Conad Jazz Contest story tells the protagonists of the past editions of the Contest through a series of interviews with musicians who started their musical careers thanks to their performance on the Conad stage at the Giardini Carducci in Perugia for Umbria Jazz.

In this third appointment and a few days before the opening of registrations for the 2025 Contest, we interviewed for you the winners of the Conad Jazz Contest 2024: Scannapieco-Geremia 5et

The band is composed of Antonio Scannapieco on the trumpet, Pasquale Geremia on the tenor saxophone, Guglielmo Santimone on the piano, Angelo Gregorio on the drums and Giulio Scianatico on the double bass.

The quintet was born from the idea of ​​young musicians combining their art in the service of a constant search for sounds. The passion that unites all the members of the group, and the reason why the quintet was born, is the need to express sounds and timbres, intensity and colors dictated by brass and wood: a perfect combination that encompasses jazz music and its traditions.

Let’s start with the stage of Umbria Jazz: what emotions did you feel when you stepped on the stage of Umbria Jazz in front of the public and critics? What memories do you have today of those emotions?

I think that for all musicians playing on a stage like that is exciting. Playing, moreover, with critics who listen to your music is an extra reason to give your best.

For us young people it is important to be able to compete on that stage also gives you the opportunity to meet new people and allows you to share your music with new musicians.

The band played on other important stages after that performance, thanks to the tour reserved for the winners having stepped on the stages of jazz festivals in L’Aquila, Terni, Orvieto and then played in two famous jazz clubs in Bologna and Ferrara. How did it go?

The band played on important stages, frequented by many jazz enthusiasts. We felt at ease and were able to work very calmly.

We carry with us these important experiences that made us understand the level and quality of these festivals. They are a springboard for our careers.

And after the festivals, the clubs: Bologna and Ferrara. The clubs were fantastic. They were both sold out and the audience, always attentive and warm, transported us to a dimension where we could breathe the true essence of jazz.

Have you received new opportunities following your participation in the Contest and your performances as winners?

Our catchment area has certainly expanded and in fact we have had the opportunity to perform in various regions of Italy, from Friuli to Sicily!

How is your musical project going?

We are working to write new music for our future debut album and to give life to a new concert tour.

New collaborations have been born thanks to the Conad Jazz Contest: we had the opportunity to perform with members of past editions and therefore new projects could certainly be born in the future.

What advice would you give to those who will sign up for future editions of the Contest?

To sign up without pretensions and to enjoy the fabulous experience that Umbria Jazz offers in those days of July.

Then for the winning group to have fun on the various dates of the all-jazz tour!