Dogstar_Credit-Brian-Bowen-Smith-
The complete calendar of the 34th edition of the international Udin&Jazz festival was presented today in Udine, which again this year confirms quality levels capable of aligning it with the most important Italian and European jazz musical events.
The 2024 edition will color and animate the city of Udine with energy and notes from 8 to 14 July, offering concerts featuring the best musical realities of the national and international context, with numerous moments of in-depth analysis and focus on Jazz and Blues and on new musical productions by Eurythmics. The one at the start will be an edition with a strong blues component, as highlighted by the theme chosen by the artistic director Giancarlo Velliscig: “Walking on the Blues”. “The program will retrace paths that take us back to the more “carnal” soul of the music we love – announces the artistic director himself – Let’s go in search of the blues heart of jazz. We go in search of the roots, but also of new sources of inspiration that can take new and unexpected directions.” “It is with pleasure that the Friuli Foundation confirms its support for a festival, such as Udine Jazz, which in all these years has been able to stand out on the international scene for its ability to connect to the territory and for the quality of the artists hosted, confirmed again this year in an edition that is enriched with a blues vein – commented the president of the organization Giuseppe Morandini -. I hope that the profound message, like that of jazz, in a universal language like music, can warm and excite the hearts of all of us.”
Cory Henry
Moving on to the festival programme, which will see a great preview on 24 June (9.30pm) at the Castello di Udine with the Californian trio Dogstar, formed by Bret Domrose, Robert Mailhouse and the globally renowned actor and musician Keanu Reeves. The alternative rock and post grunge project is just the appetizer of the very rich calendar, which will see a parade of international stars and very fresh news alternating in the following days.
Among the most relevant names we certainly find that of Gary Clark Jr., live at the Castello di Udine on 8 July (9.30 pm). One of the best Texan guitarists and vocalists around, he ranges from blues to jazz, from soul to country. Described as “the future of Texas blues”, his talent on the guitar and his particular vocal timbre place him in common with giants such as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck.
On the same day at Parco Moretti (from 6.00 pm) the jam session “Udin&Jazz for Gaza”, with Bruno Romani & Banda delle Forze Disarmate, Zlatko Kaucic & Flavio Zanuttini, Claudio Cojaniz & Alessandro Turchet and others, to support the work of Medici Senza Borders in Palestine.
Tuesday 9 July the start will be in Corte Morpurgo (7.30 pm) with Letizia Felluga’s refined project “Exù trio”, dedicated to the great classics and lesser-known pieces of Brazilian music, together with Alessandro Scoltz (piano and keyboards) and Jacopo Zanette ( drums). At 9.30pm at the Loris Fortuna Garden, renewing its annual participation in Udin&Jazz, Zerorchestra di Pordenone presents “The Navigator”, a screening of the film of the same name by the great Buster Keaton with music performed live.
Fantastic Negrito
On Wednesday 10 July, at 7.30 pm at the Teatro San Giorgio, the world premiere of “My Name is Nina” (Eurithmic production) is scheduled, a tribute to the immense Nina Simone with lyrics by Valerio Marchi with the eclectic quartet of vocalist Graziella Vendramin.
At 9.30pm the spotlights will be on in Corte Morpurgo for “McCoy Legends”, the tribute project to the late piano genius McCoy Tyner (who was a guest of Udin&Jazz in a historic concert in 1996). On stage Antonio Faraò (piano), Chico Freeman (saxophone), Ronnie Burrage (drums) and Steve Turre (trombone), historical members of his band.
On July 11th, at 9.30pm in Castello, another big name of the program will be on stage: the three-time Grammy Award winner Fantastic Negrito. American songwriter, musician and activist has become an icon of black music and the fight against racial injustice. He will open the evening in the Castle with the Dang trio! by the Udine guitarist Gianni Rojatti. At 7.00 pm in Corte Morpurgo here is “Around Gato”, a literary tribute to Gato Barbieri, followed by the “Reloaded” concert, with Andrea Polinelli (sax), Massimo Fedeli (piano), Simone ‘Ndyaje (electric bass) and Raul “El Cuervo” Scebba (drums).
On Friday 12th July (Castello, 9.30pm), the festival welcomes New Yorker Cory Henry, highly appreciated composer, producer, multi-instrumentalist, keyboard and Hammond organ virtuoso, also winner of a Grammy with the jazz ensemble Snarky Puppy, already guests of the Udine festival.
Gary Clark Jr
The 7.30pm appointment at Spazio 35 will certainly be exciting, where the protagonists will be “The Pianist of Yarmouk”, or Aheam Ahmad, a Palestinian refugee who grew up in a refugee camp in Damascus, accompanied by the German cellist Cornelius Hummel.
Saturday 13 July will also be an important day with a double great appointment: at 7.30 pm at the Loris Fortuna Garden here is the project “The Jazz Bins”, with the trio formed by the iconic guitarist Marc Ribot, Greg Lewis at the Hammond B-3 and Joe Dyson on drums. In the evening, at 9.30 pm in Corte Morpurgo, the elegant project “Lean in” will be on stage, with the vocalist Gretchen Parlato and the virtuoso guitarist Lionel Loueke engaged in a nocturnal journey from Africa to Brazil, from jazz to bossa, to Latin rhythms , to pop-rock, from R&B to world music.
The grand finale on Sunday 14 July will see “Elettro trio” at 7.30 pm in Corte Morpurgo, with the Udine singer Nicoletta Taricani in a taste of her latest project with Mattia Romano on guitar and Alessio Zoratto on bass. At 9.30pm in the Loris Fortuna gardens, the program will be closed by the highly anticipated singer, instrumentalist and electronic musician Daniela Pes, with the project “Spira”, whose 2023 album of the same name earned her the Targa Tenco as best debut work.
Not only concerts in the Udin&Jazz calendar, but also many moments of in-depth analysis with debates and meetings that will take place in the city at aperitif time. On July 9th at the Cluf Bookshop (at 6.00 pm) the book (Edizioni KAPPAVU) “My name is Nina – A portrait of Nina Simone” will be presented, with Valerio Marchi and Graziella Vendramin. On July 10th (at 6.00 pm) at Spazio 35 “The sound of Pan” (at the roots of the blues) with Marco Maria Tosolini. Friday 12 July (at 6.00 pm) at the Kobo Shop “The art of being Tom Waits”, with the Udine author Tiberio Snaidero.
To consult the complete program, for information on tickets and subscriptions, visit the website www.euritmica.it
