Jul 17, 2025 12:44 PM
DownBeat’s 73rd Annual Critics Poll: One for the Record Books
You see before you what we believe is the largest and most comprehensive Critics Poll in the history of jazz. DownBeat…
Italian jazz producers Giampiero Rubei and Regione Lazio have announced JazzItaliano in New York, a festival that will feature the most important jazz musicians from Italy performing at various New York City jazz clubs March 1 through 6.
The artists scheduled to perform are: pianist Enrico Pieranunzi, the No. 1 jazz pianist in Italy; saxophonist Rosario Giuliani; trumpeter Flavio Boltro; trombonist Fabrizio Bosso; guitarist Fabrizio Sotti; pianist Riccardo Biseo; and the Fabio Morgera Trio.
Venues will be Birdland, Cornelia Street Café, Jazz Gallery, Smoke, Sweet Rhythm and the Zinc Bar. It is the intention of this festival to create a cultural bridge between Italy and the U.S. by presenting not only these incredible jazz talents to US audiences, but also the long and rich cultural history of the Regione Lazio. Producer Giampiero Rubei puts it this way. “The Italian Jazz Experience is now decidedly ripe and artistically relevant. It has exhibited the surprising capacity to unite in a new and stimulating way the traditions of jazz with the Italian popular and educated cultural roots.” “Today the Italian Jazz scene notwithstanding the dreadful conditions of the national musical market is in an exceptionally blooming phase; that¹s why it is our intention to export it, and make it known in the rest of the world.”
James Brandon Lewis earned honors for Artist of the Year and Tenor Saxophonist of the Year. Three of his recordings placed in the Albums of the Year category.
Jul 17, 2025 12:44 PM
You see before you what we believe is the largest and most comprehensive Critics Poll in the history of jazz. DownBeat…
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Chuck Mangione on the cover of the May 8, 1975, edition of DownBeat.
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The DownBeat Critics Poll provides a wonderful snapshot of the jazz scene today, with much to explore and many great…