This year’s Roma Jazz Festival slogan “Jazz feeds the Planet” evokes the universal value of jazz music, an art form providing nourishment for the soul and mind, and the value of food, the nourishment of the body.
The fusion of different elements has always been the key feature of jazz. As other black musical genres (from ragtime to samba, blues, tango, gospel and cajun), be them sophisticated or popular, written or improvised, jazz draws inspiration from other cultures to create a new musical dimension. Jazz crosses the spiritual and geographical borders of the community that generated it, discovers music and instruments from other cultures and transforms itself while preserving its uniqueness and rich cultural tradition. Jazz represents the healthiest and most fertile way to globalise art.
Food and jazz are connected and share the same historical and creative pattern. They represent universal elements impossible to be labelled as they speak the universal languages of sound and taste. Food and jazz are nourishment, social rite, ethnic or cultural expressions. They promote the fusion of individual and collective identity, sharing, partying, diversity, integration, creativity, support, sustainability, cooperation, openness to new generations’ contribution. These are the themes inspiring a rich program featuring international artists from various continents.
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GREGORY PORTER QUINTET
USA
GREGORY PORTER VOICE
CHIP CRAWFORD PIANO
KEYON HARROLD TRUMPET
EMANUEL HARROLD DRUMS
JAHMAL NICHOLS BASS
SATURDAY 14th NOVEMBER
AUDITORIUM PARCO DELLA MUSICA auditorium.com
SALA SINOPOLI 09:00 PM
Tickets: Gallery € 30 • Parterre € 35 Buy
New York-based Gregory Porter, the new international star of jazz singing, will open the 2015 edition of Roma Jazz Festival. Acclaimed over the last years by critics and audience for his baritone voice – an amazing blend of soul, gospel, blues and jazz, his performances evoke the charming atmosphere of music clubs in the Fifties.
Born in 1971 in California, Porter was introduced to gospel singing by his mother, a pastor, who immediately noticed his talent and creativity. He then cut his teeth performing on stages across the country, played football at a semi-professional level and above all developed a visceral passion for Nat King Cole’s music. All of this brought Gregory Porter to international success: in 2013 famous recording label Blue Note published his album “Liquid Spirit” and in 2014 he won the Grammy for “Best vocal jazz album”.
When he performs, he usually wears a funny hat with ear muffs that is now his distinguishing feature. He always gives the best of himself; accompanied by extraordinary musicians, he brings the audience into a world of melancholy and romanticism.
gregoryporter.com 
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AMEEN SALEEM – THE GROOVE LAB
USA
AMEEN SALEEM BASS and DOUBLE BASS
DAVID BRYANT PIANO, RHODES, WURLITZER and ORGAN
MARCUS STRICKLAND SAXOPHONES
MAVIS “SWAN” POOLE VOCALS
CRAIG MAGNANO GUITAR
GREGORY HUTCHINSON DRUMS and PERCUSSIONS
SUNDAY 15th NOVEMBER
AUDITORIUM PARCO DELLA MUSICA auditorium.com
TEATRO STUDIO G.BORGNA 09:00 PM
Ticket: General admission € 22 Buy
Ameen Saleem is one of the most talented bassists on the international jazz scene. Although with a strong background in jazz (he is a member of the Roy Hargrove Quintet and other big bands), his music cannot be defined as belonging to a particular genre as it is made of a fusion of different styles. The Groove Lab represents all the influences that inspired Ameen’s artistic personality, a sort of neo-soul where jazz, soul, and funk come together. He embarks on this musical journey with a stellar cast of musicians – a choice that also tells a lot about his personality – all of whom are characterised by a creative, individual talent looking for a modern and passionate groove. These exceptional artists perform Ameen’s compositions in a unique and original way, with a refined style embracing funky, jazz, blues and rock in harmony with his idea of music as something coherent and consistent.
jandomusic.com viavenetojazz.it listen on
QUINCY JONES PRESENTS
ALFREDO RODRÍGUEZ TRIO
CUBA
ALFREDO RODRÍGUEZ PIANO
REINER RUANO DOUBLE BASS
MICHAEL OLIVEIRA DRUMS
TUESDAY 17th NOVEMBER
AUDITORIUM PARCO DELLA MUSICA auditorium.com
SALA PETRASSI 09:00 PM
Ticket: General admission € 22 Buy
Alfredo Rodríguez is a young and talented Cuban pianist who studied at prestigious conservatory “Manuel Saumell” in Havana. In 2006 when he performed at Montreux Jazz Festival, famous musician and producer Quincy Jones was so impressed by Rodríguez’s talent that in 2010 he produced his debut album “Sounds of Space”, contributing to his success. A versatile virtuoso who perfectly combines jazz modern and old sounds, Rodríguez always draws inspiration from his classical studies and Cuban roots. His music is strongly influenced by geniuses of the XX century as Keith Jarrett, Bill Evans and Thelonious Monk, and by Cuban Chucho Valdes’ rhythm and colours.
