Miles Davis continues to inspire. The team behind the Roma Jazz Festival knows this all too well, anchoring its 50th edition around the centenary of the legendary American musician's birth. The tribute honours a sound historically categorized as heretical—a permanent, borderless revolution.
"After all, we have never viewed jazz here as a genre to be preserved, but rather as a form of freedom and an evolving sound," explains Mario Ciampà, the festival's artistic director and a key reference point for international jazz musicians in the Italian capital.
Miles and Rome
Returning to Miles was, in short, inevitable. The festival features three weeks of concerts spread across key venues: from the Auditorium Parco della Musica to the Casa del Jazz and the Alcazar. Paolo Fresu kicked off the festivities on Sunday, with events running through 24 November.
"The festival shares a concrete history with Miles, built on real encounters," Ciampà continues. "He took to these stages multiple times, bringing a different sound with every visit. His final live performance in Rome, held in 1991 at the Stadio Olimpico, remains one of the most memorable events in our shared history."
For this reason, "it will not be a mere commemoration, but a reinterpretation by those who shared Davis's vision."
Trumpeter Paolo Fresu launched the series with Kind of Lives—following the theatrical tribute Kind of Miles he developed in recent years. The performance featured two distinct lineups: a traditional jazz ensemble tracing the American musician's early years, and an electronic formation capturing the pivotal shift of his later career.
International guests
The festival will close on 24 November with an exceptional witness to his legacy: Jason Miles, keyboardist and long-time collaborator of Davis himself. Leading up to the finale are tributes from Erik Truffaz (17 November), Gregory Hutchinson (18 November), and Jeremy Pelt (21 November).
"They belong to different generations, yet share an irreverent approach to the icon of Davis, interpreting his work without nostalgia," says Ciampà.
Other international guests appearing at the Auditorium include saxophone legend Steve Coleman with his ensemble Five Elements (5 November); the latin jazz duo of mandolinist Hamilton de Holanda and multi-award-winning pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba (6 November); and the new guard represented by the Polish quintet Omasta (20 November at the Alcazar).
Italian artists in concert
Italian performers navigate between innovation and tradition. The lineup features Enzo Favata (16 November) and Rosa Brunello (22 November), while Chiara Civello will present a fresh collaboration with electronic music producer Clap! Clap! (23 November).
Over at the Casa del Jazz, highlights include the Domenico Rizzuto Trio (8 November), the Eleonora Strino Trio (13 November), and emerging talents Nexus Quartet (14 November).
Additionally, the Casa del Jazz Orchestra, conducted by Mario Corvini and featuring Javier Girotto as guest of honour, will take the Auditorium stage for a special tribute to jazz giant Sonny Rollins (19 November).
Additional events
"I Musicanti di Brema Swing Band" will restage the Fiabe Jazz format (22 November), designed to introduce younger audiences to the genre. Finally, two special concerts outside Rome will celebrate the centenary of another jazz legend, John Coltrane: the Rieti Jazz Orchestra will perform at the Church of San Domenico in Rieti (15 November), and the Priverno Jazz Orchestra will play at the Fossanova Abbey (22 November).
This article was reviewed by an external translation partner