The regulars of Aristo’s bar in Barga Vecchia have known about it since the start of the winter as the musicians in Emma e gli Aristodemos have been practising in the bar every Sunday night for months, but the rest of Barga finally got their first glimpse of the latest Barga band this weekend as they opened at the Barga Jazz Club.
No posters for the concerts were put up in the city -- more or less all of the publicity was done by word of mouth but such was the buzz circulating for their first concert that a large expectant crowd gathered in the club ready for the show.
And what a show it was too. Rather than put on the usual concert in the club with the musicians on stage at the end of the room with the audience seated in front of them, Emma and her band decided to make the whole evening a bit more intimate. They came off the stage and instead moved into the middle of the room setting up their instruments in amongst the audience.
What the jazz club was treated to was a kind of installation of 1950’s furniture complete with subtle lighting from a candle lit chandelier -- the perfect setting for the classic Italian swing music from the 40’s and 50’s which formed the backbone of the music played by the quintet.
The evening was dedicated to Nicola Arigliano, the King of Italian Swing, who died just this week (article here)
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Emma Morton -- voce | Fabio Guazzelli -- chitarra | Alessandro Rizzardi -- mandolino | Keane -- percussioni | Leo Gnesi -- contrabbasso
Video and most of the images on this article by Jesse Henry, a hotelier in Maine, USA and sharp eyed photographer
I was dubious until I caught when of their practice sessions. Then I became a groupie. A very nice change of pace and style on our music scene. Still, I remain dubious about the mandolin player's mustache and the Irishman's cravat. Mi fanno paura.
The site administrator who must approve comments on this group has been on extremely intimate terms with its percussionist for more than half a century. Conflict of interest?
looking through the images now… noticing that Monacu was not present, no doubt himself nestled into a jazz bar in Paris that night. Too bad he was not there, he missed a great show!
More good stuff from BJC but I must ask two questions.
Is that mandolin some sort of dobro or tindolinI I would love to hear it live? Question number two is a bit more intimate. Is that wee dog jumping up and down in the background the same nasty plumbhound that had to be surgically removed from the award winning photographer O'Conor's groin two summers back? I don't quite recognise it without the beard!
James Herriot
The Steading
By Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
just re- read the comment from Zambo and it still made me splutter and cough into my mug of tea even after it being posted over a year ago …. what is that man on ? .. I think it was the signature “James Herriot” that really did me in …..
He’s a notorious abuser of haggis, poor lad.