In a few years he has collected a series of excellent partnerships (with composer Tan Dun and the above mentioned Quincy Jones, to name a few) and has played at major international festivals with jazz legends such as Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock and McCoy Tyner.
alfredomusic.com 
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DHAFER YOUSSEF QUARTET
TUNISIA
DHAFER YOUSSEF OUD and VOCALS
KRISTJAN RANDALU PIANO
PHIL DONKIN DOUBLE BASS
FERENC NEMETH DRUMS
WEDNESDAY 18th NOVEMBER
AUDITORIUM PARCO DELLA MUSICA auditorium.com
SALA PETRASSI 09:00 PM
Ticket: General admission € 25 Buy
Dhafer Youssef, is a Tunisian multi-instrumentalist and singer, on the scene since the early Nineties. Multiculturalism and mysticism characterise the North-African atmosphere and dreamy Arab melodies of his music combining Sufi tradition with European jazz.
Youssef is a virtuoso of oud, the Arab lute, that is also the key instrument of his compositions. His albums are endowed with great conceptual strength and jazz influences and over the years have inspired a dialogue between Eastern and Western music tradition. He lived for several years in different European countries, played on the most prestigious stages and gained nominations to important music awards. So far he has published four extraordinary albums and performed with numerous musicians such as Italian Paolo Fresu and Markus Stockhausen.
dhaferyoussef.com listen on
AVISHAI COHEN TRIO
FROM DARKNESS
ISRAEL
AVISHAI COHEN DOUBLE BASS and VOCALS
EDEN LADIN PIANO
DANIEL DOR DRUMS
THURSDAY 19th NOVEMBER
AUDITORIUM PARCO DELLA MUSICA auditorium.com
SALA SINOPOLI 09:00 PM
Ticket: General admission € 27 Buy
Born in 1970, Avishai Cohen is an Israeli jazz singer, bass and double bass player. An eclectic and versatile composer, founder of the Avishai Cohen Trio, he worked from 1996 to 2003 with Chick Corea whom defined him a “genius musician”.
Inspired by the evocative music of Jaco Pastorius, Cohen dropped piano lessons and at 16 started to study double bass and electric bass under the guide of Michael Klinghoffer. He has played with such musicians as Bobby McFerrin, Roy Hargrove, Herbie Hancock and Kurt Rosenwinkel.
In March 2015 the Sunnyside/Razdaz Recordz label published his latest work “From Darkness”, an album loved by both critics and the audience, characterised by an intense and controversial beauty.
A prolific musician with 15 albums published in less than 20 years, Avishai Cohen is a great live performer always accompanied by excellent pianists and drummers.
SARAH MCKENZIE QUARTET
AUSTRALIA
SARAH MCKENZIE PIANO and VOCALS
JO CALEB GUITAR
TOM FARMER DOUBLE BASS
MARCO VALERI DRUMS
FRIDAY 20th NOVEMBER
AUDITORIUM PARCO DELLA MUSICA auditorium.com
TEATRO STUDIO G.BORGNA ORE 09:00 PM
Ticket: General admission € 22 Buy
Piano player and singer Sarah McKenzie has been often described a treasure of the Australian national heritage even though she has been living in Boston for several years. Acclaimed worldwide for her special vocal timbre, she plays piano with a typically jazz groove.
Winner of both national and international prizes, in 2012 the album “Close your Eyes” gained her the ARIA Award (Australian Grammies) as “Best jazz album”. In 2014 she graduated with highest grades from the renowned Berklee College of Music. Over a few years she has performed at numerous famous festivals as Monterey and Wangaratta Jazz Festival and has toured with jazz legends Michael Bublé, Chris Botti, John Patitucci and Enrico Rava.
sarahmckenziemusic.com listen on
CHIHIRO YAMANAKA LONDON TRIO
JAPAN – SYNCOPATION HAZARD TOUR 2015
CHIHIRO YAMANAKA PIANO
SHANEY FORBES DRUMS
DANIEL CASIMIR DOUBLE BASS
SATURDAY 21st NOVEMBER
AUDITORIUM PARCO DELLA MUSICA auditorium.com
SALA PETRASSI 09:00 PM
Ticket: General admission € 22 Buy
Born in Tokyo and based in New York, the States love her and Japan considers her the best Japanese pianist: Chihiro Yamanaka is one the most elegant contemporary jazz piano player.
