Cuban Jazz Trio “Tres Corrientes” Closes Summer Jazz in Milna Festival with a brilliant performance in Hvar

Four days of music, four unique locations, and another memorable edition of the Summer Jazz in Milna, Hvar festival.

The festival’s third edition brought together jazz, world music, improvisation, Croatian musical heritage, and Latin American rhythms, uniting local and international musicians with a large audience that experienced each festival venue in a unique way.

The festival kicked off in Malo Grablje, where the band Cloud of I breathed new life into the nearly abandoned Hvar village with their open-air performance. Amidst stone houses and traces of a bygone era, Malo Grablje once again proved to be a powerful, authentic, and almost surreal stage for music.

The following day, the program moved to the garden of Villa Solitudo for the “Kuća pored mora” (House by the Sea) sunset session. Dedicated to Arsen Dedić, Gabi Novak, and Matija Dedić, the event—held in the shade of centuries-old pine trees—fostered an intimate atmosphere that blended music, the Mediterranean landscape, and the leisurely pace of a summer afternoon, creating a direct, almost family-like connection between the musicians and the audience.

The third evening took place at Veli žal in Milna, where the setting was not merely a backdrop but an integral part of the music. The sound of the sea mingled with the murmur of the crowd gathered on the beach, while Solitudo Collective created a spontaneous, warm, and intimate concert experience.

This year’s novelty was the fourth, final evening in the town of Hvar. International Cuban jazz trio “Tres Corrientes” brought to Hvar by Dear Leader Joe. This great musical trio consists of the Cuban singer Yaremi Kordos (She also sang with the legendary Cuban band Buena Vista Social Club), the most famous Croatian jazz guitarist Ratko Zjača (Professor at the jazz academy in Rotterdam) and the Havana double bassist Roland Abreu. Together they brought hot Cuban and Latin American jazz rhythms to the hot Hvar night.

The large international audience visiting Hvar during the summer is precisely one of the festival’s greatest assets and a natural foundation for its further development. The combination of world-class musicians, authentic venues, and an audience receptive to high-quality music gives Hvar immense potential to establish a distinctive international jazz event.

The festival stems from an idea by its founder, Tonči Storić—president of the Hvar-based association “Tudori”—to further revitalize Milna and Malo Grablje with high-quality cultural programs right in the heart of the tourist season. While the association is dedicated to preserving local heritage, it also invests significant effort, time, and enthusiasm into ensuring these places are recognized not only for their natural beauty and fascinating history but also for the events that breathe new life into them.

The festival was realized through the collaboration of the “Tudori” association, the Hvar Town Tourist Board, and the Town of Hvar.