Made in Sicily Orchestra was
born in Palermo in 2007 with the
mission of enhancing the artistry of
Sicilian music and musicians. Their unique creation
is
a fusion of symphony orchestra and a jazz section,
including the musicians Francesco Buzzurro,
Francesco Cafiso, Vito Giordano, Osvaldo Lo Iacono,
Giuseppe Milici, Ruggiero Mascellino, Francesco
Nicolosi. The lead voice is Mara Eli with
Domenico Riina as director. The
Orchestra’s
mission is to promote Sicilian music and
musicians. Today the
Orchestra is comprised of 104 staff
musicians, all of them Sicilian. It has performed in the most
important theatres and has been lauded by the press as an ambassador
of Sicily to the world. Their first musical production, "Made
in Sicily - the Songs" is
a compilation album of 14 traditional Sicilian songs
rearranged
to a pop-jazz key. More... English version by VanVakys VRC consulting L’Orchestra Made in Sicily nasce
a Palermo nel 2007 con l’obiettivo di valorizzare la musica
e i musicisti siciliani, ed è composta dalla fusione di
una sezione sinfonica ed una jazz. Alcuni dei musicisti più importanti
sono Francesco Buzzurro, Francesco Cafiso, Vito Giordano, Osvaldo
Lo Iacono, Giuseppe Milici, Ruggiero Mascellino, Francesco Nicolosi. La
voce ufficiale dell’orchestra è quella di Mara Eli.
Il direttore è il maestro Domenico Riina. Nel 2008 l’orchestra
conta un organico di ben 104 elementi. Ha tenuto concerti nei teatri
più prestigiosi e la stampa specializzata l’accredita
come “Ambasciatrice” della Sicilia nel mondo.
“Made in Sicily - the Songs” è una raccolta di 14 pezzi della
canzone di tradizione siciliana, riarrangiati in chiave pop – jazz. Si
tratta della prima produzione musicale realizzata dalla monumentale Orchestra. Continua...
Music History Storia
della Musica
The
Oriundi Contributions to the evolution of Jazz by Giuseppe Milici
Imagination and a musical lexicon that’s
all we will need to begin our journey through
the
progression of Jazz Music around the world. The importance
of Sicilian musicians in this development, as well as those
of Sicilian origin, is evident from the start.
Beginning our brief excursion through the History of Jazz
in the 1920th the first name comes in mind maybe Nick
La Rocca,
founder and
leader of one of the most famous jazz band of that time “The
Original Dixieland Jazz Band”.
Nick and his
fellows recorded, New Orleans, Louisiana, reputed to be the
first Jazz record ever produced, and were therefore instrumental
to the unfolding of what became a popular mode of musical
expression worlwide. After producing
the “absolute
first” jazz record,
the group had lot of success on tour
throughout the United
States and Europe, as well, where Jazz was relatively unknown.
Nick La Rocca was not the only
member of Sicilian origin in the “Original
Dixieland Jazz Band”; the group also included: Frank
Signorelli on
piano and Tony
Sbarbaro on drums. Consequently, it is not far-fetched
to claim that the
first Jazz record was truly an effort “Made
in Sicily”.
Continuing our imaginary trip through
jazz in time,we should mention another important step of
great importance for our
fellow Sicilians: the “Be
Bop” era. Many musicians of Sicilian origin wrote
and performed this improvisional style of jazz music, born
in New York during the WW2 era. Even though
the terrible events of the war dominated this period of history
in both Sicily and America, jazz musicians in New York continued
to work and progress, and it was during time that this new
genre emerged. Among the members of the first Be Bop band
there was a musician named George Wallington (birth
name Giacinto
Figlia), who was born in Palermo.
He was an integral part of the band, as he was not only
the
pianist,
but also the composer, and played a note worthy role in developing
this new style and, ultimately, steering
the course of jazz music.
It is imperative to mention the other members of the group
which comprised of such famous musicians as: Dizzy
Gillespie (trumpet), Oscar Pettiford (contrabass), Max
Roach (drums), Don Byas (saxophone).
By the end of the 1940's an exceptional talent had began
to draw attention: His name was Tony Scott.
Born in New Jersey as Tony Sciacca he hailed from a family
of Sicilian
immigrants with a passion for music (some of
them were
musicians). Tony was encouraged to study various
instruments including clarinet, saxophone,
piano.
By 1953 Tony Scott grew into a giant of
Jazz music, collaborating with the Duke
Ellington Orchestra, and arranging and performing for Sarah
Vaughan and Billy
Holiday. He also played several tours
in Africa and Europe, performing with great
musicians as Charlie Parker, Bill Evans, Kenny
Clarke, Benny Carter, accomplishing a
high standard of “traditional
jazz” while devoting the best of himself to the “modern
style”.
Many other names can be
mentioned by a jazz lover and
in a to up to date list we can name: Chick
Corea, Frank Sinatra, Joe Pass,
Chuck Mangione, Louie Bellson.