After recording 13 albums with the Verve label, she has recently signed with Blue Note thanks to her impressive experience. She masters a sublime technique and plays with impeccable style and extraordinary sense of melody.
Yamanaka is the pride of Japanese jazz, as she has often shared the stage with jazz stars as Curtis Fuller, Gary Burton, George Benson and Herbie Hancock.
After residing for a long time in Brazil, her style has been influenced by bossa nova and Antonio Carlos Jobim’s music, which she especially loves.
chihiroyamanaka.com listen “Syncopation Hazard” exclusively on
SUN HEE YOU
NIKOLAI KAPUSTIN
KOREA
SUN HEE YOU PIANO
SUNDAY 22nd NOVEMBER
AUDITORIUM PARCO DELLA MUSICA auditorium.com
TEATRO STUDIO G. BORGNA 09:00 PM
Ticket: General admission € 22 Buy
Korean pianist Sun Hee You has been applauded by classical music critics and competitions judges for her passionate style and professional and artistic integrity. After debuting as soloist with Seoul Yangeum Orchestra with Beethoven Second Concert, she managed to transform her enfant prodige talent into the mature expressiveness and technique of an experienced artist ranging from baroque to contemporary music. Piano-Classics will soon publish her latest record dedicated to Nikolai Kapustin, a unique artist unfortunately unknown in Italy, who distinguished himself for combining classical music structures with jazz style and language.
sunheeyou.com listen on
VINICIUS CANTUÁRIA
SINGS JOBIM
BRAZIL
VINICIUS CANTUÁRIA CHITARRA E VOCALS
MONDAY 23rd NOVEMBER
AUDITORIUM PARCO DELLA MUSICA auditorium.com
SALA PETRASSI 09:00 PM
Ticket: General admission € 22 Buy
A talented guitar player, singer and percussionist, Cantuària has played with eminent artists as David Byrne, Arto Lindsay, Laurie Anderson and Bill Frisell.
Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, in the mid-Nineties he moved to New York where he still lives. Strongly inspired by bossa nova and Brazilian jazz, Cantuària often dedicates his concerts to Antonio Carlos Jobim, a master and model for all Brazilian musicians. Acclaimed in his country as the quintessence of musicians, Vinicius Cantuària is one of the best singers, guitarists and drummers on the Brazilian artistic scene who has also written successful songs for Caetano Veloso, Gal Costa and Gilberto Gil. Vinicius is a globetrotter always looking for new sounds, a musician of the global village open to genre combinations.
vinicius.com listen on
with the support of
GIROTTO / SERVILLO / MANGALAVITE
ITALY / ARGENTINA
PEPPE SERVILLO VOCALS
JAVIER GIROTTO SOPRANO SAX and BARITONE
NATALIO MANGALAVITE PIANO, TASTIERE and VOCALS
TUESDAY 24th NOVEMBER
AUDITORIUM PARCO DELLA MUSICA auditorium.com
SALA PETRASSI 09:00 PM
Ticket: General admission € 25 Buy
An evening of elegant Italian-Argentinean blends that highlight a fusion of poetry, tango, milonga and cumbia. Six years after their remarkable “Futbol” album, the trio is back in 2015 more inspired than ever with their new album “Parientes”, published by Egea.
The result is a new texture of music and experience, daily life and far-fetched memories, all skilfully interwoven by the two Argentinean musicians and the Neapolitan singer Peppe Servillo, founder and frontman of the Italian band Avion Travel. Their new work – “Parientes” – can be regarded as a journey into memories and people from the past, but also into the collective imagination of a wandering people who has introduced a new culture, while closely guarding and preserving old and romantic traditions, including those of their cuisine.
javiergirotto.com ascolta su
VINCENT PEIRANI / EMILE PARISIEN
FRANCE
VINCENT PEIRANI ACCORDION
EMILE PARISIEN SOPRANO SAX
WEDNESDAY 25th NOVEMBER
AUDITORIUM PARCO DELLA MUSICA auditorium.com
SALA PETRASSI 09:00 PM
Ticket: General admission € 22 Buy
Owing much to French inspirations, the Peirani/Parisien duo shines with elegance. They present a refined, entertaining and yet breezy performance that mixes up modern and innovative sounds with the tradition of legendary French music by the likes of Richard Galliano and Sidney Bechet.
