Jazz Lessons

A journey through jazz guided by Stefano Zenni

The Jazz Lessons are one of the most beloved cultural events at the Casa del Jazz in Rome, located in the Ardeatino district. Every Sunday morning, throughout the winter and spring cycle, musicologist Stefano Zenni—one of the most authoritative voices in Italian jazz criticism—guides the audience through a path of curated listening, featuring rare records, anecdotes, and analysis accessible to everyone.

A unique format: the lecture-concert

These are not traditional concerts, but true lecture-concerts: Zenni selects a theme, an author, or a specific era of jazz and narrates it live, alternating between storytelling and music. The result is a cultured yet never academic encounter, capable of captivating both connoisseurs and those approaching this music for the first time. The formula, repeated season after season, has made the Jazz Lessons a landmark for the capital's audience.

The Casa del Jazz, a home for music

The series takes place in the auditorium of the Casa del Jazz, the headquarters of the Fondazione Musica per Roma, nestled in a park along the Aurelian Walls, just a short walk from the Baths of Caracalla. Reclaimed for the city as an asset confiscated from organized crime, the Casa del Jazz is now one of the most vibrant centers in Europe entirely dedicated to this music, hosting concerts, residencies, and educational activities throughout the year.

Themes and protagonists

Over the seasons, the Lessons have covered the entire history of jazz: from African American roots to the great soloists, from be-bop to the avant-garde, and even its intersections with hip hop, electronic music, and world music. The eleventh season, dedicated to contemporary jazz under the title Jazz (does not) exist: at the origins of the contemporary, explored the hybridizations and linguistic shifts of recent decades, from Anthony Braxton to Brad Mehldau.

A highlight in the Lazio region

In the landscape of cultural events in the City of Rome and the entire Lazio region, the Jazz Lessons occupy a special place: an intelligent and convivial way to spend a Sunday morning, combining a passion for music with the discovery of one of the most evocative venues in the Metropolitan City of Rome. It is also a perfect opportunity for those visiting the city who are looking for a cultural experience off the beaten tourist path.