FOR THE LOVE OF JAZZ

There is one museum in Genoa, bang in the city centre, next to Palazzo Ducale, which you might never even notice unless you knew that it is there: the Museo del Jazz.

   I have wanted to visit this place for a long time, but this turned out to be a bit of a mission. I knew that it is open only for couple of hours in the afternoon, but the first time I went the museum was clearly closed and I could not even see, where the entrance might be on Via Tommaso Reggio. There was no signs of the museum even existing in that place. It was a Monday, which is typically not a good day to visit any museums, but I read from somewhere that it might be open - well, it wasn't. But last week I got lucky. The very heavy doors were open, just a fraction. There was a notice in italian that the Museum is open from Tuesdays to Fridays from 5 PM to 7 PM. Bingo!

The Museo del Jazz is just next to Palazzo Ducale, the entrance is on a side street, Via Tommaso Reggio.

The glass door was closed, so I rang the bell. A very friendly, elderly Italian gentleman came to open and let me in. It was immediately clear that this is not a musem in the traditional sense and the gentleman confirmed this to be the case. It is more of an archive where jazz fans can come to listen their favourites or find recordings by a particular artist or an era in jazz, which they want to explore more. It is an amazing place and very clearly run by people who are passionate about jazz.

  The musem, which was founded in 2000,  houses over  10 000 pieces - records, CDs, cassette tapes and videos -  and the collection includes most of  the recordings ever made by Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holliday and other jazz royalty. The museum also organises jazz related gatherings such as lectures of a particular artist/era/style of jazz. And if you want to learn how to play jazz, there is a music school where you could learn how to sing jazz or play sax, clarinet or other instruments. More information (all in italian) can be found from their website - www.italianjazzinstitute.com.

This sign for Lousiana Jazz Club is displayed right next to Palazzo Ducale, but the club is actually located elsewhere in the city, on Via San Sebastiano.

  The museum is attached to the Louisiana Jazz Club, which has been the centre of jazz in Genoa since 1964 and if you want to get to know the jazz scene in Genoa,  that is the place to be on most Thursday evenings (Via San Sebastiano 36). However, it is wise to check in advance on their website (www.louisianajazzclub.com), if there is anything going on. A membership card currently costs 30 euro and it is valid for the whole calendar year, giving access to all concerts at the club. 

 Heaven!