Jack Savoretti: A Hometown Boy at Lugano's Estival Jazz

The 45th edition of Estival Jazz ended a few days ago, but the air in Lugano still seems to contain traces of the powerful notes, of the refined and vibrant melodies that enlivened Piazza Riforma from July 10th to 12th. Like every year, Estival Jazz brought internationally renowned musicians and bands to the shores of the lake, allowing local audiences and visitors to enjoy top-quality concerts. Yet, one fact of great importance might have escaped less attentive observers. One of the performers who performed on the stage in Piazza Riforma is a man who grew up in Lugano. Indeed, a true hometown boy.

Let's talk about Jack Savoretti, an Italian-English singer who performed in Lugano on the closing night of Estival Jazz on July 12th. The singer-songwriter—who has already released eight albums—was born in 1983 in Westminster to an Italian father and a mother of Polish and German descent, and then ended up spending much of his youth in Lugano, where he also studied.

Before developing a passion for music, Jack Savoretti had a long interest in poetry. As he himself admitted, as a young man, he spent a lot of time writing, often under the trees, with only a notebook and pen for company. It was his mother who introduced him to the guitar. After giving him one as a gift, she suggested her son try turning his poems into songs. After his first attempts, Savoretti was very surprised that people were much more likely to listen to a song than to read a poem. From that moment on, Savoretti knew he had found his element. Music had become his primary means of interacting with the world.

Career in focus

Jack Savoretti began playing guitar at 16. Shortly thereafter, he signed his first contract with De-angelis Productions, through which he released his first two albums. Savoretti became known to international audiences thanks to a promotional tour organized in collaboration with the Caffe' Nero brand, as well as through the inclusion of some of his songs in various television series, such as One Three Hill.

Savoretti's artistic growth has continued uninterrupted since then. The following years saw his third album and other prestigious collaborations, such as those with Sienna Miller and Janet Devlin. A major success came in 2015, thanks to his first album released on a major label (BMG Chrysalis). Written in Scars reached number seven in the UK Album Chart and remained there for 41 weeks. Some of his singles, such as "Home" and "The Other Side of Love," were acclaimed throughout Europe, including during numerous tours. The singer continued to consolidate his position on the global music scene and performed in prestigious venues, such as the Italian town of Portofino.

In the following years, collaborations with other artists became increasingly important. In 2018, for example, the Anglo-Italian singer collaborated with Kylie Minogue on the song "Music's Too Sad Without You." Particularly familiar to Lugano audiences is one of his latest albums, Miss Italia, released in 2024 and featuring mostly Italian-language songs.

Over the course of a career spanning over twenty years, Jack Savoretti has continually evolved, maintaining his strong poetic roots clearly visible (or audible) and capitalizing on the Anglo-Saxon and Italian influences that have always characterized his life. In this way, thanks also to events like Estival Jazz, the singer is increasingly appreciated by international audiences.

Did you know?

In addition to speaking fluent Italian, Jack Savoretti is a fan of the Italian football team Genoa C.F.C. Savoretti's grandfather led the Italian partisan movement in Genoa, fighting the German occupation during World War II. He is married to British actress Jemma Powell, with whom he has three children.