Eric Mingus & Silvia Bolognesi “Is That Jazz?” (Celebrating the Influences of Gil Scott-Heron) – Vicenza Jazz – XXVIII Edition – 5-19 May 2024
Concert on Sunday 5 May
9pm, Fonato Auditorium in Thiene
- Eric Mingus (vocals, bass), Silvia Bolognesi (vocals, double bass),
- Emanuele Marsico (vocals, trumpet), Pee-Wee Durante (vocals, trombone, keyboards),
- Simone Padovani (vocals, percussion, drums)
in collaboration with the Municipality of Thiene and the Istituto Musicale Veneto Città di Thiene
To warm up the engines while waiting for the imminent start of its twenty-eighth edition (from 13 to 19 May), the festival New Conversations – Vicenza Jazz proposes a prologue evening, going to the Fonato Auditorium in Thiene. The singer and bassist will perform here on Sunday 5 May at 9pm Eric Mingus and the double bass player Silvia Bolognesi (on this occasion also on vocals), engaged in a tribute to the music of Gil Scott-Heron. Emanuele Marsico (vocals, trumpet), Pee-Wee Durante (vocals, trombone, keyboards) and Simone Padovani (vocals, percussion, drums) will play with them. The concert is organized in collaboration with the Municipality of Thiene and the Istituto Musicale Veneto Città di Thiene.
The New Conversations – Vicenza Jazz 2024 festival
Artistic direction by Riccardo Brazzale and promoted by the Municipality of Vicenza in
collaboration with the Fondazione Teatro Comunale Città di Vicenza, in co-production with Trivellato Mercedes Benz, with AGSM AIM as main sponsor, with the support of Sonus Faber and with Acqua Recoaro and Brutal Agency as technical sponsors.
Gil Scott-Heron, African-American writer, musician, composer and activist, is the source of inspiration for the “Is That Jazz?” project. performed by training co-directed by Eric Mingus And Silvia Bolognesi. Among the artist’s productions, the song “Revolution Will Not Be Televised” is the underlying theme of the performance, which, between both improvised and arranged moments, proceeds in a continuous flow.
The membership of the group (whose name is taken from a well-known Scott-Heron song) pushes the musical performance towards a free-disco-funk spirit. The project makes use of the voice of Eric Mingus, one of the most authentic interpreters of the Scott-Heron repertoire. From this you will hear, among others, the songs “Madison Avenue”, “Shut ’em Down”, “1980”, “The Prisoner”, “Home Is Where the Hatred Is”, “Vildgolia”, “We Almost Lost Detroit ”, “Lady Day and John Coltrane”, alternating with some original compositions by Silvia Bolognesi.
Eric Mingus
Born in New York in 1964, son of the legendary bassist Charles, Eric Mingus he studied cello and music theory with his father, and drums with Dannie Richmond. Like his father, he then abandoned the cello in favor of the double bass and sought street education.
In fact, his training was completed during the 1980s, when he began to get noticed in the musical world by touring with Bobby McFerrin, Karen Mantler and Carla Bley, and also performing with Percy Heath, Jimmy Heath, George Adams and Don Pullen. Eric’s passion for poetry, and in particular for tradition, is well known spoken word/jazz, manifested itself in a duo project with Howard Johnson as well as in broader instrumental contexts. Eric worked very selectively with his father’s music: he sang on the album Blues and Politics of Mingus Dynasty and wrote and performed the lyrics to “Work Song (Break the Chains)” recorded with the Mingus Big Band on the recent album The Charles Mingus Centennial Sessions.
Silvia Bolognesi
Born in Siena, she graduated in double bass, approaching jazz thanks to attending Siena Jazz courses. Here she studies among others with Ferruccio Spinetti, Furio Di Castri, Stefano Battaglia, Paolino Dalla Porta and Fabrizio Sferra. Then she herself became a teacher at the Sienese institution.
In 2004 she founded Open Combo, a group that allowed her to achieve national fame. Among his exploitthe magazine’s Top Jazz win Jazz music as a new talent of Italian jazz 2010. In 2003 and then again in 2010 she was selected to be part of Butch Morris’ orchestra. She has also collaborated with Nicole Mitchell, created a duo with Sabir Mateen and the trio Hear in Now with Tomeka Reid and Mazz Swift. In 2017 she joined the ranks of Roscoe Mitchell’s sextet, while she also collaborates regularly with Tiziana Ghiglioni and Tiziano Tononi’s New Nexus.
Artistic direction: Riccardo Brazzale
Press office: Daniele Cecchini
cell. 348 2350217 – e-mail: [email protected]
Information
Municipal Theater of Vicenza Viale Mazzini, 39 – Vicenza
tel. 0444 324442 – [email protected]
www.vicenzajazz.org; www.tcvi.it
New Conversations – Vicenza Jazz can also be followed on social channels
Facebook and Instagram @vicenzajazz #vicenzajazz
Tickets
Eric Mingus & Silvia Bolognesi
Full price: €17 + dp | Over 65 and Under 25: €13 + dp
Pre-sales
Ticket office of the Municipal Theater of Vicenza
tel. 0444 324442 – [email protected]
online: www.tcvi.it and www.vicenzajazz.org
day of the concert: at the ticket office, from one hour before the start (without right of advance sale)
