Un viaggio visivo e sonoro
In un periodo in cui lavorare nel settore della cultura è quasi un utopia, la musica riflette forse più di altre forme d’arte la profonda crisi sociale che stiamo attraversando. Appare quindi opportuno riscoprire chi sono i musicisti, questi “coraggiosi”, portatori di quel messaggio universale che è la musica., forma d’arte che non ha barriere linguistiche, culturali, geografiche, religiose.
Musicastrada Festival torna anche quest’anno, perun viaggio alla scoperta della Provincia di Pisa, di un territorio che riserva infinite sorprese e motivi di interesse storico, paesaggistico, architettonico, culinario e musicale! Ma la particolarità del programma del Festival anche quest’anno è che la panoramica degli stili proposti, anche se legati da un filo logico, non ha “limiti”: Il Jazz, con un occhio verso la fusione delle culture; l’Africa, il Blues, sempre erroneamente considerato di nicchia, ma che di fatto continua a “sfornare” musicisti di altissima levatura; l’idea di “folk music” che accomuna la tradizione toscana con lo zydeco o la pizzica dei tarantolati, rivista e valorizzata da musicisti di altissimo livello; la World Music; la grande musica del Nord America, il Flamenco e la musica dei gitani Manouche, la sperimentazione e un nostro personale omaggio alla chitarra acustica, strumento che, nonostante tutto, non si è ancora finito di esplorare.
Tutti questi artisti, che a prima vista possono sembrare così diversi, così distanti, così stilisticamente separati, sono tutti una cosa sola: musicisti. Ognuno con sua storia di vita, di studio, di scelte.
MUSICASTRADA FESTIVAL è un invito a uscire di casa per riscoprire i luoghi della Provincia. Un invito a seguire questo carrozzone variopinto di tecnici e musicisti che con grande entusiasmo (e altrettanta professionalità) si aggira tra le piazze della Valdera, della Valdicecina, del Basso Valdarno e del Sottomonte pisano, per un’estate di cultura e divertimento. Ventuno comuni coinvolti, probabilmente il festival musicale col territorio più ampio in Italia.
Dedichiamo questo festival a Roberto Pistolesi. Che la memoria possa rendere merito al tuo importante lavoro.
Tutti gli spettacoli sono ad ingresso gratuito.
IL PROGRAMMA DEI CONCERTI
Bens Belinga Quartet (CAM FR)
Ben Belinga, a saxophonist from Cameroun, inspired by the ever-famous jazz players John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, and King Curtis etc. In 1975 he moved to Paris where he met Toure Kanda and his African band. They have been playing together for 7 years. Then he found his own new group, Kaoma. “Lambada” is the most famous track with 15 millions of records sold all around the world. In 1992 he formed a new band together with four musicians, white but with an African music background (Blanc d’Afrique) and three main topics: Love, Humor and Brotherhood. Ben’s music is always soulful, strong: a “warm” sound.
Simona Salis (ITA)
Thornless roots… Simona Salis’s voice, so sweet, so vibrant: a young song singer writer, with an intense show: “Chistionada de mei” (Talk about me), her performance during which captivating melodies, sounds from ancient times and faraway places overshadow the borders between world and pop music. Simona sings her own songs in a minor Sardinian dialect called “Campidanese”, influenced by different cultures and different writers, e.g. flamenco, sirtaki, tango and last but not the least fado music. Her music is made up by all these different influences/cultures and an international audience can easily appreciate it in a familiar environment.
Donnie Romano & The Catfish Combo (ITA)
Donnie Romano, a guitarist and a song singer writer. He comes from Lazio but he has been living in Tuscany for many years. Few words but lot of energy, this is his reputation. His audience is always amazed by his incredible technique, his sound and is personal and faultless style, beyond the influences of previous talents. Donnie is not a foreigner, only his guitars come from abroad but with his own hands he can build up wonderful sounds, as and better than other more famous entertainers.
Don’t miss it!
