Becoming a must-see event for Jazz enthusiasts, the Jazz Marathon on Sept. 20th at Teatro Ventaglio Smeraldo hosts a performance tailored for children plus three jazz concerts. Artists of great prestige are on the program, three of which have been recognized by the 2009 Jazz Awards (Carla Bley won disc of the year for Appearing Nightly, Steve Swallow as best electric bass, and Hamid Drake as percussionist of the year). Entrance for the concert-performance for kids € 5 Tickets for all other concerts € 15 Two concerts € 20 Three concerts € 30 (if bought together)

• 3 p.m. The Stories of Jazz (concert-performance for kids and teenagers) This year the Marathon has been enriched with a performance created to bring kids closer to Afro-american music by using story telling inspired by great musicians from the annals of jazz history, with live music, readings, projections, and interactive games. Roberto Piumini, Claudio Comini, narrators Corrado Guarino, piano Guido Bombardieri, bass clarinet, alto saxophone Tito Mangialajo Rantzer, double bass Stefano Bertoli, drums Purchase tickets

• 5:30 p.m. The Swallow Quartet The new quartet of the New Yorker, bassist Steve Swallow, presenting a synthesis of his vast artistic career, with Carla Bley on Hammond organ, returning to Milano with the instrument in which she launched her career. Steve Swallow, bass Carla Bley, Hammond B3 Chris Cheek, tenor saxophone Steve Cardenas, guitar Purchase tickets

• 7:30 p.m. Trio Salis-Angeli-Drake This trio mixes forms of Sardinian music, traditional and popular as well as music more audacious, incorporating radical improvisation, thanks in part to one of the most requested contemporary jazz drummers. Antonello Salis, piano and accordian Paolo Angeli, prepared sardegnian guitar Hamid Drake, drums, percussion Purchase tickets

• 10 p.m. Ben Allison & Man Size Safe The absorbing formation of the American bassist is capable of giving spacious improvisations of stimulating dimensions with a variety that renders their music rich with fresh ideas. Ben Allison, double bass Michael Blake, tenor and soprano saxophone Ron Horton, trumpet Steve Cardenas, guitar Rudy Royston, drums Purchase tickets