“The press tours of a lifetime” would be an appropriate description of Sicilia Jazz Festival for me. In September 2021, when the Brass Group Foundation bravely organized their first-ever festival despite covid still raging worldwide, Palermo was buzzing with jazz against all odds. Presenting headliners such as Richard Bona, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Billy Cobham, and receiving rave reviews from Jazz’halo, JazzJournal UK, Jazzwise, and Jazz in Europe, it solidified its second edition before the first one was even over.

In 2022, we returned with a 10-piece press brigade, hailing from all over Europe; Jazzwise, Jazz in Europe, Jazz’halo, and JazzJournal returned, and London Jazz News, JazzForum, CouleursJazz, and Mas Jazz Magazine joined the ranks. JazzEspresso and Radio Tarragona completed what the guys themselves called ‘The Traveling Circus’.

Besides press touring across the city, I’ve been responsible for expanding SJF’s partnership network, helping them join World Jazz Network and introducing them to new partners. In 2022, that meant that Amersfoort World Jazz Festival was bringing Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw ft. Trijntje Oosterhuis to Palermo. In 2023, we have other plans to hatch, so stay tuned – it’ll be very exciting.