as part of the Fabbrica Europa 2026 festival

The young singer Maria Cortesi (b. 2002) takes part in a co-creative project alongside Simone Graziano, who was her teacher during her studies at Siena Jazz.
Human Echoes is an encounter between piano, voice, and strings that highlights the musical and poetic sensibility of the young artist. For this occasion, she will present an original songbook featuring previously unreleased compositions inspired by contemporary issues and current events.
Simone Graziano will guide the music toward a direction that opens the language of song to classical music and jazz, free from preconceptions.

Maria Cortesi, singer and composer, is one of the most promising emerging voices on the Italian music scene, distinguished by her captivating voice and distinctive compositional style. Her artistic path combines a classical vocal training with an openness to sonic innovation and the collective sharing of new artistic ideas.

Widely regarded as one of the most brilliant talents in contemporary Italian jazz, Simone Graziano has built a solid recording career marked by collaborations with internationally renowned artists, including Stefano Bollani, Enrico Pieranunzi, and Kenny Wheeler. In 2021, he recorded his first solo piano album, “Embracing the Future”, released by Auand Records. The album received a “Honorable Mention – New Releases” from The New York City Jazz Record, making it the only Italian album to receive this distinction.