William Parker,  Hamid Drake,  Luís Vicente,  John Dikeman, Maria Vilanueva, Vânia Couto, Sandra Pérez, Yoshida Carvalho, Lucas de Centi, Valente Maio,  Luís Antero  and Susana China & Guilherme Pinto. This is the XJazz - Jazz Sessions in the Aldeias do Xisto 2019 line-up.

Since 2012, the ADXTUR - Schist Villages Tourism Development Agency and the  JAAC- Jazz ao Centro Clube  have been renewing their invitation to national and foreign artists  for a period of immersion in the world of the villages, through arts residencies and concerts, crossing cultural identity, landscapes and the sound arts.

If the cosmopolitan and open spirit of the Villages continues to be a fundamental characteristic, clearly evident in the opening of the 2019 season with a concert that brings together the North Americans, William Parker, Hamid Drake and John Dikeman (the latter based in Amsterdam) and the Portuguese trumpeter Luís Vicente, the current season embraces a strong local dimension, whether through the beginning of artistic experimentations around the project Xisto Sonoro - Paisagens Sonoras das Aldeias do Xisto, by sound landscape artist Luís Antero, or through the artist residency of creativity and recording led by Vânia Couto and Maria Villanueva.

The eighth edition of these encounters in the Aldeias do Xisto’s arts programme is rooted in the genuine identity and culture of the villages, benefiting from its social and environmental surroundings for unique moments of creativity, discovery and sharing. In this regard, it is worth recalling that, over the last few years, the Aldeias do Xisto have hosted nearly 40 concerts and 6 artists’ residencies. During the artists’ residencies, 3 albums were produced: "Guitolão", by Carlos Barretto and António Eustáquio, "Xisto" by the quintet of Marcelo dos Reis, Angélica Salvi, Nuno Torres, Miguel Carvalhais and João Pais Filipe (both recorded in the Aldeia do Xisto of Cerdeira, Lousã) and Slow is Possible’s self-titled album (recorded in Fajão, Pampilhosa da Serra). The solo work (percussion and electronics) by Pedro Melo Alves is in production, recorded in 2018, in Aldeia das Dez (Oliveira do Hospital).
 

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.

PROGRAMME

• Quartet
  William Parker – double bass
  Hamid Drake – percussion
  Luís Vicente – trumpet
  John Dikeman – saxophone
  Aldeia do Xisto of Fajão, Pampilhosa da Serra
  20 July
   
• Creative residency by Maria Vilanueva and Vânia Couto, with Sandra Pérez, Yoshida Carvalho and Lucas de Centi
  Aldeia do Xisto Shop in Barroca, Fundão
  23 July to 6  August
  Public presentation on 4 August  | Casa Grande | 7pm
   
• Valente Maio
  Manuel Maio - Violin
  José Valente - Viola
  Aldeia do Xisto of  Gondramaz, Miranda do Corvo
  24 August | 9.30 pm
   
• Xisto Sonoro, by Luís Antero
  Aldeia do Xisto of Janeiro de Cima, Fundão
  25 October  | 9.30pm
   
• Susana China & Guilherme Pinto
  Aldeia do Xisto of Cerdeira, Lousã: part of the From Masters and Chefs  initiative.
  26th October | 9:30pm

There’s no shortage of reasons for you to join us. Plan your entire stay at bookinxisto.com.