Roberto Pianca Quartet  
Johnathan Blake  

The Ticino-based guitarist Roberto Pianca returns to Jazz in Bess with his quartet, accompanied by the American drummer Johnathan Blake. The concert marks the conclusion of an artistic residency and presents a new programme, blending compositional exploration with a dialogue with one of the most prominent figures on the global jazz scene.

An internationally active guitarist and composer from Ticino, Roberto Pianca has, over the years, forged a career that intertwines personal projects with collaborations with leading musicians across Europe and the United States. Trained at the Amsterdam Conservatory, he has developed a musical approach reflected both in his work as a bandleader and in his collaborations, including the Third Reel trio released by ECM. With his quartet, he presents a new work at Jazz in Bess, developed during an artistic residency.
The project’s guest is the American drummer Johnathan Blake, a leading figure on the contemporary jazz scene. Active both in projects under his own name and in collaboration with other musicians, he has recorded for the Blue Note label and has distinguished himself through works that intertwine musical expression with personal reflection, often linked to social themes and individual experience.
The concert thus reflects an evolving process, in which composition and improvisation develop through direct interaction between the musicians.