JazzinLaurino Festival & Workshop has been held for twenty-three years in the first part of August in the village of Laurino, in the province of Salerno, in the heart of the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park, divided into five days full of teaching and concerts. For a week, Laurino is transformed into a citadel of music, in which every place and every inhabitant of the village are involved in the event. JazzinLaurino is an event organized by the Municipality of Laurino with the artistic direction of the Liberi Suoni Association directed by Angelo Maffia.
Contents
The Workshop: Locations and Activities
The event will begin on August 4th with the start of JazzinLaurino Workshop which will welcome, as it has done for 23 years, participants from all over Italy and abroad. The students will follow the lessons in extraordinary places: the rooms of the Palazzo Ducale di Laurino, the Cappella dell'Annunziata and the Teatro Comunale, places of great inspiration, will be the classrooms of the morning masterclasses and the afternoon ensemble music. Under the guidance of the teachers, the students will prepare the repertoire for the concert in Piazza Magliani (free admission August 8th) and for the numerous jam sessions in the town's clubs. An unforgettable experience for young and old who come to Laurino for a study holiday and to explore the internal area of the Cilento Park, a perfect place for aware travellers who desire special experiences.
The Festival: Program and Evenings
The JazzinLaurino Festival will start this year on MONDAY 4 AUGUST with a “JAZZ & WINE” evening with a jam session and tasting of local wines in the setting of the Cilento village at the “La Villa” venue starting at 19,30 pm and then continuing on TUESDAY 5 AUGUST 2025 at 22.15 pm at the LAURINO AMPHITHEATER with the CONCERT: SENSUAL\_Trio Rachel Z @ OMAR HAKIM TRIO with Jonathan Toscano.
The Sensual Project: History and Influences
Sensual Project was born from the influences and experiences of the members of this group who have played with the architects of world jazz (Weather Report and Wayne Shorter), rock (Sting, Peter Gabriel, Pino Daniele) and pop/electronic (Kate Bush, Ozmosys). Rachel Z and Mino Cinelu have been important collaborators of these legendary musicians. The group creates a nextgen vision of style inclusiveness, morphologizing elements from the life experiences of the group members. Rachel's group has a unique ECLECTIC rock-jazz-world sound based on piano, with Mino Cinelu on percussion, Jonathan Toscano on bass and Bendik Hofseth on sax.
Rachel Z: Career and Awards
Rachel Z is a pianist with a long history of award-winning performances in the worlds of jazz and rock. She won a Grammy for Highlife with Wayne Shorter, on which she orchestrated synthesizers, played piano, and served as musical director for the Highlife tour. Rachel co-wrote the Grammy-winning song “Tokyo Blue” with saxophonist Najee. In addition to her 11 albums as a bandleader and her work in groups such as Pino Daniele, Steps Ahead, Vertú, Al Di Meola, Omar Hakim Experience, and Ozmosys (her band with Omar Hakim), she has performed and toured with artists such as George Coleman, Bobby Watson, George Garzone, Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, Terri Lyne Carrington, Al Di Meola, and Regina Carter. She rose to global prominence in Peter Gabriel’s concert films Growing Up Live and Still Growing Up Live.
Omar Hakim: Biography and Collaborations
Widely praised for his versatility, technical prowess and groove, Omar Hakim is one of the most important drummers and session musicians of the last thirty-five years. He has collaborated with artists ranging from Miles Davis to Madonna and has left his mark on hundreds of recordings, including several under his own name. Born in New York City to a musical family, Omar began playing drums at the age of 5. By the age of ten, he was performing publicly with his father Hasan Hakim, a veteran trombonist with Duke Ellington and Count Basie. This period influenced Omar's traditional technique and jazz improvisation and built a solid foundation for his unique drumming style. His father's friendship with John Coltrane ensured that the young Omar spent time with two of jazz's great drummers, Elvin Jones and Art Blakey. Among his most acclaimed collaborations are those with Herbie Hancock, Pino Daniele, Weather Report, Dire Straits, Anita Baker, Sting, Chaka Khan, Mariah Carey, Madonna, Lionel Richie, Bruce Springsteen, Tullio De Piscopo, David Bowie, Kate Bush, Teresa De Sio, Mick Jagger, Miles Davis, Chic, Michael Jackson, Bryan Ferry, Carole King, Everything but the Girl, Marcus Miller, Kazumi Watanabe, Labelle, Lee Ritenour, The Rippingtons, Bobby McFerrin, Jovanotti, Daft Punk and Foo Fighters.
Jonathan Toscano: Young Bass Talent
Jonathan Toscano is an up-and-coming bassist who has collaborated with world-class talent on the international scene. Born in New York, Toscano’s dynamic style on acoustic and electric bass has earned him major recognition with renowned artists. Toscano’s collaborators include Gregoire Maret, Steve Wilson, Jeremy Pelt, Billy Kilson, George Garzon, Ben Perosky, Kader Japonais, Adam Falcon, Richie Morales, Minu Cinelu, Pheeroan Acklaff, Karl Latham, Alan Cave, Oz Noy and more. Currently collaborating with drum maestro Omar Hakim and pianist virtuoso Rachel Z, Toscano’s harmonic range and percussive feel have made him a sought-after man on stage since the beginning of his career.
Ticket Information
Entrance fee: 10 Euro.
Article published on 2 June 2025 - 11:30
An expert in diplomatic and international law, he has worked in the publishing and communications industries for over 30 years. He has served as a representative of local publishers in FIEG, as Director of Canale 10, and as General Manager of Centro Stampa srl. He has a keen understanding of the Caserta area.
The JazzinLaurino festival seems like a very interesting and well-organized event, but I am not sure if I can attend. I would like to know if there are other activities during the week besides concerts, so I can plan my visit better.