We are pleased to announce that, from 23 February to 22 March 2026, guitarist Claudio Quartarone will be in artistic residence in Nairobi as part of the AIR – Artists in Residence programme, conceived by MIDJ and supported by SIAE, in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Europe Jazz Network.
Born in Catania in 1984, Claudio Quartarone is a musician of extraordinary talent, regarded from a very young age as an enfant prodige of classical guitar, before embarking on a path of research and experimentation that led him to jazz and contemporary sound languages. His background, combining classical technique, jazz improvisation and electronics, has shaped a highly personal and immediately recognisable style, appreciated on the international scene.
Throughout his career, he has collaborated with some of the most prominent figures in the international jazz world, including Enrico Rava, Jordan Rudess, Cenk Erdoğan and Francesco Cafiso, and has been involved in numerous recording projects, film soundtracks and multimedia productions. His music, poised between formal rigour and expressive freedom, explores new timbral and narrative possibilities of the guitar, offering audiences an intense and original listening experience.
During his stay in Kenya, Claudio Quartarone will lead masterclasses and perform in concerts open to the public, creating opportunities for encounter, training and musical dialogue with artists, students and music enthusiasts.
Event dates and further details will be announced soon on the website and social media channels of the Italian Cultural Institute of Nairobi. A unique opportunity to experience live one of the most innovative guitarists on the contemporary jazz scene. 🎸✨