Preceded by some previews of the featured artists, the thirty-eighth edition of Time in Jazz finally reveals its face. Which fully embodies the spirit of the theme-title chosen for 2025: “What a Wonderful World”, borrowed from Louis Armstrong’s success by artistic director Paolo Fresu.
This morning in Cagliari, on the panoramic roof top of the T Hotel, the trumpeter from Berchidda illustrated the festival program, scheduled from August 8 to 16 between Berchidda and other towns in northern Sardinia. “A hymn to joy and beauty in difficult years, then as in these times of ours,” underlines the creator of Time in Jazz. Fresh from the peace concert in Kiev, Ukraine, a land torn apart by war with Russia for three years now, the musician from Gallura does not rule out repeating the experience in Gaza, another area tormented by an armed conflict, in this case against the State of Israel. “If the conditions were right, which unfortunately they are not today, I would go to Gaza and play anywhere in the world where a message of peace is required,” says Fresu. In the meantime, he is renewing this same message in Sardinia, with Time in Jazz.
Alà dei Sardi, Arzachena, Banari, Bortigiadas, Budoni, Loiri Porto San Paolo, Oschiri, Ozieri, Porto Rotondo, Posada, San Teodoro, Sant'Antonio di Gallura, Tempio Pausania and Viddalba will host the itinerant part of the festival, which will have as its epicentre, like every year, Berchidda and the stage of Piazza del Popolo, home to the great live performances starting on 11 August. Many prominent artists will grace the stage of Time in Jazz this year: from Stefano Bollani to Paola Turci, protagonist of the concert of L'Agnata dedicated to Fabrizio De André, from Enrico Rava to Danilo Rea and Trentemøller (and many others), there will be something for everyone, with the grand finale at the Pechiera in San Teodoro signed by Fresu in Devil Quartet.
But since Time in Jazz is a “large cultural container”, Fresu emphasizes, in addition to concerts, the festival week will also be characterized this year by exhibitions, book presentations and meetings with authors in Time to Read (see Gianrico Carofiglio and Alessandro Bergonzoni), environmental initiatives, Time After Time and the Festivalbar, musical moments in the town’s bars, food and wine moments (the Berchidda lunch on August 15th is unmissable) and the unmissable Time to Children section, curated by violinist and teacher Sonia Peana, dedicated to children (guests include Gegè Telesforo). Events within the event that make up the vast and varied mosaic of Time in Jazz.
The concerts
August 8th
At 6pm in Puntaldia Nick The Nightfly; at 9.30pm in Porto Rotondo Simona Molinari.
August 9th
Mefisto Brass on the Livorno-Golfo Aranci crossing on Sardinia Ferries.
At 6pm at L'Agnata, Tempio Pausania, Paola Turci; at 9.30pm at Berchidda Freak Motel.
August 10th
At 11 in Viddalba Monica Demuru and Natalio Mangalavite with “Madera Balza”; at 18 in Posada Ettore Fioravanti with “Opus Magnum Quartet”; at 21.30 in Arzachena DayKoda.
August 11th
At 11 in Budoni the Duo Bottasso; at 18 in Porto Taverna, Loiri Porto San Paolo, Matteo Paggi with “Words; at 21.30 in Berchidda, Piazza del Popolo, Ze in the Clouds, followed by Stefano Bollani Danish Trio.
August 12th
At 11 in Bortigiadas Ivan Segreto with “La biddizza è suvrana”; at 18 in Banari Hobby Horse; at 21.30 in Berchidda, Piazza del Popolo, Enrico Rava Fearless Five.
August 13th
At 11 in Sant'Antonio di Gallura Eleonora Strino Trio; at 18 in Oschiri Pietro Lussu and Felice Montervino “A year on the plateau. In the war we also sang sometimes; at 21:30 in Berchidda, Piazza del Popolo, Danilo Rea piano solo, followed by Trentemøller.
August 14th
At 11.00 in Alà dei Sardi Stefania Tallini and Franco Piana with “E se domani”; at 18.00 in Ozieri Bebo Ferra and Salvatore Maiore with “Heritage”; at 21.30 in Berchidda, Piazza del Popolo, Paolo Fresu, Richard Galliano and Jan Lundgren “Mare Nostrum”.
August 15th
At 11.30 in Berchidda Christian Mascetta in “Guitar solo”; at 18 in Berchidda Totore Chessa, Pierpaolo Vacca, Mariantonietta Bosu and Giacomo Vardeu with “Org.net”; at 19.30 in Berchidda “What a Wonderful World” with the Bernardo De Muro Musical Band; at 21.30 in Piazza del Popolo Svaneborg Kardyb, followed by Les Amazones d'Afrique.
August 16th
At 6pm in San Teodoro Paolo Fresu Devil Quartet.