Perched between the stars of Bollani and Pat Metheny
Last year, for Gorizia European Capital of Culture, Stefano Bollani was the coordinator of a residency in the Isonzo capital, culminating in a concert in Trieste. "I simply went by feeling and called musicians with whom I have collaborated and shared so much; I wanted to see them together on stage, for me it is a celebration. And in addition there are two young people, my daughter Frida and a fabulous guitarist, Christian Mascetta': this is the amazing Stefano Bollani All Stars, a top-level line-up, where the most prominent musicians, from the doyen Enrico Rava to Paolo Fresu, Daniele Sepe, Antonello Salis, Ares Tavolazzi, Roberto Gatto, play together with Bollani; and the two young talents Christian Mascetta and Frida, on 6 June at the Rocca Brancaleone. The fortress, built by the Serenissima in the 15th century, hides the ruins of the church of S. Andrea dei Goti, erected by King Theodoric. The concert is preceded by the screening of Tutta vita, Valentina Cenni's documentary filmed in the happy Gorizia residence, with the musicians sharing days and nights of music, games, insights, silences and laughter.
The Rocca, now returned to the citizens after an impressive restoration project, is also the fascinating setting for other concerts. On 1 July we listen to Piazzolla's new tango with the bandoneon of Daniele di Bonaventura and the Orchestra Giovanile "L. Cherubini", in a tribute to the Argentine musician's legendary concert in Ravenna in 1986. On 3 July a star like Pat Metheny, with the new album Side-Eye III+. Winner of twenty Grammy awards, collaborating with the world's biggest jazz stars, he has redefined the language of the electric guitar, fusing jazz, rock and Brazilian music in an unmistakable style. On the 4th, the voice of Dulce Pontes, in the first Italian leg of the tour celebrating thirty-five years of music by the Portuguese singer-songwriter, who has managed to marry pop and folk to the tradition of fado. Back to the sound of guitars on the 9th, with the young talent Matteo Mancuso and his recent album, Route 96, between jazz, fusion and experimentation. He shares the evening with the electric bass and voice of Nik West, the new star of planetary black music, who has brought funky back to its original 'corporeal' dimension: sweeping phrasing, a sense of rhythm that weaves together contemporaneity and tribalism, and a stage presence that is enthralling from the very first notes. The Festival's jazz and singer-songwriter routes also take us out of town. Among others, at the Pavaglione di Lugo on 26 June we hear Jeff Mills, father of Detroit's "minimal techno", with Tomorrow comes the harvest. On 28 June singer-songwriter Emma Nolde, one of the most original voices on the new songwriting scene; her music mixes indie, folk and rock, with a very personal use of the voice.
