Formed in Florence in 2023, the sextet stood out “for the precision of their arrangements and the balance of their solo contributions,” earning them the top prize of €5,000 to support their artistic development. The award also includes a national tour of Italy’s top jazz venues, year-round promotion across the Contest’s official social media channels, and the release of an EP produced by Universal Music Italy.
The official announcement was made live on Radio Monte Carlo by Stefano Bragatto, the station’s director and president of the artistic jury. The jury evaluated the live performances of the ten finalist bands, held on July 14, 15, and 16 on the Conad Stage at Umbria Jazz in Perugia’s Giardini Carducci, in front of a large and enthusiastic audience.
Saihs is composed of:
Giulio Tullio – trombone
Giulio Mari – trumpet
Giulio Barsotti – double bass
Matteo Zecchi – tenor saxophone
Edoardo Battaglia – drums
Lorenzo Fiorentini – piano
The group performs a repertoire of original jazz compositions, drawing on modern and contemporary jazz idioms, along with fresh arrangements of classic standards.
The prizes awarded to Saihs mark a major step forward in their career, starting with a performance at Il Jazz Italiano per L’Aquila (September 6–7, 2025), followed by appearances at Umbria Jazz Winter #32 in Orvieto (December 28, 2025 – January 1, 2026), and a tour of leading jazz clubs across Italy.
The Most Promising Musician Award went to Vincenzo Di Gioia of New Apulian Wave, who secured a spot at the Berklee Summer School during the Umbria Jazz Clinics 2026.
Supporting Umbria Jazz and nurturing emerging talent is part of Conad’s sustainability strategy, “Sosteniamo il futuro” (“Supporting the Future”), which is built around three pillars: environment and resources, people and community, businesses and local territories.
More info and contest rules: www.conadjazzcontest.it
Official Conad Jazz Contest social media
Facebook: facebook.com/conadjazzcontest
Instagram: instagram.com/conadjazzcontest
