Cross-cultural events, jazz music, female creativity, Italian culture, the city of New York: these were the mixed basic ideas that created the first edition of the “Italian Women in Jazz” Festival, back in 2005. Enzo Capua, a PR pioneer and dmusic promoter known for his repeated successful work as the US representative for the “Umbria Jazz Festival”, a reporter for SBS Radio, a correspondent for “Musica Jazz” magazine to name a fiew credentials, produced the concert at Symphony Space Theater with the support of the Italian Cultural Institute. It was the first time in the history of the New York Jazz scene to have an event that grouped Jazz bands with Italian women as leaders in one night.

For this third edition the Festival will be held at the world famous Blue Note Jazz club, during the first week-end of February: 1st , 2nd  and 3rd . This represents a big step ahead for “Italian Women in Jazz”. After two successful editions in a single day, the forthcoming Festival will be displayed during three nights in the most important jazz venue of New York City.

The Italian Cultural Institute of New York is the official supporter of “Italian Women in Jazz” since the first edition. For this Third Edition there will be the attendance of Regione Sardegna (Italy’s Sardinia Region), along with the sponsorship of Alitalia (Italy’s flag Airlines) and the promotional support of Italian Tourist Board.

FESTIVAL LINE-UP:

Friday February 1st , Blue Note, 131 W 3rd st, 8pm and 10,30pm shows:

MARIA PIA DE VITO QUARTET: Maria Pia De Vito is considered the most outstanding jazz singer in Italy. Her career spans for over twenty years and includes dozens of important recordings. Her latest project, “So Right”, dedicated to the music of Joni Mitchell, will be released in US just before her performance at the Festival: This will be her first concert ever as band leader in New York.

Band line-up:  Maria Pia De Vito – vocals

                           Edward Simon - piano

                           Scott Colley - bass

                          C larence Penn - drums





 

Saturday February 2nd, Blue Note, 8pm and 10.30pm shows:

ROBERTA GAMBARINI BAND (with special guest Ada Rovatti on saxophone): Roberta Gambarini was born in Turin, Italy. She moved to US only eight years ago, where she started an amazing career. Today she is one the brightest stars among the jazz singers. She received a Grammy Nomination in 2007 for her first album “So in Love”. She performs everywhere in the world and the jazz critics of DownBeat magazine voted her in the 2007 poll as n° 1 Rising Star among the female jazz vocalists.

Sunday  February 3rd, Blue Note, 8pm and 10.30pm shows:

THE BIG O ORCHESTRA: This all-stars female Big Band has been created by producer Enzo Capua for the 2nd edition of the Festival (2006). Due to the amazing success of this special italian-american band, the Big O Orchestra will perform at Blue Note with a brand new repertoire of original compositions. The Big Band is the core of the “Italian Women in Jazz”: It is the ultimate musical expression of an ideal connection between the two continents. That’s why it is an Orchestra with a big O in the name. All musicians have been selected among the best Italian and American instrumentalists living in New York. The Big Band conductor and arranger is the Maestro Tommaso Vittorini .

 

BIG O ORCHESTRA LINE-UP:

Saxophones:

ADA ROVATTI     (tenor-soprano)     

LAURA DREYER  (tenor, flute, clarinet)

SHAREL CASSITY (alto, flute, clarinet)  

LAUREN SEVIAN   (Baritone, flute)

Trumpets:

PAMELA FLEMING  

LAURA KAHLE         

Trombones:

DEBORAH WEISZ                                                                                   

REUT REGEV                                                                                                   

Rhythmic section:

AMANDA MONACO  (guitar)      

DANIELA SCHAECHTER  (piano)   

NORIKO UEDA   (bass)                                                          

SYLVIA CUENCA  (drums)

                                                      

TOMMASO VITTORINI  (conductor – arranger)



CONTACTS:


Enzo Capua – Artistic Director and Producer     

Office: (212) 265 7223

Cell: (646) 331 7223                  

Email:  [email protected]

 

Music charge per person: $ 30 table + $ 5 min. / $ 20 at the bar

131 W.3rd st. New York City . 212.475.8592 . www.bluenotejazz.com [2]