As one of the main musical events in Italy, Umbria Jazz is renowned internationally for high quality performances and a beautiful location in the city of Perugia. Celebrating its 45th anniversary this summer, the Umbria Jazz festival presented more than 500 artists in 250 concerts in various venues throughout the city, attracting an audience of over 450,000.

Highlights of the first Umbria festival in 1973 included electric fusion with Weather Report, led by Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter and experimental stylings from the lively Sun Ra Arkestra. Over the past 45 years all the greats have played at the festival, including Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughan, Art Blakey, Charles Mingus, Gil Evans, Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker, Cecil Taylor, Archie Shepp and Keith Jarrett. Today, the top acts in jazz and contemporary music continue to perform, along with a host of emerging talent.