When the first notes of Francesco Schepisi's piano rise into the warm evening air of Nardò's historic Villa Comunale, something shifts in the atmosphere. This is the opening night of the sixth edition of the Nardò Jazz Festival, and the Francesco Schepisi Quintet is about to take hundreds of listeners on a sonic journey that spans from the Mississippi Delta to the Mediterranean coast.
A Quintet That Speaks Two Musical Languages
The Elevation Project isn't just a clever name—it's a mission statement. Pianist Francesco Schepisi, hailing from Bari, has assembled a group of musicians whose collective experience runs deep through both the rigorous structures of African American jazz tradition and the lyrical, emotive landscapes of Mediterranean music. Gaetano Partipilo's alto saxophone can swing hard through bebop changes one moment, then soften into something that sounds like a folk melody carried across the Ionian Sea the next.
Samantha Spinazzola's voice adds a layer of intimacy to the performance, whether she's scatting through intricate improvisations or delivering a ballad with the kind of warmth that feels like a conversation among friends. Meanwhile, the rhythm section—Antonello Losacco shifting between the woody resonance of double bass and the electric pulse of bass guitar, and Vito Tenzone providing both fire and subtlety on drums—creates a foundation that's as solid as the ancient stone walls surrounding the villa.
The Villa Comunale: Jazz Under the Stars
Nardò's Villa Comunale is more than a backdrop; it's a partner in the evening's magic. The public gardens, with their century-old trees and gravel pathways, have hosted countless summer gatherings, but there's something particularly fitting about jazz echoing off the baroque architecture of the surrounding centro storico. As the sun sets and the stage lights come up, the space transforms into an open-air listening room where genres blur and traditions dance together.
Locals bring blankets and settle onto the grass, while visitors from across Puglia and beyond fill the benches, all united by the shared language of rhythm and melody. The free admission policy means the crowd is wonderfully mixed—couples on date nights, groups of friends splitting bottles of local wine, solo travelers eager to soak up the culture, and lifelong jazz aficionados who've marked this date on their calendars for months.
What to Expect from The Elevation Project
This isn't background music for sipping cocktails; it's music that demands—and rewards—your full attention. The quintet's repertoire typically includes original compositions that reflect Schepisi's vision of a contemporary jazz that honors its roots while reaching for new territory. Expect moments of explosive improvisation, passages of delicate interplay, and the kind of dynamic shifts that keep you leaning forward in your seat.
- Extended improvisations that showcase each musician's individual voice while maintaining tight ensemble coherence
- Rhythmic complexity that draws from Afro-Cuban clave patterns and the syncopated traditions of Pugliese folk music
- Vocal passages that range from wordless melodies to lyrical storytelling, delivered with Spinazzola's distinctive warmth
- Dynamic contrasts—from whisper-quiet trio sections to full quintet eruptions that fill every corner of the villa
- Moments where the music seems to pause and breathe along with the summer night breeze through the trees
Making the Most of Your Evening in Nardò
Arrive early to claim a good spot and spend an hour wandering the streets of Nardò's beautiful baroque center. The Piazza Salandra, just steps from Villa Comunale, is ringed with cafés perfect for an aperitivo before the concert. After the performance, the energy often spills into the surrounding streets, where late-night trattorias serve rustic Puglian dishes and the conversation inevitably turns to the music you've just experienced.
If you're making a weekend of it, Nardò sits beautifully positioned between the Ionian coast—Porto Cesareo is just ten kilometers away—and the olive-studded countryside that defines this corner of Puglia. The festival opening is a perfect anchor for exploring the broader region's mix of beach culture, baroque splendor, and thriving creative scene.