DIANA KRALL, KING CRIMSON AND TERENCE BLANCHARD ELEVATE UMBRIA JAZZ FESTIVAL
Tim Dickeson
08 AUGUST 2019
Tim Dickeson reports back from the booming Umbria Jazz Festival as it plays host to some of the biggest names in jazz
The closing press conference at this year’s Umbria Jazz Festival was full of good news for Italy’s largest jazz gathering. Record numbers of visitors and a boom in both ticket sales and merchandising returned an income in excess of €1.6m. And it’s not hard to see why audiences flock here. Over the course of the 10-day festival there were 300 events (mostly free) in twelve different locations. Ninety-five bands featuring almost 500 musicians plus workshops, children’s events, swing dance lesson, DJ sets and a New Talent contest, made it one of the most comprehensive editions in the festival’s history.
As with most big festivals these days, the main venue featured a range of music including pop, rock and jazz, with the income from this ensuring there is a wide choice of pure jazz every day in the smaller venues, and non-stop music on the free stages.
Diana Krall, Chick Corea, Michel Camilo, George Benson, Snarky Puppy and Kamasi Washingtonall featured in well-attended shows in the Arena Santa Giuliana. The biggest crowds however came in for Paolo Conte, Nick Mason’s A Saucerful of Secrets, Thom Yorke, Lauryn Hill and King Crimson.
Canadian jazz star Krall (pictured top) played a brilliant set alongside special guests Joe Lovanoand Marc Ribot, both of whom brought a new slant to her show, adding contrasting dark and light elements. Ribot cranked out some really spiky guitar with Lovano as the perfect foil, blowing more melodic lines around the largely Great American Songbook choices from Krall. Overall a very different show from the vocalist, the change of style really suited her, as she exuded obvious joy at being among these new musical friends.
Fuente: www.jazzwise.com
