GARY BURTON-MAKOTO OZONE DUO @ TEATRO TURRENO

An enthusiastic and appreciative audience greeted vibraphonist Gary Burton and pianist Makoto Ozone when they took the stage at the Teatro Turreno on 16 July for a concert that, during its first half, celebrated important figures in the history of how Burton’s instrument has been used in jazz, and during
the second half featured selections from the duo’s latest CD, Virtuosi, on which they perform jazz arrangements of classical music compositions. Burton is part of an illustrious lineage of mallet players who can trace their roots back to pioneers like Red Norvo and Lionel Hampton and modernists like Milt Jackson and Cal Tjader. He paid tribute to these figures performing the John Mongo Santamaria composition “Afro-Blue” which was a hit for Tjader, the ragtime influenced “Hole In The Wall” which Norvo recorded on the xylophone in 1933, Jackson’s signature composition “Bags Groove” and “Opus Half” which Hampton recorded as a member of the Benny Goodman Quartet in 1938. Jackson was also a member of the Modern Jazz Quartet whose distinctive sound can best be described as “chamber jazz.”  continua

(a cura di Mitchell Feldman)

PAT MARTINO QUARTET 

Guitarist Pat Martino, who had been holding court with his quartet each midnight in La Turrenetta since UJ 2002 kicked off on 12 July moved into the larger Turreno Theatre on 16 July for an inspired set of modern jazz classics and original compositions that showcase the technical virtuosity and creative ingenuity of this master jazz guitarist. Martino, whose residency during UJ Winter #9 in Orvieto earlier this year was one of the highlights of that event, obviously had Miles Davis on his mind as his set included several songs either written by or associated with Davis including the ballad “Someday My Prince Will Come” from the animated Walt Disney classic Snow White & The Seven Dwarves, Sonny Rollins’ “Oleo” and “Blue In Green” ...  continua

(a cura di Mitchell Feldman)

MIAMI DADE COMMUNITY COLLEGE BAND  

It is well known that most American colleges and Universities have their own big band, MIAMI DADE included. The Miami Dade Community College band however distinguish themselves from other American college bands in that they are brilliant. The band has only seven members who play their electric wind instruments supported by a real acid jazz rhythm.  They featured a selection of modern musical standards on the borderline of funky and also showed the ability to play as accomplished soloists. They are talented musicians yet still young with much to discover. 

(a cura di Giovanni Serrazanetti)

CHUCKY C & CLEARLY BLUE: STARS OF CARDUCCI GARDENS

Today at 1 pm CHUCKY C & CLEARLY BLUE played at the Alfa Soul Stage in one of his energy filled shows. 
The group, a quintet playing electric instruments, led by the saxophonist and singer Charles Elam, alias Chucky C, and supported by the talented drummer Charles Chapman, play in a style somewhere between blues, soul and funk, characterised by simple harmonies, powerful, solid rhythms and improvisations by the soloists.

(a cura di Giovanni Serrazanetti)

RAY GELATO YET AGAIN ENERGISES THE AUDIENCE

Yesterday evening at 11:00 p.m. Ray Gelato took the audience to a frenzied state at the Alfa Soul Stage & Louisiana Corner. Ray Gelato is a master of 50’s swing and his performance included both famous pieces loved by all and exciting originals. The Gelato band played beautiful melodies with easy harmonies and dancing rhythm. The band features excellent musicians whose repertoire is composed around 150 pieces. Ray Gelato is a great international music entertainer, being invited to play at Paul McCartney’s wedding, among many other important gigs.  continua

(a cura di Giovanni Serrazanetti)