Li’l Brian & the Zydeco Travelers (USA)
Zydeco music comes from Louisiana and it originates from different traditional and folk Creole music. Belonging to this tradition, groups like Lì’l Brian’s broaden their outlook, including funky, pop music and R’n’B. A melting of energy, a real explosion of rhythm and an unrestrained groove: this is the dance music in the Zyedeco and Cayun tradition. Brian Terry began to play accordion and diatonic accordion when he was fifteen. With Zydeco Travelers he has been playing live incessantly: they are one of the most innovative band on international stage, asserting their modern identity but respecting their own tradition.
Bexhill Big Band (UK)
60 elements! From England it’s a big school band.
Are famous for win the award “Best Youth Drama in the Borough” with the teatral performance “Knowles Cup”.
Normally playing Jesus Crist Superstar, Blues in the nigh, and other!
Enjoy!
Guitar Crusher & Emiblues (USA)
Sidney “Guitar Crusher” Selby is a true blues man. Born in rural Hyde County N.C. in 1931 during the height of the Depression, he toiled in the cotton fields during his youth but set aside Sundays for exercising his rich baritone in the choir of Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church. He moved to New York in the 50s and formed his own band, the Midnight Rockers. The year 1960 marked the beginning of a decade of performances with The Drifters, The Isley Brothers, Ben E. King and other major R&B talents. Selby was signed by Columbia Records and remained under contract until 1970, and in the early 80s Guitar Crusher headed for Europe and a more hospitals blues climate. Here his performance on major festivals marked the start of his comeback. The now internationally-known singer and writer has since accorded 4 albums singing his own compositions. His transfixing vocal power won him a reputation as ‘The Big Voice From New York’.
Roma-Amsterdam Jazz Quartet (ITA NL)
Music made up by rhythm and melody, north and south, pasta and French fries, lines and spaces.. Two Dutchmen playing wind instruments and two Italians at drums and upright bass. A pianoless quartet where music breathes inside and outside. Counterpoint and groove are melting together, slowly but relentlessly as it is happening all around Europe.. Distances are becoming shorter, borders are falling down, but tradition and identity are still there, with improvisation, spaces and sounds. As the discovery of differences and affinities: there’s today’s music.
Dirk Hamilton & The Bluesmen (USA ITA)
The Indiana’s bluesman Dirk Hamilton crossing the italian’s band “The Bluesmen” and born this show.
Corey Harris (USA)
Corey Harris is one the best traditional blues guitarist even if he is always open to new sounds and contaminations. Born in Colorado in 1969, he graduated in Cultural Anthropology at the University of Bates. He was the leading actor in the movie directed by Martin Scorsese “From Mississippi to Mali” (one of the seven episodes of “The Blues”) and wrote the sound track with the surprising “Mississippi to Mali”, as he would like people to understand who is the future leader of the modern blues.
His short discography has been perfectly built, authentic blues but not common blues. He collaborated with Ali Farka Touré, Souleyman Kane and Ali Magassa.
Suffolk Youth Orchestra (UK)
the Suffolk Youth Orchestra (SYO) is a full symphony orchestra of over 90 players, all aged between 13 and 21 years. Conducted since 1987 by Philip Shaw OBE, the County Adviser for Music, it ranks among the finest of its type in the UK.
De Simone, Martinez & Moneta (ITA)
De Simone, Martinez & Moneta trio’s music is the result of melting past experiences, original musical ideas and the necessity to introduce innovations. Thirty years of musical career during which they have been immersed in a diverse range of music, finding equilibrium between tradition and innovations: they played Old Time Music, Bluegrass, Newgrass, Country-Rock, New Age, Progressive Rock and Swing. All of them approached these different kinds of music with a stylistic tracing as in the Folk Revival.
By the way, Mariano De Simone during the summer of 2000 worked as a musical consultant in the production of the movie “Gangs of New York” directed by Martin Scorsese in Cinecittà.
Matt Renzi, Simone Guiducci, Oscar del Barba (ITA)
Tenor saxophonist/clarinettist Matt Renzi was born into a musical family. He received a BA in performance from Berklee College of Music and studied with George Garzone, John Handy, Joe Henderson and South Indian Vocalist R.A. Ramamani.
