xjazz
Since 2012, XJAZZZ- Encontros do Jazz nas Aldeias do Xisto has invited Portuguese and international artists for immersive experience in the villages, through artistic residencies and concerts, crossing cultural identity, landscapes and the sounds.
Presentation
XJazz – Jazz Series in the Aldeias do Xisto started in May 2012, by JACC – Jazz ao Centro Club and ADXTUR – Schist Village Network Tourism Development Agency. In the cosmopolitan spirit of openness, the musicians are invited to immerse themselves in the reality of the villages, through artistic residencies and concerts, crossing cultural identity, landscapes and the sound arts. The opening up of this territory to creativity and artistic expression is further reinforced by XJazz, strengthening Aldeias do Xisto’s assets and values as a brand that welcomes experimentation, innovation and the connection between humans, places, art and nature. XJAZZ creates a matrix of identification of the territory with artistic enjoyment and creation of an experimental nature, with special emphasis on jazz. This journey has been made by combining the creative dimension with the territory's indigenous resources – heritage, tradition, cuisine, nature, and natural and cultural landscape – linking them with non-material ways of enhancing their quality, uniqueness and differentiation.
Sacred heroes and emerging names
Throughout its existence, dozens of concerts, artistic residencies and four albums’ releases, XJAZZ has already established itself as one of the most important musical moments of the year. Throughout these events, several “big names" in world jazz have visited and played in the Aldeias do Xisto, such as Bill Frisel, Evan Parker, Hamid Drake, William Parker, Joëlle Léandre and Paolo Angeli. A pantheon, where emerging names also shine, that will continue to grow, affirming the Aldeias do Xisto as a place of culture, creation and inspiration open to the world.
Album publishing
Four records were released as part of the XJazz artistic residencies. In 2014, the quintet consisting of Marcelo dos Reis, Angélica Salvi, Nuno Torres, Miguel Carvalhais and João Pais Filipe recorded "Xisto". At the end of the same year, "Guitolão", by Carlos Barretto and António Eustáquio, was released. Both works are the result of artistic residencies developed in the Aldeia do Xisto of Cerdeira, in Lousã. In 2015, Slow is Possible release their self titled album, recorded in Aldeia do Xisto of Fajão, in Pampilhosa da Serra. In 2021 the album "Fonte Grande” was launched by María Villanueva, Vânia Couto, Yoshida Carvalho, Lucas de Centi and Sandra Pérez, recorded in Fundão, in the context of the residency held in the Aldeia do Xisto of Barroca, in the summer of 2019. Different sounds, but with common points: creativity, authenticity and sharing.
Rich and diverse artistic programme
Year after year, XJazz has a rich and diverse programme which, although focused on jazz, includes other zones and is an advocate for “sound ecology”. With an arts programme that is rooted in the culture of the places, the Encounters are deeply anchored in the context of the places, benefiting from their social and environmental context for unique moments of creation, enjoyment and sharing.
Artistic residences – Giving and receiving
The implementation of a project with the nature and scope of XJAZZ, in a territory with the characteristics of the Aldeias do Xisto, implies the proximity and involvement of the local inhabitants, economic and cultural agents. The immersion in artistic residencies and the public presentation of the resulting work assumes a dual role. If, on the one hand, it nurtures feelings of belonging and local identity in the musicians, which contribute to the creative process, on the other hand, it brings together and involves the community that welcomes them and sees part of their identity reflected in the creations and performances. In the end, the objective is always the same: to value people and places, and to open up the villages to new audiences.
editions
XJazz invites portuguese and foreign artists to explore and share culture, landscapes and musical arts.
- xjazz 2024
John Scofield (guitar) and Dave Holland (bass) performed at the Schist Village of Pedrógão Pequeno, in the municipality of Sertã, giving a strong boost to the 2024 edition of XJazz – Jazz Cycle in the Schist Villages. Highlights also included a performance by the trio Marcelo dos Reis "Flora," with Miguel Falcão and Luís Filipe Silva, in Gondramaz, as well as artistic residencies by Slovenian Petra Kapš and Portuguese violinist Maria do Mar, in Cerdeira and Barroca, respectively.
- xjazz 2023
- xjazz 2022
- xjazz 2021
In 2021, XJazz featured guitarist and songwriter Bill Frisell, who performed with bassist Thomas Morgan and drummer Rudy Royston. The programme also included performances by Rodrigo Amado, Kimi Djabaté, Cristina Branco, João Paulo Esteves da Silva, Joana Guerra, Maria do Mar, Carlos Godinho, Carmen Souza and Théo Pascal.
- xjazz 2019
- xjazz 2018
Jeffery Davis (vibraphone), João Freitas (guitar), João Cação (doublebass), Paolo Angeli, Sardinian guitar (Italy), Émile Parisien (soprano saxophone) & Roberto Negro (piano) – France, creation residency with Pedro Melo Alves with a concert, Synesthesia Sextet, Mano a Mano - André Santos (guitar and braguinha) and Bruno Santos (guitar and rajão) were the musicians that integrated the XJazz 2018 programming.
- xjazz 2017