Reclaim Santa Maria Square and replace it with The Gardens of San Cristóbal and the Foundry. With these three new open spaces, International Jazz Day Alicante enters its twelfth edition, signaling a global wish to celebrate the genre, a nod to the anniversary observed in 2018. Across the city, performances take place at Teatro Principal, Concha de la Explanada, and the stage Behind the Camera this year, expanding the festival’s footprint beyond a single venue.
But this is more than a one-day event. The Liz Vallet Cultural Association leads a multi-day program designed to spread the values of jazz while presenting a varied concert lineup across the city. The Jazz Day Award will honor pianist Fabio Miano, a trailblazer in Alicante who has attracted musicians from around the world to perform locally. The musician Jose Bornay, a member of the cycle’s organizing team, notes that Miano is a pioneer of jazz in Alicante.
Concerts
The Andres Lizón Quartet opens International Jazz Day at 21:00 on Wednesday, followed by Le Jazz Hot at the same time on Thursday. Both performances take place at Entre Bambalinas.
Plaza de Santa María returns as a concert hub, continuing the tradition begun in 2021. A collective performance is scheduled for Friday at 19:00, with several bands exploring a spectrum of jazz styles from blues to funk. Among them are Agustic Band, Jazz Xperience Combo, AvidA Jazz Funk Trio, Demolition Band, Fusta i Jazz and Jobim, Vintage and Funky, plus performances by Casa Sofia.
“Music in the street carries a special energy, and the public relishes it with a sense of freedom, even amid new municipal rules. The city, eager to boost cultural tourism, embraces open events, though hours have been tightened; music must conclude at midnight rather than 2 a.m.”
Saturday in the Foundry Garden will host Swing Night Festival, organized in collaboration with The Nest Dance Studio. The program includes an open Lindy Hop class, teacher performances, and a concert by Vira Leon Swingtet, ending with a live mix by a DJ and Argentine artist Andres Echeveste.
Big Day
International Jazz Day coincides with more than 200 cities worldwide on April 30. The big day begins with Societat Musical L’Harmonía at Concha de la Explanada at 12 noon. The main week’s events culminate in a collective concert at Istanbul’s Main Theatre starting at 19:00, featuring over 40 musicians including Doodlers, Empty Bottles, The Funker Brothers, AMMA school combo, Zapping Citric-jazz, Alex Saura, Ludmila Salazar, Carla Vallet, Jazz Meeting, José Luis Santacruz Sextet, Cuban Jazz Syndicate, and guest Fabio Miano. Esteve Pi from Formentera and Valencian bassist Luís Llario join as special guests in the lineup.
At the gala’s end, proceeds benefit Adensva, the Bird Defense Association South of Valencia, with Fabio Miano receiving the JazzDay Award presented by Pierre Leon.
The night continues at San Cristóbal Square with a piano setup at 20:00 for sit-and-play sessions and the presentation of the summer Jazz on the Plate campaign, coordinated with the Old Town Merchants Association and the Ministry of Culture. The evening concludes with a Jazz Day Party at the Carabassa pub, also in the same square.
As parallel programming, the Alicante International Jazz Day YouTube channel broadcasts an exhibition-conference on the Origins of Jazz, honoring Miguel Angel Chastang, the festival’s first winner who passed away last year. UMH Radio will air related programming, and Friday features a live show titled more to jazz, dedicated to Fabio Miano, directed by Vicente Ruiz and Francisco Sala.