Clearly, these brief notes on the significance of Sicilian
musicians to the evolution of
Jazz in the world are only the beginning, and do not come
close to covering the subject. However, they are useful in
comprehending how, at a time not too long ago, some among
us in the world contributed to the “creation” of
something world-renowned and its melodies resound throughout
the world and our ears to this day. Let's hope they continue
to do so for many more. English version by VanVakys VRC consulting
Etta
Scollo "Les Siciliens "
Born
in Catania, she worked with artists such as Eddie
Lockjaw Davis,
Sunnyland Slim and Champion Jack
Dupree, both in the recording
studio and in concerts. She attended singing seminars with artists
such as Bobby McFerrin and Sheila
Jordan. Resident in Berlin
(Germany) and Sicily, she is currently devoting herself to composing
and to exploring traditional music. This cd is the result of
the homonymous tour, a performance documenting the dreams and
reality, history and myths of her native island. For the "Festival
delle Orestiadi" in Gibellina, she composed Il fiore
splendente, a poetical- musical project drawn from an anthology
of Arabian poets in Sicily, published by Francesca M. Corrao.
The resulting cd will be released in June 2008. www.ettascollo.de
English version by VanVakys VRC consulting
Roy Paci "SuoNOGlobal" Funny and sunny. On the one hand there is the
passion for the trumpet and the and brass section and on the other
hand the passion for raggae, ska and rocksteady: mix the whole
with a rousing rythm and finally here you are Roy Paci & Aretuska. "SouNOGlobal" is
a cd that contains all the possible warmth expressed through a
sound that brings together reggae, calypso, rocksteady, but also
flamenco, Latin and Carribean rythms. For the occasion, Roy Paci
has invented his own language composed of Spanish, Italian, French
and Sicilian dialect. The cd sees the participation of the old
friends Manu
Chao, Cor Veleno from Rome, Pau of Negrita, Raiz, Erriquez of
Bandabarḍ,
Caparezza and Sud Sound System. www.roypaci.it
English version by VanVakys VRC consulting
Ever
since his youth, he has been captivated by every kind of music
and has sought to create new blends among the most diverse
genres by combining elements of classical, rock and jazz music,
as well as of ethnic music - characteristic of Sicily and of
others Mediterranean lands such as North Africa, Israel, the
Middle East, the Balkan States, Turkey, Andalusia. More...
He has
attracted considerable attention as Music Director and Founder of
the Chamber Orchestra of New York, established in honor of Ottorino
Respighi. Its triumphant debut was held
on 11 October 2007 at Zankel Hall, Carnegie Hall. Following the
inaugural season finale, Vivien Schweitzer of The New York Times
wrote: "The musicians played
with vigor and commitment throughout the evening, producing a polished,
rich sound."More...
Mario Biondi With
his voice stamp very close to that of the most famous Barry
White and Lou
Rawls, he sings a soul-jazz hot and
passionate,
where there are also ironic accents and arrangements of
the acid tradition.
Gabriella
Cilmi (pronounced “chill-me”)
From the sultry opening notes of the debut single “Sweet
About Me”, the world quickly has come to know this new
vocal talent traversing all manner of genre from blues, pop,
punk, glam, rock and beautiful balladry.
SeiOttavi A
group of seven voices born in 2004 in Palermo. They sing
a cappella pop and classic songs
arranged in swing key.
The execution is characterized not only by polyphony,
but
also by the reproduction with just voices of
instrumental,
sound and onomatopoeic effects.
Franco Battiato Singer-songwriter,
composer, filmmaker and (as Süphan Barzani) painter.
He is considered one of the most original personalities in
Italian music from the 1970s to now. His songs are dreamy,
controversial collages of images and sensations, very experimental
and convoluted. His collaborations (from 1994 onward)
with
the nihilistic-cynical philosopher Manlio
Sgalambro have
added further depth to his apparently nonsensical lyrics,
with references to Emil Cioran, Friedrich Nietzsche and other
anarchistic and problematic thinkers.
Carmen Consoli
The sold-out tour in March 2008 in the United States
put the final seal on her
fame overseas.
The famous (and difficult) critic of the New York Times
Jon Pareles has defined her "a magnificent combination
between a rocker and an intellectual" and also "a
voice full of compassion, pain and strength."
Giuseppe Milici
Harmonica player
and composer. Member of the first European Jazz Orchestra conducted
by James Newton. He performed the original soundtrack from
the movie "Il
Mago"(The Magician) starring Anthony
Quinn.
Martial Solal underlined: "Milici has the right
feeling
and shows he knows everything about jazz.”
Agricantus Their artistic path was symbolically
based
on "peace between people". Peace to
build
and rebuild with the music, with sounds and with the words,
dwelling on emotions that arise at the time of the encounter
with these people creating moments of magic sound and suspension
of time.
In
Luce 
The
Oriundi 
He has
attracted considerable attention as Music Director and Founder of
the Chamber Orchestra of New York, established in honor of Ottorino
Respighi. Its triumphant debut was held
on 11 October 2007 at Zankel Hall, Carnegie Hall. Following the
inaugural season finale, Vivien Schweitzer of The New York Times
wrote: "The musicians played
with vigor and commitment throughout the evening, producing a polished,
rich sound." 
