WOMAD

Sicilian Jazz Orchestra

From Italy

The Sicilian Jazz Orchestra (O.J.S) is the first and only permanent jazz orchestra in Italy open to public participation.? Founded by Ignazio Garsia in the early '70s as the Brass Group Big Band, the orchestra has carried out an intense and constant concert activity under the direction of some of the most prestigious conductors in the world.? In 1990 the O.J.S was the protagonist at the "International Soul Music festival" in Palermo and in 1991 it performed, in a European premiere, Charles Mingus' "Epitaph", under the direction of Gunther Schuller.? In 1994 the O.J.S participated in the "Suoni del Novecento" Festival, a contemporary music festival, promoted by the E. A. Teatro Massimo of Palermo and in the same year the ensemble, conducted by Clark Terry inaugurated the summer concert season with a concert dedicated to Duke Ellington on the twentieth anniversary of his death.??????
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In February 1996, the O. J. S. was invited by the Italian Society for the Study of afro - American Music, to open "La Musica Colta Afroamericana" Festival with the first world live performance of the recording of the George Greshwin/Gil Evans suite "Porgy and Bess", under the direction of Gunther Schuller, with Paolo Fresu as soloist.? For more than twenty years Giuseppe Costa, Vito Giordano, Antonino Pedone, Pietro Pedone, Fabio Riina, Domenica Riina, Salvatore Pizzurro have guaranteed a characteristic and recognisable orchestral sound. ?Musicians who have joined the core group are: Gaetano Agrò, Silvio Barbara, Valerio Barrale, Salvatore Bonafede, Francesco Buzzurro, Sergio Camalleri, Rita Collura, Stefano D'Anna, Gianni Gebbia, Massimo Greco, Pino Greco, Mimmo La Mantia, Francesco Marchese, Orazio Maugeri, Sergio Munafò, Salvatore Nania, Riccardo Randisi, Mauro Schiavone, Gaetano Tucci and Giuseppe Urso.
(Biography supplied by artist management 2010)

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