From 7 to 9 August, the Orta Jazz Festival returns to the stunning lakeside setting of Piazza Motta, bringing three evenings of outstanding live music to the heart of Orta San Giulio. Curated by the Blue Monk Cultural Association with the patronage of the Municipality of Orta San Giulio, the festival celebrates jazz as a living, evolving art form—where cultures meet, traditions are reimagined, and new musical ideas take shape.
Each concert begins at 9:00 pm. Admission is free, with a voluntary donation warmly welcomed.
The festival opens on Friday, 7 August, with an international collaboration between Italian guitarist Lorenzo Cominoli and Seattle-based pianist Alex Chadsey. Their performance brings together two distinct musical voices in a dialogue shaped by creativity, improvisation, and the universal language of jazz.
On Saturday, 8 August, the spotlight turns to A Kind of Vasco, an original project by trumpeter Marco Vezzoso, pianist Alessandro Collina and percussionist Andrea Marchesini. The trio reimagines some of Vasco Rossi’s most iconic songs through a jazz lens, transforming familiar melodies into richly expressive instrumental pieces inspired by the emotional depth of classic jazz ballads.
The evening will also feature a Live Painting performance by artist Virginia Cancian, who will create an original artwork in real time, translating the music’s atmosphere, energy, and emotion into colour and form as the concert unfolds.
The festival concludes on Sunday, 9 August, with No Other Universe, performed by the Liliana Sommariva Quartet: Liliana Sommariva (vocals and piano), Antonio Saldi (alto saxophone), Federico Giolito (double bass) and Giovanni Nardiello (drums). Blending memorable melodies with sophisticated rhythmic textures, the project explores the relationship between humanity and the natural world through a contemporary jazz perspective.
The closing evening will also carry a special charitable purpose, with fundraising in support of LILT VCO, the local branch of Italy’s League Against Cancer.
In the event of rain, all performances will take place at Palazzotto.
Piazza Motta lies at the heart of Orta San Giulio’s historic center, overlooking the tranquil waters of Lake Orta. Reaching the square is part of the charm: wander through the village’s cobbled streets and you’ll pass elegant historic buildings, picturesque corners, and inviting cafés, all steeped in the timeless atmosphere of an Italian lakeside village.
If you’re arriving by car, parking is available at the entrance to the village. From there, it’s a pleasant stroll through the traffic-free historic center to the square.
Travelling by train? Orta-Miasino railway station is about 2 km from the center. You can either take a local bus or enjoy a scenic walk that leads through the village to the lakeside.
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