Settled in this musical backdrop, their new album “Belle époque” constitutes a revisited, freshened up, and at times sophisticated, version of the classic tradition of the accordion/soprano sax duo. The album, produced by the always reliable German label ACT, has been greeted by excellent international reviews. Vincent Peirani is regarded as the world’s most promising young accordionist, a true heir to Richard Galliano, while Emile Parisien’s musicianship both on the alto and the soprano sax is widely acclaimed, having teamed up with artists like Wynton Marsalis and Bobby Hutcherson. In 2012 and 2013 they both received the Django Reinhardt Award.
vincent-peirani.com listen on
FABRIZIO BOSSO, LUCIANO BIONDINI and PAOLO SILVESTRI STRING ENSEMBLE
MELODIES
ITALY
FABRIZIO BOSSO TROMBA
LUCIANO BIONDINI FISARMONICA
PAOLO SILVESTRI STRING ENSAMBLE
THURSDAY 26th NOVEMBER
AUDITORIUM PARCO DELLA MUSICA auditorium.com
SALA SINOPOLI 09:00 PM
Ticket: Posto unico € 25 Acquista
Fabrizio Bosso and Luciano Biondini are artists who surely need no introduction: very individual techniques, total mastery of theirs instruments, established creativity and artistic maturity fuse into an unparalleled musical experience.
Out of their collaboration germinated the album “Face to Face” in 2012, produced by Abeat, a work that catches the trumpeter from Turin and the accordionist from Spoleto at their best.
Their performance promises engaging and extraordinary dialogues between the two instruments in a concatenation of essential – yet never trite – harmonies, melodies and duels. Some of the pieces will be upbeat and light-hearted, some others will indulge in sweetness and meditation, adeptly arranged to discover (almost) unchartered territories.
fabriziobosso.eu listen on
MAURO OTTOLINI SOUSAPHONIX and CHEF GIORGIONE’S COOKING SHOW
ITALIA
MAURO OTTOLINI TROMBONE, SHELLS, SARDINIAN HANDCRAFTED INSTRUMENTS, BAND LEADER
VANESSA TAGLIABUE YORKE VOCALS
VINCENZO VASI VOCALS, THEREMIN, TOYS, ELECTRONICS
DAN KINZELMAN FLUTES, SAXOPHONE and BASS CLARINET
GUIDO BOMBARDIERI CLARINET and ALTO SAXOPHONE
FLAVIO D’AVANZO TRUMPET and FLUGELHORN
ENRICO TERRAGNOLI BANJO and ELECTRIC GUITAR
ROBERTO DENITTIS ACCORDION, KEYBOARD and TOY PIANO
DANILO GALLO ACOUSTIC BASS and BASS BALALAIKA
SIMONE PADOVANI PERCUSSIONS
ZENO DE ROSSI DRUMS and PERCUSSIONS
SUNDAY 29th NOVEMBER
AUDITORIUM PARCO DELLA MUSICA auditorium.com
SALA SINOPOLI 09:00 PM
Ticket: General admission € 25 Buy
Born in Verona, Mauro Ottolini is one of Italy’s most eclectic and experimental jazz musicians.
He is trombone and tuba player, as well as arranger and has over the years established himself as a player and a composer not only for his projects but also for important jazz, rock, pop and avant-garde artists. He is a charismatic and unpredictable lead musician with a sense for fantasy and surprise. A contribution to his rise is the recognition he received by celebrated musicians Enrico Rava, Franco D’Andrea, Gianluca Petrella, Francesco Bearzatti, and by the extraordinary singer-songwriter Vinicio Capossela. Mauro Ottolini has been often voted best Italian trombonist and best Italian arranger by specialised magazines. In 2012 he was voted Best Italian Musician in the TOP JAZZ poll, while the band Sousaphonix is considered by critics one of the best musical act in Italy.
Always very fond of cuisine and an excellent cook, Ottolini will be joined on stage by the cook Giorgione, Giorgio Barchiesi, one of the anchors of Gambero Rosso Channel. He could not be further from celebrity TV-chefs, gourmet cuisine and its bric-a-brac. His style is full and generous: it’s all “orto e cucina” (“garden and kitchen”), as the title of his TV programme suggests. Shouting “To the depraved and the corrupted I say: your days are over!”, he is the storyteller of a genuine cuisine, just as savoury and traditional as Sousaphonix’ music.
mauroottolini.com ascolta su
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