Spring can really hang you up the most, as the song says- especially when it blows hot and cold. Summer’s already arrived in Sardinia, and they’re organising a Jazz Festival to celebrate the solstice and full moon (‘plenilunio’-even the word makes you feel relaxed). The venue is the Lazzaretto di Cagliari Centre, a beautiful, ancient hospital building, recently restored to house artistic events in its cloisters. It’s right on the sea, below the historic city of Cagliari.
The festival’s ‘jazz islands’ are Sardinia and the UK. Singer, actor and theatre director Filomena Campus is from the former, but lives mostly in London. She and Nicola Spiga of the Forma e Poesia nel Jazz Association have created the festival to bring British and Italian musicians together. The second part is in London in November.
Thurs 20th June 22.30: Antonello Salis + Orphy Robinson.
Antonello Salis is a superb accordionist and pianist who combines jazz and and folk styles with no-holds-barred anarchic improvisation. He’s worked with Enrico Rava, Stefano Bollani, Pat Metheny, Nana Vasconcelos. Orphy Robinson is one of the finest jazz vibes players around, famous on the UK scene since his 1980s work with Courtney Pine in the Jazz Warriors. Virtuosic and versatile, he’s played with everyone from Andy Sheppard to Nigel Kennedy. Salis and Robinson have both worked with just too many acclaimed musicians to list- it’ll be exciting to hear them together.
Fri. 21st June 21.30 Filomena Campus ‘Jester of Jazz’ Qt. (with UK’s Steve Lodder, piano; Dudley Philips, bass; Martin France, drums) + Antonello Salis.
Filomena Campus is a wonderfully dynamic and passionate performer- you may have seen one of her gigs at London’s Pizza Express with fellow Sardinian Paolo Fresu. She’s as much at home singing jazz arrangements of Sardinian traditional songs as she is improvising freely- she studied with the great Maria Pia de Vito. Lodder (Andy Sheppard sideman), Phillips and France (both play with Mark Lockheart and John Parricelli)) are well-established on the London scene.
Sat 22nd June 21.30 Stefano Benni + Filomena Campus Qt. (with Orphy Robinson)
Renowned Italian novelist, playwright and poet Stefano Benni joins Campus’ Quartet. He’s no stranger to performing with jazz musicians (he’s toured with Paolo Fresu) and on this gig he’ll be performing a dialogue with Orphy Robinson, as well as singing traditional Italian songs arranged for jazz quartet by Dudley Phillips. Campus directed Benni’s play about Thelonious Monk, Misterioso, at London’s Riverside Studios in 2009.
There’ll be exhibitions, video artists, book presentations and food events throughout the festival too.
Part 1: Jun. 20-22
Lazzaretto di Cagliari
Via dei Navigatori
09126 Cagliari
Sardinia
Italy.
Tickets 0039070567438, or on the door.
Part 2: Nov. 11-13 Pizza Express Dean Street
Features Giorgio Serci, Adriano Adewale, Filomena Campus Qt., Paolo Fresu, Clevland Watkiss
