"The Silk Road" - A Musical Journey in the Centenary of Marco Polo

A special production by ParmaFrontiere/Conservatorio A. Boito di Parma for The European Jazz Workshop

The prestigious European project The Jazz Workshop, which brings together a network of conservatories and academies from across Europe, returns to Parma for a new productive phase. On the occasion of the seventh centenary of Marco Polo's death, the project begins its second phase, called B.I.P. (Blended Intensive Programme), in Parma, and will be hosted by the "Arrigo Boito" Conservatory.

The best European students, coming from Parma, Vienna, Oslo, and Nuremberg, will immerse themselves in an unprecedented musical adventure. Inspired by the legendary travels of Marco Polo along the Silk Road, they will create an original repertoire that blends the sounds of jazz with musical influences from around the world, forming an imaginary musical bridge between East and West.

The choice of the title "The Silk Road" is no coincidence. Marco Polo, symbolizing curiosity and cultural exchange, embodies the spirit of adventure, curiosity, and the ability to create bridges between different cultures. In the same way, The European Jazz Workshop promotes cultural exchange and the creation of universal music that can unite people from all backgrounds.

During their residency in Parma, the young musicians will have the opportunity to collaborate with professional musicians, experiment with new sounds, and create a one-of-a-kind repertoire. The result will be a concert that will take us on a fascinating musical journey, discovering distant cultures and new sounds.

The European Jazz Workshop is an ambitious project aimed at training tomorrow's musicians and promoting jazz as a universal language.

In the Parma session of The European Jazz Workshop, the main goal was to investigate the relationship between composition and improvisation, both through written notation and improvised chironomy.

We explored moving from the idea of creating a composition for improvisation towards thinking of improvisation as composition in real time.

Artists

From Nuremberg: Nurnberg Hochschule für Musik

• Anastasija Sanina | Piano
• Michael Reiss | Alto and Soprano Saxophone, Live Electronics, Flute
• Laura Detterbeck | Voice and Composition
• Franziska Graz | Voice
• Sonia Barth | Violin

From Oslo: The Norwegian Academy of Music

• Sivert Svendsen Stette | Tenor and Soprano Saxophone, Composition
• Eira Eliassen Øveraas | Trumpet
• Jens Andreassen Koppang | Trombone and Composition
• Peter W. Anundsen | Composition and Trumpet
• Amund Stenøien | Vibraphone and Composition
• Uma Morelio Bustos Reksten | Double Bass
• Helge Sunde | Trombone and Tuba

From Vienna: Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien

• Alec Pavlic | Baritone Saxophone
• Lilian Urbas | Cello
• Fiona Warenitsch | Viola
• Alma Hiptmair | Violin

From Parma: Conservatorio A. Boito

• Anna Pelloni | Voice
• Gabriele Merli | Alto and Soprano Saxophone
• Nicolò Omodeo Zurini | Tenor Saxophone
• Giacomo Santini | Guitar and Live Electronics
• Leonardo Badiali | Drums
• Andrea Tesini | Keyboards and Composition