International jazz festival: Jazz is back BP

Every year, the international Jazz Is Back! BP festival brings an outstanding programme to Grožnjan, combining top-class concerts, educational workshops and the distinctive atmosphere of this artists’ town.

For decades, Grožnjan  has lived and breathed music, visual art and international cultural exchange, making it a natural home for a festival built around sharing, listening and freedom of expression.

The World’s Smallest Jazz Metropolis

The festival was founded in 1999 by Boško Petrović, one of the leading figures in Croatian jazz, with a clear vision: to create a place where jazz could grow and bring together different generations of like-minded musicians. That vision became a remarkable success. The dedication and enthusiasm invested in both the festival and the Summer Jazz School led to major international recognition, and in 2008 the European Jazz Federation named Jazz Is Back! BP the best small jazz festival in Europe.

Yet the festival’s international character is perhaps even more evident in the streets than in the awards it has received. Every summer, Grožnjan welcomes participants from more than 20 countries, with young musicians playing a particularly important role as they continue the jazz tradition alongside experienced mentors.

Two Weeks of Jazz With a View to Match

At the heart of the festival evenings is Balwan City – the Belvedere terrace, where the view almost rivals the music. Surrounded by simple wooden benches under the open sky, with sound carrying towards the olive groves and vineyards, this is where Jazz Is Back! BP feels most special.

For many, though, the festival’s most memorable moments happen elsewhere: young musicians playing in the town squares, spontaneous jam sessions, and encounters in which the lines between mentor and student, audience and performer, planning and improvisation simply disappear.

Boško Petrović: The Heart and Soul of Jazz in Grožnjan

The initials BP stand for one of the most important figures in Croatian jazz. Boško Petrović’s versatility is evident in the range of instruments he played – vibraphone, accordion, drums, and piano – as well as in his work as a composer, bandleader, producer, promoter, and record-label founder. Most importantly for the Grožnjan story, he was also a deeply committed jazz educator. He founded and led the Summer Jazz School in Grožnjan from 1999 until his death in 2011. 

BP Evening, together with other jazz events in Grožnjan and the recently installed bust of Petrović, keeps alive the memory of the man whose energy left such a strong mark on the festival and helped turn this small Istrian town into an important destination on Europe’s jazz map.

The programme can also be followed via live stream on the Municipality of Grožnjan’s YouTube channel – but nothing quite compares with being there in person, under the open sky at Balwan City.