Florere – Noci Jazz Festival for Emerging Artists
Creative jazz returns to Noci, blending young talent with the legacy of the Europa Festival
About Florere Noci Jazz
Florere: The Renaissance of Creative Jazz in Noci
Noci, a town in the Itria Valley within the Metropolitan City of Bari, is proud to host Florere – Noci Jazz Festival for Emerging Artists, a festival entirely dedicated to creative music and the new generation of jazz. The inaugural edition runs from June 30 to July 2, 2026, promoted by the Teatro dell'Ascolto association, led by double bassist and composer Paolo Damiani, in collaboration with the Municipality of Noci. The artistic direction is curated by Damiani alongside the young Noci-born singer Elena Paparusso.
Reviving a Great Tradition
The festival's name and spirit pay homage to the Europa Festival Jazz of Noci, a historic event that between 1989 and 2000 placed this Apulian town at the heart of the European jazz scene, hosting over four hundred musicians and contributing to the birth of the Italian Instabile Orchestra. Florere carries on that legacy, renewing it with a focus on emerging talent: more than just a series of concerts, the project serves as a true production laboratory, where music created during the festival is documented through live recordings, marking the first step toward future discographic releases.
Three Evenings of Free Music
The program spans three days. June 30 and July 1 are dedicated to young performers under 35 from the Italian creative music scene, supported by the SIAE “Per Chi Crea” grant, with quartets and new ensembles performing on the stage of the former municipal swimming pool amphitheater. July 2 is a special day that reconnects with the memory of the Europa Festival Jazz, featuring a talk on its history, a concert in the heart of the historic center, and a grand finale with masters of Italian and European jazz.
All concerts are free to attend, a choice designed to encourage maximum participation and introduce new audiences to creative music. Florere joins the Noci summer calendar, confirming the town as one of Puglia's most vibrant hubs for contemporary musical research.
Florere Noci Jazz — edition 2026
The inaugural edition of Florere brings three days of creative music to Noci, under the artistic direction of Paolo Damiani and Elena Paparusso. On June 30 and July 1, the amphitheater of the former municipal swimming pool hosts quartets and new productions by young performers under 35, supported by the SIAE “Per Chi Crea” grant. July 2, a day dedicated to the memory of the Noci Europa Festival Jazz, combines a historical talk, a concert in the historic center, and a grand finale with internationally renowned guests. Free admission to all evenings.
Programme Florere Noci Jazz 2026
Tuesday, June 30 – 8:45 PM (Former municipal swimming pool amphitheater)
- Gabriel Marciano Quartet (sax) with Vittorio Esposito (piano), Alessandro Bintzios (double bass), Cesare Mangiocavallo (drums)
- “Crescendo Sphere” by Aldo Di Caterino (flute) with Stefano Proietti (piano and keyboards), Gian Marco De Nisi (drums and live electronics), Vittorio Cuculo (sax), Giordano Panizza (double bass)
Wednesday, July 1 – 8:45 PM (Former municipal swimming pool amphitheater)
- Lorenzo Simoni Quartet (sax) with Vittorio Solimene (piano), Giulio Scianatico (double bass), Fabrizio Doberti (drums)
- “Under 29 But Me” by Rita Marcotulli (piano) with Elettra Minieri (keyboards), Ava Alami (vocals), Daniele Bucci (drums), Andrea Cardone (sax), Damiano de Matteis (bass)
Thursday, July 2 – Special Day
- 5:00 PM – Circolo Arci “U Capòne”: Talk on the history of the Noci Europa Festival Jazz with Vittorino Curci, Fabrizio Versienti, and Ugo Sbisà
- 7:00 PM – Largo Torre (historic center): “Between the Lines” duo with Vincenzo Di Gioia (sax) and Marco Cutillo (guitar)
- 9:00 PM – Former municipal swimming pool amphitheater: Roberto Ottaviano (sax solo); followed by “Mandela's Dream”, arranged by Gianni Console, featuring Donato Console (flute), Vittorino Curci, Felice Mezzina, and Gianni Console (sax), Adolfo La Volpe (guitar), Valerio Fusillo (mandolin), Pierpaolo Martino (double bass), Silvio Annese (drums), and special guests Roberto Ottaviano (sax), Michel Godard (tuba and serpent), and Elena Paparusso (vocals)
Highlights Florere Noci Jazz 2026
Prices Florere Noci Jazz 2026
Practical information — Florere Noci Jazz
When
From Tuesday, June 30 to Thursday, July 2, 2026. The main concerts on June 30 and July 1 begin at 8:45 PM; the final day on July 2 runs from the afternoon through the evening.
Where
The main venue is the amphitheater of the former municipal swimming pool in Noci (BA). The July 2 program also includes events at the Circolo Arci “U Capòne” and Largo Torre, in the historic center.
Admission
All concerts are free, subject to availability.
How to reach us
Noci is located in the Itria Valley, in the Metropolitan City of Bari. It is accessible by car via the SS172 and connected by the Ferrovie del Sud Est railway. The nearest airports are Bari and Brindisi.
Contact
For information, email [email protected] or contact the Municipality of Noci.
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Where does it take place — Florere Noci Jazz
Anfiteatro dell'ex piscina comunale