The jazz scene in Rome: clubs and events

It may come as a surprise to many of our readers, but if you’re into jazz, you’ll find a particularly lively scene in Rome, in spite of the fact that Italy’s most famous event for this genre is in nearby Perugia, where Umbria Jazz takes place every year, twice a year.

Why is jazz so huge in Rome?

Luigi Toth, Pepito Pignatelli, Mario Ciampà: these are just some of the names of jazz enthusiasts who opened clubs or launched festivals decades ago. It’s largely thanks to them, and more like them, if Rome was established as a major destination for legendary musicians and singers, among them Miles Davis, Chet Baker, Charlie Mingus, Bill Evans, Gato Barbieri, Carmen McRae and so many more.

While these original hangouts all closed down due to what, for the most part, we now would call “gentrification”, their spirit still lives in a number of venues and events that should be part of your itinerary as you visit Rome! We listed some of the most important ones below.

Five jazz venues you should check out in Rome

The Alexanderplatz is one of the longest-running jazz clubs in the Urbe, as it was first opened in 1984. A staple of the Prati neighborhood, it has hosted such icons as Chick Corea, Michel Petrucciani, Chet Baker, Joshua Redman or Etta James. Via Ostia, 9.

The Gregory’s Jazz Club followed in 1996. A short walk from our very own Frattina apartments (like this one), it also operates as a restaurant. Via Gregoriana, 54.

The Cotton Club was opened by singer & actress Minnie Minoprio in the elegant, residential Quartiere Trieste neighborhood. It’s also a restaurant and a co-working space. Concerts are almost a nightly occurrence, the large majority of them by Italian performers. Via Bellinzona, 2 (closest subway stop: Trieste-Annibaliano).

Casa del Jazz is Rome’s biggest jazz club. It also houses a recording studio and a conference hall and is located in a confiscated mansion that used to be owned by a local mafia don. Viale di Porta Ardeatina, 55.

The cozy Charity Café is right in the heart of Monti and opens its doors to different genres such as folk or blues. Via Panisperna, 68.

Keep an eye on these jazz events while in Rome

Roma Jazz Festival

Takes place every year in November at the Auditorium Parco della Musica, one of Rome’s main spaces for live jazz (but do check out its program for an astounding calendar of events, ranging from live music to movie festivals).

JazzImage

Another major festival in Rome, with its stage very close to the Colosseum… at the gardens in Villa Celimontana. You could reach it on foot if staying at, say, Casa Isabella al Colosseo. Takes place every summer.

Tramjazz

While not a festival per se, this is one of Rome’s unique jazz events: an actual, vintage tram coach moves around the city with a live band playing while the paying audience has dinner. Places on board must be booked well in advance because, as you can imagine, there is not a lot of seating! The same types also have concerts going on on a floating boat on the river, aptly called the “Boatjazz”, on Lungotevere degli Anguillara, with people getting on board at the Isola Tiberina island.