“Americana”: the 50th edition of the International Jazz Festival of La Spezia starts
Do you know that La Spezia has a jazzy heart?
The city close to Cinque Terre, in the Eastern Part of Liguria, has a long tradition of music, in particular about this genre: in 2018, the La Spezia’s International Festival of Jazz arrives at its 50th edition.
The first appointment will be with “Waiting for the Festival” on July 7th, to continue with the top artist from the 23rd to the 29th July, with performances in La Spezia and in the towns of Lerici, Porto Venere and Aulla (Lunigiana).
As a tribute to the roots of US, the 2018 exhibition is titled “Americana”: the artistic director Antonio Ciacca has the idea; he’s a master of music: piano player, composer and conductor of international renown who organized an extraordinary edition, with guests as Kansas Smitty’s House Band, Take 6, Billy Hart, Joshua Redman, Nick the Nightfly, Kelvin Sholar and the star will be a jazz legend like Benny Golson.
A prestigious cast, also appreciated during the presentation of the kermesse in New York, in the historic Harlem Minton’s Playhouse: an event organized thanks to the project “Young Jazz Book – La Spezia meets New York”, twinning in music that will develop from July to October, with a cultural exchange of artists who will perform in Italy and in America.
The International Jazz Festival is dedicated to the memory of Martin Luther King, who became a leading figure in US history, murdered just 50 years ago, who made an intervention entitled “On the Importance of Jazz” at the Philharmonic Hall in Berlin on the occasion of the opening of the Jazz Festival in 1964.
“Jazz speaks for life. This is triumphant music, “he said. And there will be many occasions to enjoy its true spirit.
Starting from Piazza Mentana in La Spezia, a traditional location where, in addition to the Antonio Ciacca Orchestra, will take place on Tuesday 24 July, and on Wednesday 25 July, Billy Hart and Joshua Redman (single place: € 20, mini-subscription to the three concerts € 50).
On the evening of Thursday 26 July, appointment with the Grand Gala of Jazz: will play the team of teachers of the workshops, composed of Andy Farber, Lucio Ferrara, Roberto Occhipinti, Luca Santaniello and Michael Steinman; the proceeds from the evening will be donated to the Don Bosco Oratory of La Spezia.
And, as we anticipated, the pre-festival event is scheduled for July the 7th, when the elements of the Garfield High School Jazz Band, an institution of US music teaching, directed by the legendary Clarence Acox, four times winner of the Essential Elington Competition at the Jazz At Lincoln Center, will rise on the Piazza Mentana stage.
But this isn’t over.: there will also be the “Aperitifs in Jazz”, which will feature young artists such as Loredana D’Anghera, Chiara Izzi, Leonardo Corradi Hammond Band, Giordano Carnevale, Mario Biasio, Simone Locarni, Jamile Staevie Manhattan Moods and, as from tradition, every evening of the shows starting at 23, jam session at the Centro Allende.
Tickets:
Box Office La Spezia Teatro Civico, via Fazio 45 and via Carpenino, tel. +39.0187.72752.
From Monday to Saturday, from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm, Wednesdays also from 16:00 to 19:00
Online: www.vivaticket.it
Info:
www.festivaljazzlaspezia.it
info@festivaljazzlaspezia.it
FB: La Spezia International Jazz Festival
Program:
WAITING FOR THE FESTIVAL …
Saturday, July the 7th at 9pm La Spezia – Piazza Mentana: GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ BAND
50th EDITION OF THE INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL:
Monday, July the 23th at 9 pm: KANSAS SMITTY’S HOUSE BAND Aulla – Piazza Cavour
Tuesday, July the 24th at 9pm: TAKE 6 La Spezia – Piazza Mentana; paid concert, admission single place not numbered € 20
Wednesday, July the 25th at 9pm: BILLY HART QUARTET featuring JOSHUA REDMAN – La Spezia – Piazza Mentana; paid concert, admission single place not numbered € 20
Thursday, July the 26th at 6pm: Tiberio Nicola La Spezia Prize – Don Bosco Oratory (La Spezia, Via Roma); at 9pm: Grand Gala Jazz La Spezia FARBER / FERRARA / OCCHIPINTI / SANTANIELLO / STEINMAN
Friday, July the 27 at 9pm: NICK THE NIGHTFLY 5 TET Porto Venere, Piazza San Pietro
Saturday, July the 28th at 9pm La Spezia – Piazza Mentana ANTONIO CIACCA ORCHESTRA; Homage to Martin Luther King with the participation of BENNY GOLSON and FEDERICO RAMPINI
Paid concert, admission single place not numbered € 20
Sunday, July the 29th at 9pm: BRUCE BARTH TRIO with RENE ‘MARIE San Terenzo (Lerici) – Parco Villa Magni Shelley; at 11pm La Spezia, De Terminal – Revel quay “I HAVE A DREAM” KELVIN SHOLAR DJ SET Closing Party
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