Guillermo Terraza, Carlo Micheli, Claudio Filippini, Simone Pacelli, Mauro De Federicis, Renzo Ruggieri, Samuele Garofoli, Giacomo Salario, Lucio Turco, Riccardo Biseo and Maria Gabriella Castiglione.

I hadn’t until this morning. I came across a notice indicating that they all had at least three things in common.

• They are musicians.
• They play jazz.
• They’re playing in Pescara.

Over the next six months, starting on 20 November and finishing on 16 April, these artists are playing in Pescara as part of a Sabato in Concerto Jazz series.

There’s a concert every two weeks (with a bit of a break over the Christmas period) in the Maison des Arts, Fondazione Pescarabruzzo, Corso Umberto I, 83.

It kicks off with the Guillermo Terraza Trio on 20 November 2010 at 18.00.

Here’s the full schedule

• 20 November – Guillermo Terraza Trio “Proxima Estaciòn”
• 4 December – Carlo Micheli Jazz Quartet
• 8 January – Claudio Filippini Piano Solo
• 22 January – Simone Pacelli Octet
• 5 February – Mauro De Federicis & Renzo Ruggieri
• 19 February – Samuele Garofoli Urban Quartet
• 5 March – Angelucci – Chiacchiaretta Duo impromptu
• 19 March – Giacomo Salario Trio
• 2 April – Lucio Turco Trio featuring Riccardo Biseo
• 16 April -Maria Gabriella Castiglione “Atmosphere”

I figure there must be at least one or two Jazz fans from Abruzzo who read this blog, know these artists and can comment on what we can expect.

Also maybe somebody has been to the venue, Maison des Arts, and can indicate if this is likely to be formal concert or a fun gig.

What I do know is that the events are free. So if you are interested and are in the Pescara area you have a chance to see some excellent musicians and save some Euros in the process.

Now I like Jazz. There I’ve said it; it’s out in the open.

I love going to live gigs in dingy bars and discovering a new artist or band that takes the place by storm.

When I’m in Pescara I tend to pop in to the local music shops and ask what they’ve got that’s new, and what they’ve got by Abruzzese artists.

I discovered Tony Pancella and Simona Molinari that way. When I say “discovered” I only mean that I’m now aware of their music not that I made them famous. (That probably didn’t need explaining, did it?)

Pescara has a good Jazz scene and every year it hosts Pescara Jazz usually bagging some really well known international artists. In July of last year the festival had Dianna Krall and Pat Metheny. The previous year they had Ahmad Jamal, George Benson and Chick Corea.

Apart from these big names, the festival has plenty of local talent on display also.

But if you can’t wait until Pescara Jazz 2011 maybe the Sabato in Concerto Jazz 2010/2011 in Pescara will keep you satisfied.

Post from: About Abruzzo

Jazzy Saturdays in Pescara, Abruzzo

Share/Save

Related posts:

1. Pescara Jazz 2009 The line-up for the 2009 Pescara Jazz festival is impressive....
2. Chieti: Benefit Concert Saturday 30 May 21:00 On Saturday in Chieti there is a benefit concert for...
3. Impressions of Pescara The first time I saw Pescara I took the not...

I didn’t always feel so positive towards them. In fact there was a time I agreed whole heartedly with this quote from Sir Thomas Beecham (1879 – 1961)

Brass bands are all very well in their place – outdoors and several miles away.

But as I’ve said they’ve grown on me. They’ve grown on me so much that I almost went to the Festival Internazionale di Bande Musicali XI Edizione Giulianova back in May. The only thing that stopped me was the Cantine Aperte weekend, which clashed with Giulianova’s marching band competition. What could I do? There are so many cantine and so little time! Next year the festival in Giulianova is on from 2nd to 5th June maybe I’ll get there in 2011.

But time spent in Abruzzo is rarely a marching band free zone. On 24th May a band spent the day in Loreto Aprutino as part of the San Zopito festival. The band came from Ailano in Campania and made the 3 hour journey to Loreto Aprutino to help keep the locals, and anyone else that visited, entertained on the last day of the Festa di San Zopito.

My first real life encounter with an Italian marching band was in Cepagatti (PE) in 2007. We were on the road from Chieti (CH) to Penne (PE) and out came a traffic policeman with his hand raised for us to stop.

