Beat Onto Jazz Festival

Beat Onto Jazz Festival 2025 — 24th Edition

The twenty-fourth edition animated Piazza Cattedrale in Bitonto from August 1 to 4, 2025, with two concerts per evening and free admission. As a prelude to the concerts, on July 30, the book The Big Band Theory by Alceste Ayroldi was presented at the Libreria del Teatro Traetta.

• Friday, August 1 — Chico Freeman & Antonio Faraò Quartet, a tribute to John Coltrane; followed by the LJP Big Band conducted by Dino Plasmati with guest Seamus Blake.
• Saturday, August 2 — Francesco Schepisi Band with "Elevation"; then the Vincen Garcia Quintet.
• Sunday, August 3 — Gianfranco Menzella Quartet "Dedicated to Bob Berg"; followed by the Rachel Z Trio with Omar Hakim and Jonathan Toscano.
• Monday, August 4 — Afrocuban Reunion with Meddy Gerville; grand finale with Lisa Manosperti and "Uncaged Bird", a tribute to Abbey Lincoln.

During the festival, city museums, from the Diocesan Museum to the National Gallery of Puglia, offered special openings and discounts.

Wednesday, July 30 — Preview

• 7:00 PM, Libreria del Teatro Traetta — Presentation of the book The Big Band Theory by Alceste Ayroldi (Minimum Fax).

Friday, August 1 — Piazza Cattedrale

• Chico Freeman & Antonio Faraò Quartet — "Tribute to John Coltrane" (Chico Freeman sax, Antonio Faraò piano, Giuseppe Bassi double bass, Amedeo Ariano drums)
• LJP Big Band conducted by Dino Plasmati, guest Seamus Blake on tenor sax

Saturday, August 2 — Piazza Cattedrale

• Francesco Schepisi Band — "Elevation" (with Samantha Spinazzola vocals, Gaetano Partipilo sax)
• Vincen Garcia Quintet

Sunday, August 3 — Piazza Cattedrale

• Gianfranco Menzella Quartet — "Dedicated to Bob Berg"
• Rachel Z Trio — Rachel Z, Omar Hakim on drums, Jonathan Toscano on bass

Monday, August 4 — Piazza Cattedrale

• Afrocuban Reunion — Meddy Gerville (piano/vocals), Dany Noel, Alessandro Napolitano
• Lisa Manosperti — "Uncaged Bird", tribute to Abbey Lincoln (with Roberto Ottaviano sax, Umberto Petrin piano)