Francesca Sortino quintet:
"Italian songs in jazz"

Description:

The "concept" of the concert is to rediscover the old popular Italian songs through the jazz idiom. With a group of terrific jazz musicians that accompany on of Italy's best jazz singers: Francesca Sortino.

Francesca, who is very well known among jazz enthusiasts, has featured on best selling recordings, like Doouap Doouap by Gabin.

The jazz repertoire is generally based on the great evergreens and American song standards, which each artist interprets in his own way, adding his improvisations. Our project is dedicated to the Italian evergreens, and especially to those that have been popular overseas, in English-speaking countries. And so these songs are sung in English, just like the American standards. Arranger Renato Chicco has skillfully remodeled the tunes introducing many modern jazz sounds, but nevertheless remaining firmly rooted in "straight ahead" jazz built on tradition, and it is a pleasing surprise to find that the jazz arrangements and harmonies bring them to a par with the American classics. This goes to show that a beautiful song is always beautiful song!

Group:

Francesca Sortino - Voice
Renato Chicco - Piano
Robert Bonisolo - Tenor sax and Soprano
Alessandro Maiorino - Double Bass
Alessandro Minetto - Drums

Poplicity

Description:

After her swing days, which counted numerous prestigious collaborations, followed by her reinterpretation of Italy's classic pop songs, Rome-based Francesca Sortino explores some distinctly "black and white" vocal textures, with a desire to indulge in the wider appeal of the so-called "nu jazz". Her latest project called "Poplicity", with evident radio playlist aspirations, sees Francesca as author of many of the song lyrics, and reveals intriguing new expressive devices. Her creative verve bubbles through this elegant and enjoyable project, in which she capably balances her passion for jazz with the new refined pop idiom that has received its impetus, on a planetary scale, from modern jazz arrangements. There is also space for improvisation by the talented colleagues accompanying Francesca in this latest journey.

Group:

Francesca Sortino voice Pietro Lussu piano Dario Rosciglione bass Lorenzo Tucci drums Lello Panico guitar