This was a potentially traumatic moment! It was our first time driving in Italy, trying to understand unfamiliar road signs and getting used to being on the other side of the road. Not really knowing where we were going, trying to do a crash course in map reading, attempting to avoid motorways – all these elements added up to us having broken some rule and we were about to have an Italian-English conversation that was going to be difficult.

After waiting a moment we heard the sound; a marching band was walking through the town helping to commemorate an important feast day in the town’s calendar. We’d been asked to stop to give them a chance to do their job. Once they passed we were off the hook and could continue to on our desperate journey to find our destination.

For this year’s Festa di San Zopito the band from Ailano, or to give its full title Storico Gran Concerto Banistico Cittá di Ailano, was fantastic. Under the guiding hand of Nicola Hansalik Samale (Maestro Direttore Concertatore) it delivered all day long.

It started around 08:30 when the musicians made their way through the streets to the town monument and played a salute. Later they changed their uniform and played as the relics of San Zopito passed through the town. But it was later still, at around 21:00 that they really came into their own. With Il Maestro Nicola Hansalik Samale in change they treated their audience to some bitter-sweet music by Puccini.

We all sat around the temporary bandstand in Piazza Garibaldi and listened as this wonderful band from Ailano filled the air with gorgeous sounds from one of Italy’s best composers. During the day the band had made a journey in style from military marches, to songs of praise and then finally to opera. As I sat there in the warm May night I was amazed at their skill, talent and stamina to be able deliver such a wonderful performance having started it all twelve hours earlier.

The San Zopito festival in Loreto Aprutino this year was wonderful, and on Monday 24 May the Storico Gran Concerto Banistico Cittá di Ailano helped ensure it ended in style.

Bravi!

Post from: About Abruzzo

What is a Festival without a Marching Band?

Share/Save

Related posts:

1. Marching Band Festival In Giulianova (TE) May 2010, Abruzzo If a friend called and said “Hey I’ve an idea,...
2. Civitella Alfedena Folk Festival I’ve sent a tweet about this already. But since not...
3. About Abruzzo San Zopito T-Shirt Competition The competition is now closed and the winner has been...

But having heard that on 27 – 30 May in Giulianova there’s a Marching Band Festival I’m very tempted to go.

Why this monumental turn around?

Well there are a few reasons:

• I’ve never been to a marching band festival
• I think I’m going to be in Abruzzo in May/June
• There’ll be bands from all over the world
• I’ve never been to Giulianova
• I like trying new things
• These photos by Andea Panichi make me want to go
• As do these

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not 100% convinced I’m going to love it.

But there’s a whole lot of energy associated with a large group of musicians performing together while marching or moving in time to music. Add to that the enthusiasm of the majorettes dancing and twirling their batons and this could be a great day out.

I think my reluctance is based on standing in the rain watching marching bands go down O’Connell Street, Dublin during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. I’m not talking about the more recent rejuvenated St. Patrick’s Day Festival, which is fantastic. No, I’m taking about cold, wet, windy days when we were lucky to see a marching band walk!

But I think this festival could finally cure me of my marching band phobia. For a start it’ll be in Giulianova in May, right by the Adriatic basking in sunshine. Looking at the photos and clips on the website Festival Internazionale di Bande Musicali XI Edizione Giulianova, it looks as though these bands don’t just march, they rock!

OK, decision made, if I’m in Abruzzo between 27 and 30 May I’m going to the festival.

This YouTube clip from 2009 gives a feel for the event:

If any of you have ever been to this festival, or to Giulianova I’d love to get your comments.

Maybe I’ll see you there.

Post from: About Abruzzo

Marching Band Festival In Giulianova (TE) May 2010, Abruzzo

Share/Save

Related posts:

1. What is a Festival without a Marching Band? Marching bands have grown on me. They hold a fascination...
2. Giulianova Roaming – A Town Full Of Surprises What do you do when you’re about to write a...
3. Civitella Alfedena Folk Festival I’ve sent a tweet about this already. But since not...

I picked that up from their website.

But I feel I know a bit more about them than their basic bio and that’s because I have their 2008 album Terre Del Sud Musiche E Balli Tradizionali. You can pick up the CD from Musicomania or do as I did and get the MP3s from Amazon.

I got it over the weekend and I love it already. Of all the Abruzzo folk or traditional music I’ve heard this collection is my favourite so far. It’s definitely the most accessible.

The album has 14 tracks with 10 from Abruzzo and the other 4 from Puglia, Campania, Sicilia and Calabria. You can listen to some samples here.

