano: writing for jazz ensembles, orchestral arrangement, section rehearsals, and workshops open to the public.
October 2026 — Conduction Residency
- October 9-15 — "Conduction" artistic residency in San Donato di Lecce: instant conducting and live composition through signs and gestures, with a final experimental performance.
Guest musicians: Javier Girotto (sax), Susanna Stivali (vocals), Franco Piana (trumpet), Silvia Bolognesi (double bass), under the artistic direction of Fulvio Palese.
Highlights Abitare il Jazz 2026
Prices Abitare il Jazz 2026
Practical information — Abitare il Jazz
Where
Events take place between San Donato di Lecce (Civic Center of the Polo per l'Inclusione and Piazzetta Milano) and Carmiano (Teatro Lumière), both in the province of Lecce.
Getting there
San Donato di Lecce is just a few kilometers from the Salento regional capital: from Lecce, it can be reached by car in about 15 minutes via the SP4. The most convenient train station is Lecce, served by the national rail network, from where you can continue by bus or car to the two municipalities.
Tickets
Many events, including the final residency concerts, offer free admission. For the updated calendar and specific details, it is recommended to contact the Associazione Cromatica.
Contacts
Associazione Culturale Cromatica APS — Tel. +39 0832 099546 / +39 329 4676502 — email: [email protected]
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Where does it take place — Abitare il Jazz
Civic Center di San Donato di Lecce e Teatro Lumière di Carmiano