LOCARNO – Piazza Grande Jazz. This is the name of the latest event with which JazzAscona (that will celebrate its 27th edition from June 23 to July 3, 2011) will, for the first time, open a winter window in its programming.
Bands from Switzerland, Italy, the United States and England will be performing in a free-entrance series of concerts at Locarno’s Piazza Grande. A “must” for everyone who loves music!
There is great anticipation for Dana Gillespie with Mike Sponza Band (January 7th and 8th). The singer and actress Dana Gillespie, who now lives on Lake Maggiore, is a well known figure in the show biz thanks to her collaboration with David Bowie and Bob Dylan and to her participation in the Jesus Christ Super Star musical. She is a real star with more than 40 recorded albums and an international career during which she performed different genres, including folk and rock, before taking on jazz and blues. Both concerts will start at 20:30.
Locarno On Ice
Silvan Zingg
Sandro Schneebeli
Dana Gillespie
Madame Pat Tandy
Larry Franco
Danilo Moccia
Andreas Baer
Logo Locarno on Ice
Another thrilling event will surely be Sandro Schneebeli’s Boogaloo Quartet’s performance. The guitarist from Lugano will bring an explosive mix of soul, rhythm and blues and Afro-Cuban rhythms to Piazza GRANDE Jazz (January 5th at 20:30 , 6th and 7th at 18:00).
The recent winner of the National Jazz Prize 2010, granted by the Suisa Foundation, remarkable trombonist from Locarno Danilo Moccia will be on stage with his Brass Joy (January 8th at 18:00). Guest of honor will be the well-known Italian trumpet player Lalo Conversano, who will also come with Jack in the Box, a local band that plays excellent traditional jazz (January 5th at 18:00).
Amongst the Italian musicians most worthy of a note is pianist and vocalist Larry Franco, who will present, on January 3rd (at 18:00) and 4th (at 20:30), an homage to the great interpreters and authors of Italian music, such as Fred Buscaglione, Bruno Martino and Nicola Arigliano. Milan-based Up Quartet and vocalist Paola Odorico will perform some of the most famous pieces of the African-American music tradition (January 4th at 18 and 6th at 20:30).