My Italian isn’t good enough to understand what they are singing about; but that doesn’t matter. The voices are clear, the tunes are catchy and there are quite a few stand-out tracks.

I particularly like tracks #4, Fronne d’autunne (Abruzzo) and #10 L’amore e’ ‘na pazzia (Abruzzo).

I’ve heard track #11 Vola vola vola (Abruzzo) before on the much more polished album Vola, Vola, Vola – e altri celebri canti d’Abruzzo by Associazione Corale Giuseppe Verdi. I do like the Associazione Corale Giuseppe Verdi collection which I’ve written about before, but I prefer Terre Del Sud. It just feels more natural.

If you aren’t familiar with music from Abruzzo, but would like an introduction this is where I’d start. I’ve listened to plenty of other CDs and although Terre Del Sud is not “from the archives”, I still think it is the album I’ll be recommending from now on.

From their website and their MySpace page, it looks like they have some concerts coming up in Roccamontepiano (CH) on 27th March, and later in the year in Lanciano (CH).

Here they are with an energetic rendition of Sott’a la casa me’ (Abruzzo) and it looks to me that the band and the crowd are having lots of fun.

I hope to get to see them as they sound lively and catchy. My foot has been tapping all through the album.

Post from: About Abruzzo

Traditional Music from Abruzzo by Terre Del Sud

Share/Save

Related posts:

1. Discovering More Music From Abruzzo I recently bought two contrasting CDs in Discover, Via L’Aquila,...
2. Abruzzo Folk Music: CD Reviews It’s taken me longer to buy some more Abruzzo folk...
3. A Musical Miscellany from Abruzzo As I type this I’m listening to Canti Popolari by...

From looking at their website it looks like the ages of the musicians and singers range from 7 to 14 years. At least it did when the site was created which I think was in 2008.

I have no idea what they are singing about but I’m really enjoying it. I’d prefer if I was in a village in Abruzzo enjoying a glass of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo and listening to them live, but I’ll have to wait a little for that.

This is the third Abruzzo folk or Abruzzo traditional music CD I’ve bought. The first, Chilla Stilluccia Mia – Canti tradizionali in Abruzzo was a complete “blind” buy and I didn’t really like it. The second Vola, Vola, Vola by the Asssociazione Corale Giuseppe Verdi is beautiful, but not truly traditional as it delivers the music in an operatic or choral style.

I think this CD, by La Voce del Gran Sasso, is super. I either got it in Gong or Discover in Pescara. I know it wouldn’t be everyone’s favourite type of music, and if it was vinyl I don’t think I’d wear out the grooves, but I do like it.

From other posts you may realise that I visit Gong or Discover every few months and try to pick up something by a modern Abruzzese artist and something traditional from the region. The CD I’ve looked for, but not found yet is Italian Treasury: Abruzzo compiled by Alan Lomax. It is for sale on Amazon UK for over £90! Way too much for me.

But then I had an epiphany, a musical road to Damascus experience; don’t buy the CDs, try the iTunes store and buy the MP3s! It’s so obvious I’ve no idea why I never thought of it before. It actually opens up a whole new collection of albums and sure enough the Italian Treasury: Abruzzo compiled by Alan Lomax is there for €8.99.

But that’s not all. Do a power search with “abruzzo” in the album title and you get all of these (go on, click on the picture):

Now to change the style a little bit I’d like to recommend a Jazz album by one of Abruzzo’s own, Tony Pancella. I’m pretty sure I got this CD, Different Like Two Drops Of Water by Tony Pancella and Uri Bracha in Gong as I know I got Alter Ego by Larry Willis and Tony Pancella there. I think Tony Pancella might be a favourite of the owner.

I’m more in my element here. Tony Pancella on piano and Uri Bracha on guitar have created an album I really love. This is one whose grooves would be in danger if it was an old LP.

I’d like to provide a link to track samples, a YouTube clip or at the very least a link to where you can buy the record, but I can’t. I’ve searched online, including the iTunes music store, but it isn’t available anywhere! I don’t get it. If I find anything in the future I’ll post it. But for now if you think you’d like a classical/jazz CD that’s really, really mellow, then get over to Gong in Pescara and ask for it.

Update 15/02/2010: See the comment from Tony Pancella indicating how you can get a copy of his album and where he is playing in 2010.

