"Umbria Jazz by the Sea" began in 1991 as a result of collaboration between the Fano City Tourist Department and the Umbria Jazz Association, creating a sea-side addition to the famous Umbria Jazz Festival. After two years this collaboration gave birth to an event which recreated the early 20th Century American River Boat tradition, when jazz bands sailed along the Mississippi river entertaining the public by playing gospel and other music. Before long Fano realised the possibility of creating its own music festival and the first season of "Fano Jazz by the Sea" in 1993 confirmed that the city of Fano was the right place for developing an event of this kind. The festival provides the public with music performances in various attractive corners of the city and along the beach. The vast presence of Italian musicians and free entrance to most of the events has helped to bring increasing acclaim for the event and to ensure its success. A major turning point took place in 1995 when Fano Jazz Club took over sole responsibility for the organisation and management of the festival. Under the artistic leadership of the president of Fano Jazz Club, Adriano Pedini, the fame of the festival has spread so that it is now the most prestigious jazz event in the Marche and among the top five in Italy. The last few festivals have also brought greater interest from many parts of the private sector with financial sponsorship of the festival. The programme for Fano Jazz by the sea 2000 saw a greater number of concerts with increased local participation and also an new artistic organisation for an event which has now become a major summer event for the Adriatic coast. Info: Assessorato alla Cultura tel. +39.0721.887412-3 fax +39.0721.825181 email: cultura@mobilia.it