xjazz

art and culture
XJazz

xjazz

Since 2012, XJAZZZ- Encontros do Jazz nas Aldeias do Xisto has invited Portuguese and international artists for immersive experience in the villages, through artistic residencies and concerts, crossing cultural identity, landscapes and the sounds.

Presentation

XJazz – Jazz Series in the Aldeias do Xisto started in May 2012, by JACC – Jazz ao Centro Club and ADXTUR – Schist Village Network Tourism Development Agency. In the cosmopolitan spirit of openness, the musicians are invited to immerse themselves in the reality of the villages, through artistic residencies and concerts, crossing cultural identity, landscapes and the sound arts. The opening up of this territory to creativity and artistic expression is further reinforced by XJazz, strengthening Aldeias do Xisto’s assets and values as a brand that welcomes experimentation, innovation and the connection between humans, places, art and nature. XJAZZ creates a matrix of identification of the territory with artistic enjoyment and creation of an experimental nature, with special emphasis on jazz. This journey has been made by combining the creative dimension with the territory's indigenous resources – heritage, tradition, cuisine, nature, and natural and cultural landscape – linking them with non-material ways of enhancing their quality, uniqueness and differentiation.

Sacred heroes and emerging names

Throughout its existence, dozens of concerts, artistic residencies and four albums’ releases, XJAZZ has already established itself as one of the most important musical moments of the year. Throughout these events, several “big names" in world jazz have visited and played in the Aldeias do Xisto, such as Bill Frisel, Evan Parker, Hamid Drake, William Parker, Joëlle Léandre and Paolo Angeli. A pantheon, where emerging names also shine, that will continue to grow, affirming the Aldeias do Xisto as a place of culture, creation and inspiration open to the world.

Album publishing

Four records were released as part of the XJazz artistic residencies. In 2014, the quintet consisting of Marcelo dos Reis, Angélica Salvi, Nuno Torres, Miguel Carvalhais and João Pais Filipe recorded "Xisto". At the end of the same year, "Guitolão", by Carlos Barretto and António Eustáquio, was released. Both works are the result of artistic residencies developed in the Aldeia do Xisto of Cerdeira, in Lousã. In 2015, Slow is Possible release their self titled album, recorded in Aldeia do Xisto of Fajão, in Pampilhosa da Serra. In 2021 the album "Fonte Grande” was launched by María Villanueva, Vânia Couto, Yoshida Carvalho, Lucas de Centi and Sandra Pérez, recorded in Fundão, in the context of the residency held in the Aldeia do Xisto of Barroca, in the summer of 2019. Different sounds, but with common points: creativity, authenticity and sharing.

Rich and diverse artistic programme

Year after year, XJazz has a rich and diverse programme which, although focused on jazz, includes other zones and is an advocate for “sound ecology”. With an arts programme that is rooted in the culture of the places, the Encounters are deeply anchored in the context of the places, benefiting from their social and environmental context for unique moments of creation, enjoyment and sharing.

Artistic residences – Giving and receiving

The implementation of a project with the nature and scope of XJAZZ, in a territory with the characteristics of the Aldeias do Xisto, implies the proximity and involvement of the local inhabitants, economic and cultural agents. The immersion in artistic residencies and the public presentation of the resulting work assumes a dual role. If, on the one hand, it nurtures feelings of belonging and local identity in the musicians, which contribute to the creative process, on the other hand, it brings together and involves the community that welcomes them and sees part of their identity reflected in the creations and performances. In the end, the objective is always the same: to value people and places, and to open up the villages to new audiences.

editions

XJazz invites portuguese and foreign artists to explore and share culture, landscapes and musical arts.

explore

restaurants
Safra Restaurant
Safra Restaurant
restaurants
Museu da Chanfana
Museu da Chanfana
Miranda do Corvo
restaurants
As Beiras
As Beiras
Pampilhosa da Serra
restaurants
Callum
Callum
Oleiros
restaurants
Fiado
Fiado
Janeiro de Cima
restaurants
Casa da Ti Augusta
Casa da Ti Augusta
Figueira
restaurants
Ponte Velha
Ponte Velha
Sertã
restaurants
Adega dos Apalaches
Adega dos Apalaches
Roqueiro
restaurants
Sabores da Aldeia Restaurant
Sabores da Aldeia Restaurant
lodging
Aqua Village Health Resort & SPA
Aqua Village Health Resort & SPA
Caldas de São Paulo
lodging
Casas de Água Formosa
Casas de Água Formosa
Vila de Rei
lodging
Aldeia Oliveiras
Aldeia Oliveiras
Proença-a-Nova
lodging
A Boa Vida do Campo
A Boa Vida do Campo
Tábua
lodging
Camping Oleiros
Camping Oleiros
Oleiros
lodging
Casa do Talasnal
Casa do Talasnal
Talasnal
lodging
Casa Lausus
Casa Lausus
Talasnal
lodging
Casa do Caminheiro Hostel
Casa do Caminheiro Hostel
Talasnal
lodging
Mountain Whisper
Mountain Whisper
Gondramaz
heritage
Religious tour in Pedrógão Pequeno
Religious tour in Pedrógão Pequeno
village
Martim Branco
Martim Branco
tour
PR1 PPS - Fajão Schist trails  – Climbing the cliffs
PR1 PPS - Fajão Schist trails – Climbing the cliffs
Casas do Rio
offer
Night Canoeing I Starlight Journey
Night Canoeing I Starlight Journey
village
Comareira
Comareira
heritage
Chapel of São Sebastião
Chapel of São Sebastião
tour
The Tagus Route - Souto Rest Area > Cabeça Gorda Rest Area - GRZ on Foot: Stage 4
The Tagus Route - Souto Rest Area > Cabeça Gorda Rest Area - GRZ on Foot: Stage 4
offer
Starlight Journey at the Geoscope (Fajão)
Starlight Journey at the Geoscope (Fajão)
tour
Mining Territory - Cabeço do Pião > Barroca - GRZ on Foot: Stage 2
Mining Territory - Cabeço do Pião > Barroca - GRZ on Foot: Stage 2
village
Benfeita
Benfeita
offer
Levada Route
Levada Route
heritage
Igreja Matriz de Aldeia das Dez
Igreja Matriz de Aldeia das Dez

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Raiz d'Aldeia 2025
Raiz d'Aldeia 2025
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11 jul 2025 - 05 dec 2025, 20:30
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17 jul 2025 - 20 jul 2025, 17:00
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Ceramics and Wood-Firing Course
Ceramics and Wood-Firing Course
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Benfeita Trail 2025
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