OK, I’m nearly done. There is a band venue in Loreto Aprutino that puts on gigs by a wide range of artists and styles. It’s The Coffee Shop Pub, Contrada Cartiera in Loreto Aprutino. Whenever I’ve been staying in Loreto the bands they had on didn’t suit my taste. I think they were mainly heavy metal or some variant. But I came across a YouTube clip that clearly shows that they’re very happy to put on more jazzy artists.

A band called Fast ‘n’ Bulbous is playing and old Frank Zappa track called Zoot Allures. For the anoraks out there I think the Zoot Allures album was the last one Zappa made with The Mothers back in 1976. I think they must be a Zappa tribute band and I’m all in favour of that. Enjoy!

Post from: About Abruzzo

A Musical Miscellany from Abruzzo

Share/Save

Related posts:

1. Music of Abruzzo – Part 2 I wrote in a previous post that I wanted to...
2. An Abruzzo Miscellany – Information, Events, and Themed Holidays Over the last few weeks I’ve come across a few...
3. Jazzy Saturdays in Pescara, Abruzzo Have you ever heard of any of the following people?...

So to not delay any more I thought I’d share a selection of photographs that I took while in Abruzzo.

Is there a common theme to these shots? Well the following is accurate:

• they were all taken in Abruzzo
• they don’t showcase a town or village
• they don’t showcase a particular season
• they don’t showcase a particular festival
• they were taken over a two year period

That makes them a random selection I guess, so here they are…

They probably aren’t prize winners. They didn’t get picked naturally when I wrote about places, events and activities in previous posts. But I like them now that I’ve looked at them in a new light.

So now that it’s 2010 I started thinking about what I’d like to see and do in Abruzzo over the next 12 months. I don’t think I’m going to be able to spend a good length of time there this side of March. But I’m looking forward to it as snow will still be on the mountains and there should also be signs of spring in the air.

I’m hoping to do the usual things, wander around the towns and villages, visit the sea and the mountains and as always sip aperativi and chat with friends.

As for new stuff, if possible I hope to do some or all of the following in 2010:

• Explore Sulmona
• See the wolves at the Wolf Conservation Centre
• Visit The Butterfly Farm near Citta Sant’Angelo
• Get to the Pescara Jazz Festival
• See the procession of the snake charmers at Cocculo
• See the Palio del Pupo in Cappelle Sul Tavo
• Have a meal on a trabocco
• See the saffron crocuses in bloom
• Visit the waterfalls and pools of Gole del Salinello
• See an Abruzzo stage of the Giro d’Italia

It may not seem like a long list, but if I cover most of it in 2010 I’ll be happy.

Before I go, don’t forget that you can buy an Abruzzo 2010 Calendar using 12 of my favourite photographs of the region. It’s for sale through Lulu and all profits will go to the Italian Red Cross. See this post, Abruzzo 2010 Calendar – All Profits To Charity for more details.

Post from: About Abruzzo

2010 Wishlist and some Random Photos of Abruzzo

Share/Save

Related posts:

1. Abruzzo Photo Exercise: 10 photos 5 minutes from home Here’s a little exercise I like to set myself whenever...
2. The Festa di San Zopito 2010 and How I Missed the Killer Shot! Let’s get the killer shot business out of the way...
3. Atri There are many reasons for visiting Atri in the Teramo...

The first is Egocentrica by Simona Molinari. This CD has grown on me over the last month.

It can be hard to truly appreciate music sung in a foreign language but I really enjoy this album. Here is clip of the track Nell’Aria from the CD.

The album has versions of Life Is Beautiful, Nel Blu Di Pinto Di Blu, La Vie En Rose and Que Sera Sera along with original music she either composed or co-composed.

Simona Molinari was born in Napoli but lives in L’Aquila (AQ), Abruzzo. If you’re in Milan on 5th December you can see her at the Blue Note.

I haven’t had a chance to see her in concert yet, but I plan on going the first chance I get.

This site gives you news, tour dates and samples of the rest of the tracks on the CD and here you can get more examples of her work.

The second CD is very different. Vola, Vola, Vola by the Associazione Corale Giuseppe Verdi gives you a chance to hear songs from Abruzzo being given the choral treatment.

The renditions are very polished and very different to what I’ve previously heard on CDs by Abruzzese folk groups.

The music is delivered in an operatic style that I really enjoy. I’m listening to Lu bbene che j te vuje as I type this post and it’s just beautiful.

Once again if I ever get a chance to go to one of their concerts I’d leap at it. Here is chance for you to hear their version of Mare Nostre.

