From one side, there's a piece of music history celebrating its centenary, whose backbone is the piano; on the other side, there's a Jazz Festival titled "A Dream Along 88 Keys": it's inevitable that they meet.
Indeed, one of the highlights of the "New Conversations" scheduled in Vicenza between May 5 and 19 will be George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue," performed by the Uri Caine ensemble. The pianist from Philadelphia will be presenting his very personal reinterpretation of the masterpiece, which has also become a classic. The event is set for May 16 at the Municipal Theatre; it would have deserved the spotlight of the Olympic Theatre, but the need for greater capacity can be understood.
And this is certainly not the only reason of attraction of the program presented at Palazzo Trissino.
A series of evenings where enthusiasts will be able to see (and above all, listen to) established masters and emerging talents of the "88 keys" world, from the Italian Dado Moroni to the Cuban Omar Sosa, paired with compatriot Marialy Pacheco; from the unpredictable modernist Craig Taborn to our Paolo Birro.
Of course, there will also be famous virtuosos of other instruments, from Paolo Fresu's flugelhorn to Trilok Gurtu's percussions, while the Thiene prologue will be entrusted to the voice of Eric Mingus, son of the legendary Charles.
Bringing greetings from the municipality as the Culture Councilor, Ilaria Fantin wanted to underline the uniqueness of a "true festival" capable of bringing together international artists and audiences with the monumental and museum spaces of the city - this time also with new venues and connecting to the exhibition "Pop and Beat in Italy" open in the Basilica Palladiana - as well as the "vertical" progression of the various days, with concerts running from late afternoon until late at night.
From the co-producer and president of the Civic Theatre Foundation, Luca Trivellato, came a heartfelt thank you to the sponsors (from Agsm Aim to Sonus Faber) and to the logistical-administrative staff, capable of organizing events that, counting only the main ones, involve over a hundred musicians.
Summarizing the character of the 2024 edition, artistic director Riccardo Brazzale recalled the two inspiring figures of the festival dedicated to the jazz keyboard, namely Bud Powell and Duke Ellington, regretting only the forced absence of the legendary saxophonist Benny Golson, who at 95 years old didn't feel up to crossing the ocean but will receive a career award plaque via video link.
In reviewing the calendar, this year condensed due to the Alpini gathering, Brazzale then highlighted the many premieres and original productions, the inaugural "piano summit," the presence of a "Cuban vein," the "Fresu day" on the 17, and the many young talents featured in the "Proxima" section.
(GdV, mercoledì 6 marzo)