October Jazz fest: A grand affair

the concert free of charge to fans as part of their commitment to taking jazz to a wider audience.
In addition, as part of the Italian Embassy’s culture exchange and music industry development programme  in Zimbabwe, emerging local jazz singers got the rare opportunity to share the stage and interact with world- class musicians. 
Giovanni Falzone Quintet, a popular band in Italy,  brought a different dimension to jazz performance in Zimbabwe. During the show, the outfit presented works dedicated to the great saxophonist and composer, Ornette Coleman, one of the founders of the free jazz movement in the 1960s.
The music presentation was taken off their album entitled “Around Ornette”. The project comprised a suite of four pieces by Coleman as well as original compositions by Falzone.
It was a creative fusion of Coleman’s lyrical genius in which Falzone’s expressive power and versatility blended well in a unique musical dialogue.
Commenting on the project, the quintet’s leader, Giovanni Falzone, said: “I consider Ornette Coleman to be an absolute leader in modern jazz. The album ‘Around Ornette’ is my personal thanks to a musician who, with his freedom of expression, has managed to make jazz even more infinite.”
The Italian jazz quintet is made up of Falzone on trumpet, and his four brilliant and trusted collaborators including Francesco Bearzatti on the tenor saxophone and clarinet, Beppe Caruso on the trombone, Paolino Dalla Porta on the double bass and Antonio Fusco on the drums.
Giovanni Falzone is a well-known trumpeter and composer, who began studying the trumpet in Aragona, Italy, at the age of 17. He later graduated with distinction in the jazz course at the “G. Verdi” Conservatorio in Milan.
Falzone played for years in a symphony orchestra where he absorbed many different sounds, especially the music of the 20th century to which Ornette made a very important contribution. Since 2004 he has devoted himself definitively to jazz music and composition.
In the jazz sphere, he has made a number of invaluable contributions that won him numerous prizes including Accademie Du Jazz 2009 (second in the Best European Musician category), Music Best New Talent (Wind Category Trophy) — In sound 2008, Best Talent  — Umbria Jazz Clinics in 2000, and Best New Talent —  “DJANGO D’OR 2004”.
As composer, arranger and band leader, Falzone has eight other albums to his credit, including “Music For Five” (2002), “Big Fracture” (2003), “Earthquake Suite”  (2004), “Suite For Bird” (2005), “Meeting In Pari”s (2006), “R-Evolutin Suite” (2007), “Stylus Q” (2008) and “Around Jimi” (2010).
The supporting act, Jean Masters, is gaining popularity on Harare’s live performance circuit and is a singer with a silken voice, who is full of promise.
Ammara Brown also produced one of her best performances at the festival after making her debut appearance at the annual Winter Jazz Festival a few months back.
Celebration Choir guitarist John Deuschle also got a chance to showcase his strumming skills during the festival.
Now in its third year, the October International Jazz and World Music Festival, which at its establishment was called the Italian Jazz Festival, has expanded to include different genres.
The festival is designed to promote cultural exchange among artistes and audiences as well as create new platforms for further artistic opportunities.
The festival is organised by the Italian Embassy in Harare in partnership with Pamberi Trust. Corporate sponsors for this major cultural initiative include FBC Bank, Freight World, Telecel, Ethiopian Airlines, Rainbow Tourism Group, Red Granite, Progressive Insurance, Sontine Travel, Perspectives, Celebration Centre and the Italian Club.