Mercan Dede and *The Antidote*

The Mediterranean and the Middle East, jazz and cross-cultural music: on Monday 27 July (9.00 pm | info at ponderosa.it | tickets available on Ticketone – Ticketmaster), the Castello Volante in Corigliano d’Otranto will host a preview of the 2026 edition of Salento Jazz, the festival dedicated to the languages of contemporary jazz, organised and produced by Ponderosa Music & Art, which oversees its artistic and programme development. The evening will feature two concerts spanning tradition, electronic music, improvisation and contemporary experimentation. At 9.00 pm, Mercan Dede will open the programme; an artist who blends traditional instruments, Sufi culture and electronic music. At 10.00 pm, L’Antidote will take to the stage – a trio comprising Bijan Chemirani, Rami Khalifé and Redi Hasa, whose music moves between jazz, Mediterranean music and fusion sounds. Following this first summer event, Salento Jazz will continue in the autumn with a series of concerts and talks dedicated to Italian and international projects. The programme, which will be announced in the coming weeks, will bring some of the most interesting figures from the jazz, world and contemporary music scenes to the province of Lecce, reaffirming the festival’s focus on the most open-minded and contemporary forms of musical exploration. Salento Jazz 2026 is organised by Ponderosa Music & Art, in collaboration with the Salento Jazz Association, with the support of the Puglia Region | POC Puglia 2021–2027 – Action Line 6.2 ‘Enhancement and Promotion of Culture, Creativity and Talent’, with the support of Caroli Hotels and in collaboration with numerous public and private organisations.

THE ARTISTS
Mercan Dede is a Turkish-Canadian musician, composer and producer who ranks among the most influential figures in contemporary world music. A master of the ney, the ancient flute of the Sufi tradition, for over thirty years he has been weaving together Eastern spirituality, traditional instruments and electronic music, creating a unique musical language that bridges East and West. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with artists such as Dhafer Youssef, Trilok Gurtu, Natacha Atlas and Ludovico Einaudi, performing at major festivals and theatres around the world.

L’Antidote was born out of a collaboration between the Iranian percussionist Bijan Chemirani, the Lebanese pianist Rami Khalifé and the Albanian cellist Redi Hasa. Following an initial creative session in 2020, the project came to fruition a few years later, giving rise to music that weaves together the Mediterranean and the Middle East, tradition and modernity, composition and improvisation. The result is an elegant and deeply evocative repertoire, built on mutual listening and the expressive freedom of the three musicians. Blending Persian influences, Balkan atmospheres and contemporary sensibilities, L’Antidote gives shape to an original musical language, capable of transforming diversity into dialogue and sharing into beauty.

THE FESTIVAL
Salento Jazz is a long-established live music venue, active for almost forty years and regarded as one of the most established names in Italian jazz. With a focus on research and the languages of contemporary jazz, the festival has played a decisive role in popularising the genre across the region, transforming it from a niche offering into a shared, intergenerational cultural experience. Its long history, collaborations with musicians and institutions, and strong local roots have made Salento Jazz a permanent fixture on the live music scene. Since 2025, it has been organised and produced by Ponderosa Music and Art. Last year’s edition saw singer-songwriter Simona Molinari, Raphael Gualazzi, Avion Travel, Nesrine, Bassolino, Dario Jacque, Thomas Umbaca and The Gospel Times take to the stage.