Matt has appeared at festivals and venues throughout North America as well as Europe, Japan, Israel, India, Singapore and Angola. Of note is his work with “Dialogue,” a band led by legendary bassist, Herbie Lewis.
Simone Guiducci, song writer and guitarist, was born in Torino in 1962. Since the 90s he has the reputation as one of the best Italian talents mostly thanks to “GRAMELOT”, his own project between folk music and jazz improvisation.
Oscar Del Barba was born in Brescia in 1968, he received a BA in piano performance, jazz and writing in 1990. He approached different kinds of music (Jazz, Argentinean, Cuban and Brazilian music) creating a personal and original sound.
Solorazaf (FR)
Solorazafindrakoto (his real name) is not only the guitarist who played with Miriam Makeba, Manudibango and Dizzie Gillespie, he is a great solo player, a talented one-man band. With a great knowledge of his instrument, he is quick in the passages, remarkable in melody/rhythm and a vocals’ master. His music is plenty of various influences, Africa, Asia, Portugal and France in a Jazz harmony. Solorazaf is famous for his ability in combining different cultures, as Malagasy and the East, the Indian Ocean together with jazz and folk melodies, creating a captivating and original sound.
Fabio Pianigiani (ITA)
This performance was inspired by Fabio Pianigiani’s musical compositions on this subject: water. A multimedia concert where sounds and images interact creating new atmospheres. Water sounds: from the ocean’s roaring to the brook’s gurgling, waves’ breaking, rain’s pattering…
Fabio Pianigiani was born in Siena in 1953. He graduated in History of Music and in 1980 he went abroad to improve his ability on playing guitar. In 1985 he came back in Siena and met Gianna Nannini starting a successful collaboration, which continued during all the 80s. The LP “Profumo” (Scent) published in 1986 and the related worldwide tour were a big success.
Pianigiani also wrote songs for Donatella Rettore, Mario Castelnuovo and Riccardo Fogli for whom he worked as a producer and an arranger.
Clive Carroll (UK)
Clive Carroll was born in Chelmsford, England in 1975 and has been immersed in a diverse range of music ever since. In 1998, he was given the opportunity to play at his local pub with John Renbourn. That night Renbourn encouraged him to record a solo album, and finally in 1999 after playing a support to Chris Newman & Maire Ni Chathasaigh, Clive was given his first record deal by their Celtic label, ‘Old Bridge Music’. His first solo CD, Sixth Sense received an unusually high level of attention from radio shows, reviewers and journalists and has since been described as ‘a milestone in the journey of the steel-string guitar’. Over the next two years John Renbourn took Clive on tour all over Europe and America.
Dreva (RUS)
Folk group “Dreva” was found in 1989 and specialised in Russian folk, urban songs and music up to this time. Repertoire of the group is built on the materials of the expeditions in the different regions of Russia. Group members learn these songs using expedition records and also in the direct contact with country singers and musicians. They do not use songs from but they perform on improvisation as it is usual in traditional country singing. Their aim is to keep the nature sound of each singer voice.
The repertoire of the group contains: tradition instrumental music, old country games, ritual, lingering, dance songs, drinking-songs.
Fuentes (ITA)
This group was found by Ettore Bonafè and Paolo Casu, percussions players: their aim is to create a band with only percussion instruments. They met Mario Seggio, another percussions player and they started their travel called “Fuentes”.
Starting from the origins of rhythm dance and percussions, they collaborated with dancers and in the search of a new sound they added interesting experience with violins, guitars, sax.
Joe McHugh & Antonio Breschi (IRL)
“The Irish Journey” is a musical journey from the ancient Celtic roots of Ireand through ethnic tracks, meeting new cultures and emotions from all around the world.
From the Arab-Andaluse sounds to the Flamenco-jazz, through Basque music.
When he was 18 years old, Joe McHuhg won a prize as the best Irish accordion player. He collaborated with Van Morrison and Andreas Vollenwaider.
