The 40th edition of JazzAscona is entering its last two evenings, as usual the most intense ones, with highlights such as the the Swiss Jazz Award to the Swiss Jazz Orchestra, the Ascona Jazz Award to the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, and the second Swiss Armed Forces Big Band concert.

Friday 28, the Swiss Jazz Orchestra, a world-class big band, for the first time guest of JazzAscona, will perform on the main stage and receive the Swiss Jazz Award 2024 “for its extraordinary commitment to keeping alive and renewing the jazz tradition, and by virtue of its many collaborations with great contemporary artists”. Founded in 2003, the orchestra is the most active big band of Switzerland, with 30 engagements a year in Berne alone and over 800 concerts performed to date. The orchestra performs projects in a wide variety of styles and collaborates with stars such as George Gruntz, Franco Ambrosetti, Jerry Bergonzi, Bob Mintzer and many more.

In addition to the concert by the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra (Elvezia Stage, 21:00 – 22:00), we would like to draw the attention of flamenco lovers to La de Triana (Chiesa Stage, from 19:30), a formation that we will admire in a large ensemble with two dancers, two guitarists, a female singer, a male singer and a percussionist.

Last but not least, on Elvezia Stage at 23:3o, a concert with Tom McGuire & the Brassholes, popular funk-soul group from Glasgow which is conquering the festival scene in Europe with its combination of sophisticated arrangements, songwriting and spectacular live performances. Not to be missed!