A mere few months after I’ve enjoyed The Final Four at the Birdland in Manhattan, yesterday I’ve had the opportunity to listen again to one of the most important jazz players and composers worldwide, this time at the Jazz Club (A.K.A. Il torrione) in Ferrara. Steve Kuhn played in a trio, together with Billy Drummond (drum) and David Finck (bass). Read the rest of this entry »
Last time I’ve been in New York, one night Ale brought us to Ludlow Street. Ale is a fan of Lower East Side, and I definitely approve his taste. That area is filled with strange and interesting places, for both dining and having fun. That night Ale brought us first to the Back Room (which I already knew, maybe I’ll talk about this in a different post) and then to Mehanata, a Bulgarian bar and dance floor. Read the rest of this entry »
Last time I’ve been in Rio de Janeiro I spent my best night at Rio Scenarium, a sort of samba dance floor with real Brazilian live music and a stunning choreography right in the center of Lapa, the historic center of ancient Rio. During daylight, this place is a huge antiquarian’s shop three floors high, with all sorts of things hanging from the walls and from the roof. At night, two thousand people easily fit in to have fun, dance, drink caipirinha and meet people. Last year this was declared as one of the top 10 bars worldwide by The Guardian.
The setting is so surreal that I first I was speechless, like I were in a different time-space. Colors everywhere, strange things surrounding joyful people, wonderful traditional music, party atmosphere. Definitely a must if you happen to travel to Rio.
This week Ferrara celebrates the 20th Buskers Festival. For seven days straight, every night the medieval town center will be invaded by a few hundred street performers coming from all over the world and playing the most amazing instruments and music styles. It’s like the whole town became a giant stage 50 acres wide, surrounded by monuments and typical shops and shared by many parallel concerts. If all those performances were to be executed one after the other, they would continue uninterrupted for over 100 days. Read the rest of this entry »
Last summer in Haarlem (The Netherlands) I attended a concert of a group that back then was named Mayday. Since I loved their music I even bought their CD and now I believe I have the one and only copy in the whole Italy! Recently I visited their website and discovered they changed their name in Fifth Lane, apparently because they had a trademark conflict. Read the rest of this entry »
A great weekend in NYC. On Saturday I walked across the Brooklyn bridge and then spent the night at the famous Birdland. Yes, that one, the one that takes the name from Charlie “the bird” Parker, where John Coltrane recorded Live at Birdland and several other kings of jazz played.
On stage there were “The final four”: Javon Jackson (sax), Steve Kuhn (piano) Buster Williams (bass) Al Foster (drums). Eighty bucks well spent (with dinner and one bottle of great Bordeax).
Was quite a bit I didn’t attend a concert and I’m a big fan of J.S.Bach, so tonight I was eager to go to the event at Santo Stefano al ponte.
After a wonderful performance of Air on a G string, the Academic Chamber Orchestra SKC University of Nis proposed Cantata BWV51 Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen. The soprano was very excited and lost attacks, lagged behind and ultimately appeared out of context. Watching director Milena Injac (a woman!) while she desperately tried to let her catch up was real fun.
Next was a very good Doppio Concerto BWV1060. I had never heard this one and was a nice suprise, expecially the bright and joyful 1st and 3rd movement.
Last came the well known Brandeburg concerto no.5 BWV1050. Despite the harpsichord Rossella Giannetti had probably never played with this orchestra before (and the fact was quite evident) I liked the performance.
Olha que coisa mais linda mais cheia de graça
É ela menina que vem e que passa
nun doce balanço, caminho do mar…
Moça do corpo dourado, do sol de Ipanema
O seu balançado é mais que un poema
é a coisa mais linda que eu já vi passar…
Ah! Porque estou tão sozinho
Ah! Porque tudo é tão triste
Ah! A beleza que existe
A beleza que não é só minha
que também passa sozinha
Ah! Se ela soubesse que quando ela passa
o mundo sorrindo se enche de graça
e fica mais lindo por causa do amor
por causa do amor
por causa do amor…
This song was written in 1962 by Vinicius de Moraes and Antonio Carlos Jobim. They were regulars at the Veloso Bar, in front of which this tanned stunningly beautiful girl was frequently strolling on her way from school to home. Today that bar is called A garota de Ipanema, in Rua Vinicius de Moraes. In front of that there’s a live stage bar called Vinicius, and more stunningly beautiful girls. Last Monday I’ve been there attending a bossanova concert. A mustn’t miss it.
We’ve paid our dues time after time
We’ve done our sentence but committed no crime
And bad mistakes we’ve made a few
We’ve had our share of sand kicked in our face
But we’ve come through
We are the champions my friends
And well keep on fighting till the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers cause we are the champions…
of the world.