“The Best of Italian Jazz” Swings into Shanghai Expo; 20 Concerts in Five

Days from October 15 to October 19

Shanghai, October 12, 2010 – Over the past five months, the Italian Pavilion has enchanted Shanghai Expo visitors with a rich cultural programme that has ranged from art and architecture to theatre and dance. In the field of music alone, the Pavilion has held more than twelve concerts in locations across the Expo grounds and downtown Shanghai. Now, for the final month of the Expo, Shanghai is being treated to “The Best of Italian Jazz”.

“Italy is well known for its deep musical heritage, although typically the soaring sounds of opera and classical symphony are most closely associated with the country. By bringing ‘The Best of Italian Jazz’ to Shanghai, the Italian Pavilion hopes to showcase our country’s vibrant Jazz culture to Chinese audiences,” said Mr. Beniamino Quintieri, Commissioner General of Italy for Shanghai World Expo 2010.

In recent years, Jazz has experienced a dynamic revival in Shanghai, and come October the city will welcome back its annual Jazz festival. This autumn it will be infused with Italian flair, as a host of Italy’s hottest Jazz musicians – many of whom will be performing in China for the first time – take to the stage alongside the finest Chinese and international artists.

Audiences will be wowed by the trumpetof Paolo Fresu and his “P.A.F trio” (with Furio Di Castro on bass and Antonello Salis on piano); the trills and R & B styling of Gege Telesforo with his quintet “So Cool”; the fast fingers of Stefano Bollani; drummer Roberto Gatto’s quartet"The Music of Next Door"; “Trio di Roma” with the fantastic Danilo Rea on piano, Enzo Pietropaoli on bass and Amedeo Adriano on drums; and finally by the new spin, the young Sicilian prodigy Francesco Cafiso and his quartet “4out” puts on classics.

Each of these performances will showcase the depth and variety of Italian musical culture – which extends well beyond the classical music that has made it famous. Musicians and bands will come together over the month – blending registers and mixing cadence – for a truly special sound. In total, 20 concerts will be held across the city at locations ranging from the Expo’s Europe Square, the Minsheng Art Museum and the Jin Mao Concert Hall.

Originally brought to Italy by American soldiers in World War I, Jazz quickly gained popularity, with home-grown Italian equivalents to popular American Jazz styles flourishing across the country. Incorporating European song forms, classical composition techniques and folk music, Italian Jazz took on a sound of its own. Today, the country’s Jazz scene bustles with Jazz clubs and festivals across the country. The Umbria Jazz Festival, which has been held in the city of Perugia since 1973, draws crowds who flock to enjoy the spectacular blend of medieval architecture and music. The Pescara Jazz Festival, the first Italian festival devoted solely to Jazz music, has been drawing Jazz legends such as Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie and Ella Fitzgerald to perform since 1969.

Concert calendar

October 15

19:00 Stefano Bollani, Italian Pavilion

October 16

13:00 GEGE quintet, Europe Square

16:00 Gatto quartet, Europe Square

18:00 Cafiso 4out, Europe Square

21:00 Trio di Roma & PAF, Shanghai (the Minsheng Art Museum)

October 17

13:00 Cafiso 4out, Europe Square

16:00 Fresu, Europe Square

18:00 Trio di Roma, Europe Square

21:00 Stefano Bollani & Antonello Salis, Downtown Shanghai (Jin Mao Concert Hall)

October 18

13:00 Stefano Bollani, Europe Square

16:00 Cafiso 4out, Europe Square

18:00 Gege Quintet, Europe Square

21:00 P.A.F trio & Gatto Quartet, Italian Pavilion

October 19

13:00 Trio di Roma, Europe Square

16:00 P.A.F trio, Europe Square

19:00 Stefano Bollani, Europe Square

21:00 Gegè quintet & Cafiso 4out, Italian Pavilion