Crossroads – Jazz and More in Emilia-Romagna (concerts in Russi)

The touring jazz that crosses Emilia-Romagna

Crossroads – Jazz and More in Emilia-Romagna is one of the most extensive and long-standing jazz festivals in Italy: a truly touring festival that, over several months, moves its concerts from city to city throughout the region, from Piacenza to Rimini, passing through Bologna, Modena, Parma, Ravenna, and numerous smaller towns. Promoted by Jazz Network ETS with the support of the Emilia-Romagna Region and the Ministry of Culture, the festival is aptly nicknamed "the Mille Miglia of jazz" for its ability to reach dozens of different locations.

The stops in Russi

Among the municipalities hosting Crossroads is Russi, a town in the Province of Ravenna nestled in the Romagna countryside. Here, the festival chooses the intimate and welcoming stage of the Russi Municipal Theatre, on Via Cavour 10, to offer audiences evenings of great live music, usually starting at 9:00 PM. In collaboration with the Municipality of Russi, the festival transforms the town's theatre into a hub for jazz and avant-garde music enthusiasts from the entire Ravenna area.

A program blending jazz, swing, and singer-songwriter music

The strength of Crossroads lies in the variety of its offerings: alongside major international and Italian jazz artists, the festival hosts projects that venture into swing, singer-songwriter genres, electronic fusions, and reinterpretations of the great American songbook. The Russi dates follow this spirit, offering different events each year, ranging from artist tributes to piano recitals, and homages to the great composers of 20th-century popular music.

A festival that enhances small theatres

By bringing high-level concerts to the theatres of even the smallest municipalities, Crossroads plays a valuable cultural role for all of Emilia-Romagna: it introduces local audiences to a genre often perceived as elitist and restores centrality to historic venues like the Russi Municipal Theatre. For those living in the Ravenna area, the festival evenings are an opportunity to hear great performers without having to travel to the big cities.