Summer is here, and with it come music festivals. And of the wide range on offer, Martelo has its favourites: the jazz festivals. The perfect medley of classic and modern acts makes this genre varied enough to thrill even the most demanding music lovers. There are few better plans than a great dinner with a bottle of Martelo before going out to a concert.

If you’re looking for sun, sand and good music, San Sebastián (Donostia in Basque) is a safe bet. From the 25th to 29th of July, the Jazzaldia festival turns the city into one enormous stage for some captivating jazz music. Concerts are held in a host of settings: in theatres, concert venues and even on the beach. In this edition, the stand-out sets include Rubén Blades, from Panama, and the legendary Chick Corea, a classic of the summer festivals. Old School Funky Family will hit the spot for dance-lovers and for the nostalgic, Mikel Erentxun’s concert will take listeners on a journey through his greatest hits.

Very close to San Sebastián you can find the doyen of Spain’s jazz festivals, at Vitoria-Gasteiz. All the biggest stars of the global jazz scene have passed through this festival: Wynton Marsalis, Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Jamie Cullum and Spain’s Paco de Lucía. This year, the sensual voice of Carla Bruni is one of the main attractions, though there will be plenty of more adventurous acts, such as Al Mckay´s Earth, Wind & & Fire Experience and Brooklyn Funk Essentials.

The saxophonist Maceo Parker has visited Vitoria a number of times, but this year you can catch him at Porta Ferrada Festival 2018, on the Costa Brava. He’s a true jazz virtuoso who learned from the jazz greats but has been able to integrate electronic beats into a repertoire that is always interesting.

Closer to the wine-growing lands where Martelo started life, you can visit the Ezcaray Jazz Festival in La Rioja, which we told you all about in this post.

If the summer holds out a little longer, you can also pay a visit to the Barcelona Jazz Festival, where classics such as Pat Metheny and Chucho Valdés will be performing, as well as more contemporary acts like Sanrky Pupy, a big band that play fusion jazz, and Cory Hendry& & The Funk Apostles. Martelo’s recommendation: The Gramophone Allstars– Eclectic jazz with a touch of reggae.

If you can’t decide, don’t worry: Martelo has been working on this Spotify playlist with some of the best groups and soloists who will play in this year’s main jazz festivals. Press play… and enjoy!