When I bought these CDs I had no idea what I was going to get. I went into the shop and said that I wanted to buy a CD of traditional music from Abruzzo and a CD of modern music or jazz from an up-and-coming artist. I think Discover steered me well.

YouTube has plenty of clips of Simona Molinari and the Associazione Corale Giuseppe Verdi if you want to hear more.

Post from: About Abruzzo

Discovering More Music From Abruzzo

Share/Save

Related posts:

1. Traditional Music from Abruzzo by Terre Del Sud I don’t know much about Terre Del Sud other than...
2. Music of Abruzzo – Part 2 I wrote in a previous post that I wanted to...
3. Music of Abruzzo What defines Abruzzo music? What is its style? What instruments...

So here is what you need to know:

• Who is playing? You’ll find a summary here.
• Are there any more details? This PDF has a lot of detail in Italian.
• When is on? August 23rd to 29th.
• Where is Civitella Alfedena? It’s in the L’Aquila of Abruzzo province, here’s the map.
• Can you tell me more about the area? You can find out more on the Civitella Alfedena Comune site.
• I’d like to know more but I can’t speak Italian…well this online dictionary may help.

Enjoy!

Post from: About Abruzzo

Civitella Alfedena Folk Festival

Share/Save

Related posts:

1. Abruzzo Folk Music: CD Reviews It’s taken me longer to buy some more Abruzzo folk...
2. What is a Festival without a Marching Band? Marching bands have grown on me. They hold a fascination...
3. Marching Band Festival In Giulianova (TE) May 2010, Abruzzo If a friend called and said “Hey I’ve an idea,...

But today I’m experimenting with a really excellent solution – streamed radio from Abruzzo on the internet. Abruzzo.fm plays traditional music from Abruzzo and makes it available on the internet. No shortage of accordions here!

I’m a bit surprised that I hadn’t thought of steaming radio before. It means that I have access to folk music of Abruzzo no matter where I am. I’m currently listening to Lu llero llero by Serra Folk.

So how does it work? Well I clicked on the link that says Click per Ascoltare (Click to listen) and a dedicated music player pops up (worked for me on Internet Explorer but it didn’t work on Chrome).

The great thing about the dedicated player is it shows you the album art of the songs being played. I’m now listening to La bicicletta by Antenore Bucci!

If that does not work, you could use iTunes, Windows Media Player, WinAmp or Real Player. The Abruzzo.fm site has streams for all these popular players.

There is also another site that you could try TeleRadioAbruzzo.com, and once again just click on the link that says Click per Ascoltare (Click to listen).

I don’t plan on listening to it every hour of the day, but I’m happy to know that whenever I feel the need, the music of Abruzzo is just a couple of clicks away.

Post from: About Abruzzo

Abruzzo Radio

Share/Save

Related posts:

1. Music of Abruzzo What defines Abruzzo music? What is its style? What instruments...
2. Music of Abruzzo – Part 2 I wrote in a previous post that I wanted to...
3. A Musical Miscellany from Abruzzo As I type this I’m listening to Canti Popolari by...

Since I haven’t heard these CDs yet, it isn’t possible for me to post any reviews.

But I found this site, The Magazine for Traditional Music throughout the world, which has three reviews of collections of traditional Abruzzo music:

• Italian Treasury Abruzzo – Alan Lomax Collection
• Balli Popolari in Abruzzo Vol 2: La Saltarella del Teramano
• Balli Popolari in Abruzzo Vol 3: Musica tradizionale dalla Majella e dalla Val Pescara

The first of these CDs is available from Amazon, but it looks expensive to me at nearly $30. I’d be surprised if a search wouldn’t uncover it for less than that. (Note: The CD is listed as $13.99 on Rounder Records, but it is currently unavailable for purchase.)

The other two CDs are on the Taranta catalogue and they list a series of shops where, I assume, they can be bought. An email to confirm before turning up might be the best approach. One of these shops, called Discover is at Via L’Aquila, 25 in Pescara. I haven’t been to Discover yet, but I expect to drop by in the next couple of months. I’ll let you know what I find.

Post from: About Abruzzo

Abruzzo Folk Music: CD Reviews

Share/Save

Related posts:

1. Music of Abruzzo – Part 2 I wrote in a previous post that I wanted to...
2. Traditional Music from Abruzzo by Terre Del Sud I don’t know much about Terre Del Sud other than...
3. Discovering More Music From Abruzzo I recently bought two contrasting CDs in Discover, Via L’Aquila,...