Thanks to all of you for your patience during my vacation break. Now, let's get back to planning yours! Let's start by taking a look at some new musical events and dates recently added to the calendar for the summer.

This year's dates for Jazz Ascona, the most important festival in Europe dedicated to classical, New Orleans style jazz, are June 21 through July 1, 2012. The 28th edition of the annual ten-day festival will continue its tradition of several years now of inaugurating the event with an opening night of jazz in Stresa, on June 20. This year's Jazz Ascona festival is entitled "Sophisticated Lady," and will be primarily focused on women in jazz. In addition to the Stresa perfromance, this year two other performances are scheduled in Italy: On June 24 and July 1 Cannobio will be the site of concerts. 

Three Friday evenings in June. Three different bands performing in Piazza Cadorna in the Bande in Concerto show. Here are the perfromances and dates: Friday, June 8 - Corpo Musicale Mottarone directed by Renato De audenzi; Friday, June 22 - Corpo Musicale di Bannio directed by Antonio Manti; and Friday, June 29 - Banda Musicale di Baceno directed by Michele Mandarini. 

Ameno Blues 

The dates for the 8th edition of the annual summer Ameno Blues festival are set. Between June 22 and July 14 there will be six evenings of excellent blues music performed at various venues around Ameno. Ameno is a town outside of Orta on Lago d'Orta, and these venues are most easily reached by car. The full schedule and more information can be seen at:

www.amenoblues.it