Antonio Breschi, pianist and writer, born in Florence, has been living in Ireland for many years. Worldwide he is best known as the inventor of the Celtic piano and the first performer bringing piano into flamenco
Lisetta Luchini, Luca Di Volo e Eleonora Tassinari (ITA)
An ensemble of folk songs and traditional music learned by the huge Tuscan and country traditional repertoire. A new performance with the contribution of two entertainers and friends, sound researchers and new style inventors.
An amusing and gay performance, in the search of more space for the folk music and culture.
where
loc. montecastelli pisano castelnuovo val di cecina pisa
Juan Lorenzo Trio (ES)
Sevilla Flamenca is a show based on Flamenco Arts, as it is traditional in Seville: in every town of Andalusia you can find various traditions/customs and several forms of Flamenco. In Seville, Flamenco is ancient and fascinating.
Juan Lorenzo, of Spanish origin, started his studies on classical guitar in Italy when he was nine years old, showing soon his great talent. He has been performing internationally for twenty years (1500 gigs), publishing CDs and collaborating with the most important Flamenco guitarists. He also met and interacted with Paco de Lucia.
Quadro Nuevo (DE)
Tango, Valse Musette, and Flamenco: old soundtracks of a forgotten Italy. Since 1996 Quadro Nuevo have been performing more than 1000 gigs all around Europe.
They choose their concert places as they choose their music: not only festivals and venues but also travelling as street musicians around Mediterranean countries.
They have published five CDs, won a Jazz Award in Germany and conquered worldwide and jazz top tens.
Malito feat. James Thompson (ITA USA)
Malito feat. J.Thompson is one of the few groups playing world music having a great success. Audience is amazed by this powerful groove and sound. Our advice is to come to this gig and see with your eyes what this band is playing without expecting anything in particular.
Just relax, listen and dance.
Veneto, California and Tuscany in one band: two hours of feeling and fun.
Riccardo Tesi e Maurizio Geri (ITA)
Riccardo Tesi and Maurizio Geri have been playing together for ten years previously: their project was called Banditaliana, a famous Italian world music group. Recently they realized a performance around traditional music in Tuscany called “Acqua Foco e Vento” (Water, Fire and Wind). Riccardo plays a dreaming and melancholic accordion, Maurizio is an acrobatic guitarist with a transfixing voice and a repertoire made by traditional, jazz and popular music.
Riccardo Tesi has been a pioneer of the ethnic music in Italy; he is a writer, an instrumentalist and a researcher with a versatile personality. He began with Caterina Bueno in 1978 and then collaborated with various entertainers immersed in a diverse range of music, always with passion and a great curiosity.
Antidotum Tarantulae (ITA)
The ancient popular and traditional music: this is the amazing music of Antidotum Tarantulae, a great performance for your fun!
Six people founded this street band in 2000 and immediately received an unusually high level of attention because of their overwhelming music made by the excitement of “pizzica salentina” (tarantula’s bite as the group is called), tarantella, tammurriata and saltarellu from The Marche. During their gigs you can dance lullabies from Salento in a Balcanic rhythm and tammurriata music mixed with reggae. Together with the seventh and new member, they opened up to new experiences and published new CD.
Manomanouche (ITA)
In Europe a traditional guitar-music is linked to Manouches, a gypsy family living between France and Germany.
Monomauche group was found in 2001 with the main purpose to make Manouches’ music and culture known to more people. Since then they have been performing incessantly, increasing their ability and creating a personal style.
Antica Mente Duo (ITA)
An ancient music played with ancient and modern instruments: didgeridoo (an Australian prehistoric instrument), tar, violin, Indian santur, piano, diatonic accordion, harmonic disk, vocals, percussions and electronic instruments. East, West, Africa, Australia are melting together in a new, original sound, a journey across time, between prehistoric and modern ages.
Moreno Papi is from Turin and studied didgeridoo by himself, feeling lonely and isolated, as he was not able to get information and/or teachings. But this sound was so great.. He left his job (he had an advertising agency) and devoted all his time to music.