An Interview With Signor Carlo Pagnotta, founder of Umbria Jazz
Imagine chasing the nostalgic sound of a faraway saxophone in the narrow medieval alleys of Perugia. Or perhaps you prefer the image of tapping your feet to the beat of a drum,
on a summer terrace, while the sun sets. The soundtrack that is sure to make you look back at your time in Umbria with longing is brought to you by one of Europe’s most famous jazz festivals. ‘I chose to dedicate the festival to jazz because I have always been a great jazz fan’, says Carlo Pagnotta, founder of Umbria Jazz.
Mr Pagnotta founded Umbria Jazz in his native region in 1973 after years of experience organising jazz concerts and frequenting music festivals in Italy and abroad. Since then, the festival has staged performances by icons such as Miles Davis, Quincy Jones, Liza Minnelli, Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, and more, and has partnered with renowned Italian and global institutions to cultivate the next generation of jazz legends.
But jazz wasn’t always welcome in Italy. “Jazz was born in the southern states of the US”, says Mr Pagnotta. “It arrived relatively late to Italy because, starting from the 1930s, the Fascist regime developed a growing aversion to this musical genre and forbade it.”
Fortunately, it turns out that jazz conforms neither to the classical 4/4 beat nor to any laws. Umbria was once an unlikely destination for syncopated rhythms and saxophones, but now the region has become a hotspot for thousands of jazz fans around the world. Part of the appeal is the festival’s unique fusion of music, history, and architecture because of where the concerts are held.
“Umbria, known as the “green heart” of Italy, is a small region with stupendous locations, and it was easy to find spaces for the events. In the 1980s, Umbria Jazz abandoned the itinerant idea and, since then, has established itself in Perugia, taking place over a period of 10 days in July. In 1993, the winter festival began in Orvieto, and in 2024, in fact, we celebrated 30 years of Umbria Jazz Winter”, Mr Pagnotta explains.
In the summer, concerts are held outdoors near some of Perugia’s most beautiful sights, like the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi. Umbria Jazz Winter in Orvieto has taken place at locations like the gothic style Palazzo del Popolo and the Orvieto Cathedral, where rich acoustics meet architectural masterpieces.
“With its 50 years of history, Umbria Jazz is among the oldest and most important festivals in the world, and we are very proud of this. This is thanks to all those who, over the years, have contributed to the success of the event. Umbria Jazz has an exceptional team, and I foresee a great future for the festival, with the Umbria region at the head to support it.”
The 2025 Umbria Jazz festival will take place from 11 to 20 July, 2025. For Umbria Jazz events, visit the website to learn what’s on and order your tickets.