Castelbuono Jazz Festival, musical notes at the foot of the medieval castle

The history of Castelbuono Jazz Festival begins in 1995, as an event that revolves around jazz music, hosting excellent Sicilian, Italian, and international artists. From dawn till dusk this Sicilian town, in the heart of the Madonie, is transformed into an open-air theatre that welcomes all the energy of the musicians.

The festival’s notes echo at the foot of Ventimiglia Castle and throughout the village. But the festival doesn’t take place exclusively in the square in front of the castle, as there are also several side events. Many performances and cultural initiatives in the streets or in the venues of Castelbuono embrace different themes in addition to jazz music.

Numerous guests present in the various editions animate the stage of Castelbuono Jazz Festival: from Ignazio Garsia to Claudio Lo Cascio to Carlo Loffredo, Franco Cerri, Randy Brecker, Rossana Casale, Irio and Roberto De Paula, Enrico Intra, Roberto Gatto, Joan Cartwright, Tom Harrel, Roberto Ciotti, Alexander’s Ragtime Orchestra, Dado Moroni, Phil Marcowitz, Norma Winsone, Toninho Horta, Joe Locke.

Over the years the festival has always been a guarantee of quality thanks to the participation of big names of jazz and of world of music in general: the unforgettable PFM concert that brought to Castelbuono an incredible number of participants that evening. From the early hours of the afternoon, the village was packed with people waiting for the famous rock band.

There, beneath the medieval Ventimiglia castle, music lovers gather every year together with musicians and artists of great importance, such as Lucio Dalla, who, being in the audience to attend the concert of Enrico Fava, got up on the stage for a duet with one of the greatest Italian jazz musicians. One of those moments that Castelbuono, the tourists, the curious, and the lovers of good music will never forget thanks to the exceptional skill of Fava and to the amazing twist brought by Dalla’s presence.

Naturally, a lot of attention is given to Sicilian artists such as Giuseppe Milici, from Palermo, undoubtedly one of the best harmonica players in the world, or Salvatore Bonafede, a composer and pianist from Palermo, now famous and appreciated all over the world from New York to Berlin.

The organisation of Castelbuono Jazz Festival, always attentive and meticulous, aims to constantly enhance the territory and give their “guests” a positive all-round experience: between the ancient and medieval beauty of the village of the Madonie Park, offering the possibility to visit its narrow streets and admire the picturesque views; between the music and the cultural side events, such as “Castelbuono d’Autore”, which host each year characters like Katia Ricciarelli, David Riondino, Giorgio Li Bassi and interesting considerations. Among all this, the extraordinary gastronomic soul of Castelbuono should get a special mention. Like all little Sicilian villages, it offers a tasty and unique cuisine, like that of Fiasconaro brothers, the pastry chefs.

And if, in the words of Bill Evans, “You can’t explain Jazz to anyone without losing the experience because it’s feeling, not words”, Castelbuono Jazz Festival is an invitation for those who want to get carried away by the charm of the music in a magical setting like that of a village in Sicily.