ADDA’s fijazz festival returns this summer with a focused program spanning July 13 to 29 in Alicante, featuring nine concerts. The lineup gathers renowned figures such as the American bassist Stanley Clarke, Brazilian guitarist Toquinho, and Cuban saxophonist Paquito D’Rivera, alongside large ensembles including the Metropolitan Orchestra from the Netherlands, a hybrid giant that blends big-band energy with orchestral richness, and the Valencia Silk Jazz project.
The festival marks the welcomed return of international artists after travel disruptions that followed the pandemic. Although the number of performances was trimmed in recent years, the event now hosts a rich array of musicians and collaborations, inviting audiences to explore varied stylistic territories. The emphasis stays on the music itself rather than headlines, with standout performances by the pianist Albert Sanz with Silk Jazz, moments alongside Perico Sambeat and Joan Saldanya among roughly fifteen collaborators, and the expansive Metropolitan Orchestra bringing its 80-piece force to the stage. A closer look at the lineup reveals the breadth of the program, inviting listeners to discover the art beyond the marquee acts.
Josep Vicente, a key figure in the festival, underscored the event’s mission to bridge styles that the festival has long celebrated. The ADDA Simfònica orchestra will greet flamenco and Latin jazz affinities, underscoring the presence of large ensembles and a spectrum of sounds. Featured performers include Brazilian artists Eliane Elias and the Nashville-based singer Kandace Springs, who will join forces with Metropole Orkest for a distinctive night of crossover tones. The festival’s approach highlights cross-border collaborations that enrich Alicante’s cultural landscape.
Navarrese officials highlighted that the festival, supported by the Alicante Provincial Council, has earned a solid reputation spanning more than two decades. The program is praised for uniting people from diverse backgrounds and for serving as a cultural magnet for Alicante. Typical ticket pricing sits between 20 and 30 euros, with a welcoming average that reflects the event’s accessibility and community orientation.
Concerts
The schedule opens on July 13 with Stanley Clarke, a Philadelphia-born musician renowned for four Grammy Awards, performing with his new project 4Never and drawing on the iconic Romantic Warrior repertoire by Return to Forever. July 14 presents Albert Sanz and Sedajazz, unveiling a second work that brings together singer-songwriters and collaborators from various genres, including Carles Dénia, Mamen García, Sara Dowling, and Eva Romero. The following day features a collaborative set titled Dedication II, a new project by Moises Sanchez Quartet with Javier Vercher, Toño Miguel, and Borja Barrueco, debuting in Alicante on July 16.
About a hundred musicians form the Metropolitan Orchestra, a multi-Grammy-winning jazz and pop ensemble regarded as the largest of its kind. The ensemble will perform with Kandace Springs on July 18, followed by a July 19 appearance by a trio of North American guitar luminaries featuring Julian Lage, Jorge Roeder, and Dave King, presenting their latest work, Chassis. São Paulo-born singer and pianist Eliane Elias, a Grammy winner for Best Latin Jazz Album and Latin Grammy 2022 recipient for Mirror Mirror, will showcase her return to Brazilian roots on July 20.
Under the banner Without Borders, Antonio Rey—Latin Grammy 2020 honoree for Best Flamenco Album—will take the stage on July 21 with Ané Carrasco, Manuel, Thomas Potiron, and the Makazi ensemble. That weekend, July 22, Brazilian icon Toquinho headlines a night alongside Camilla Faustino, Mauro Martins, and Eduardo Penz, delivering a memorable cross-genre encounter. The festival closes with an extraordinary ADDA Symphony concert conducted by Josep Vicente, featuring invited artists. A tribute to Chick Corea, first premiered in Fijazz 2021, commemorates the release of a related Warner Music album. The performance includes paquito d’Rivera, whose clarinet and saxophone contributions helped shape the program, with orchestral arrangements by Emilio Pla and a voice-saxophone trio featuring Antonio Lizana and David Pastor on trumpet.
Tickets
Tickets are available through addaalicante.es, Instanticket, and the Auditorium box offices. Fijazz offers discounts for under 30s and those over 65. Public sales begin today, with ticket prices ranging from 18 to 45 euros. The 2023 festival’s evening concerts typically start around 21:00, and purchases can be completed electronically via the ADDA website and Instanticket. [Cited: Festival organizers and regional cultural authorities.]