Giulio Semprini

Giulio Vesprini

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We are happy to introduce Giulio Vesprini the Italian part of our art exhibition Italian Fusion – A visual Art Show – Shane O’Driscoll e Giulio Vesprini in mostra. Italian Fusion is the third exhibition in the series “The art of Italian illustration 2022” organized by the Italian Institute of Culture in Dublin throughout 2022. Attendance is free. The exhibition will be open from 16th June to 2nd July 2022 on weekdays only (10am-1pm and 2.30pm-4.30pm). More info here and here the booklet .

Giulio Vesprini (°1980, Civitanova Marche, Italy) is an urban artist and graphic designer who works in a variety of media. He has attended two major schools: Accademy of Fine Arts and the Departement of Architecture. With a subtle minimalistic approach, Vesprini focuses on the idea of ‘public space’ and more specifically on spaces where graphic and wall can be united at any given moment: the non-private space and space that is economically uninteresting can become utility space. His artworks are often about contact with architecture and graphic elements.

By applying abstraction, he creates intense personal moments masterfully created by means of rules and omissions, acceptance and refusal, luring the viewer round and round in circles. His practice provides some graphic tools with a minimalist approach in the world of art: these meticulously planned works resound and resonate with images culled from the fantastical realm of imagination.

In a search for new methods to ‘read the city’, he creates work in which a fascination with the clarity of content and attitude towards conceptual and minimal art can be found. His work doesn’t reference at recognisable form but Vesprini focuses the results in one word, the word that he love: “Archigrafia” where he deconstructed this concept to the extent that meaning is shifted and possible interpretation becomes multifaceted. He has obtained various awards and publications related to his graphic design, wall paint and illustration work.

Info: www.giuliovesprini.com

ALMONTE & MOLINA – A GUITAR DUOLOGUE

Almonte & Molina – A Guitar Duologue

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We are happy to introduce the Latin Jazz part of our lineup. This year the Italian Fusion Festival presents Almonte and Molina – A Guitar Duologue.

Growing up in the hothouse of Latin-American rhythms and styles, and schooled in the art of jazz and improvisation, the duo explores and develops time-honoured songs and original compositions in a unique and innovative style. Rodrigo Almonte (Peru) and Orlando Molina (Chile/Venezuela) are both guitarists and composers, and they have combined forces to create an artistic work that blends elements of Jazz and Latin-American Music which welcome the listener to experience the duo’s musical friendship.

Originally from Venezuela, Orlando Molina has gained recognition not only for his mastery as a guitarist and composer but also for his versatility as a musician. He has been invited to perform for important public figures such as Mr. President Michael D. Higgins (Ireland), Wynton Marsalis, David Bisbal, Ruben Blades, Conor McGregor among others. In addition, Orlando has performed, toured and recorded with artists such as Andreas Morricone, Gustavo Dudamel, Ronan Guilfoyle, Miguel Siso, Phil Ware, Marie Séférian, David Pabón, Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, Guaco, Orquesta Sinfónica de Venezuela, Chino y Nacho, Oscarcito, Andy Duran, Simón Bolívar Big Band, ‘El Sistema Nacional de Orquestas Sinfónicas de Venezuela’, to name just a few.

More info:  www.orlandomolinamusic.com 

Rodrigo Almonte is a Peruvian guitarist and composer based in Dublin. He has played extensively on the Peruvian and European jazz scene with his own different musical projects. His lyrical melodies, fresh chords and intricate rhythms are equally present and well-balanced on his solos and compositions. With his South American and contemporary jazz influences, Almonte brings a unique approach to music. Rodrigo’s latest album ‘Distancia’ is already available on all digital platforms.

More info:  www.rodrigoalmonte.com

  • Orlando Molina (Electric Guitar / Nylon String Guitar)
  • Rodrigo Almonte (Electric Guitar)
Suzanne Savage

Suzanne Savage with Danny Forde

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We are happy to introduce the soul/jazzy part of our lineup. This year the Italian Fusion Festival presents Suzanne Savage with Danny Forde.

Awarded the N.Ireland Arts Council SIAP for work on her critically acclaimed solo album ‘Jellymould’, charismatic songwriter and performer Suzanne Savage’s most recent project, The Savage Five, for voice and international string 4tet, was nominated for the 2016 German Record Critics’ Awards (Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik), with their debut album Sleepwalking.

She is now back doing her own thing, and bringing it to the people: fronting her Art-soul solo music with violin, guitar and her unique voice – with a quartet of Dublin’s finest killer musicians. Suzanne recently appeared with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra in Dublin’s Bord Gais Energy Theatre, performing ‘the Music of Leonard Cohen’ as guest soloist alongside Lisa Hannigan, Phelim Drew and Mick Flannery on 4th & 5th March 2020. Leonard Cohen’s “Dance Me To The End of Love” live with the RTE Concert Orchestra on the Ray D’arcy Show (Oct 2019)

Live with RTE Concert Orchestra on The Ray D’Arcy Show In demand as a session vocalist for high profile acts across jazz, singer-songwriter, Irish and classical music. From touring Europe and U.S. as Principle Soprano Soloist with Riverdance, to a scholarship at Italian FABRICA MUSICA institute, she has made music internationally, including with: Paul Brady, Elenor McEvoy, Roseanne Cash, Van Morrison, Jimmy Cobb, Ernie Watts Quartet, Gary Husband and emerging talent such as David Lyttle (UK), Markus Strothmann (GER), the Matteo Addabbo Organ Trio (IT), and the great Oscar and Tony-winning composer David Shire. The Belfast native plans on coming home to a full Irish and UK tour late 2020, and is working on album #2 for solo and Savage Five material. Dublin’s Arthurs Bar Dec 2019

Suzane will be playing with Danny Forde.Danny is an award-winning songwriter, singer/multi-instrumentalist, and composer from Ireland. Danny is a passionate performer and has played most major venues and festivals across Ireland. He has performed his music live on national TV and radio. Recent collaborations include a concert of his songs with Téada Orchestra, Ireland’s premier contemporary string orchestra. His performing credits also include touring and collaborations with I Have A Tribe, Hozier, Slow Skies, Ebo, Loah, Discovery Gospel Choir, Kila, and Giraffes.

While at Berklee College of Music on a Fulbright scholarship, he teamed up with two Scandinavians to form the indie-folk inspired Karmacloud. Karmacloud have toured throughout Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland and the UK. Following the release of their debut EP, selected for the Spotify ‘New Folk & Acoustic’ playlist and described as “beautiful vocal harmonies and folk vibes that make me think of CSN&Y, Joni Mitchell and the early seventies”; they will release three new singles in Autumn/Winter 2015. Danny’s music lies on the musical map at the crossroads of Bon Iver, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Elbow and Damien Rice, accompanied by harmony voices and delicate string arrangements.

MORE INFO: www.suzannesavage.co.uk /  www.thesavagefive.com

We are happy to introduce the Italian Jazz part of our lineup. This year the Italian Fusion Festival presents Giulio “Julyo” D’agostino & Dario Rodighiero.

Giulio “Julyo” D’agostino & Dario Rodighiero

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We are happy to introduce the Italian Jazz part of our lineup. This year the Italian Fusion Festival presents Giulio “Julyo” D’agostino & Dario Rodighiero.

Giulio “Julyo” D’agostino (born in Genoa, Italy) is a guitarist, mandolin player, producer and bass player of Italian origin who has several International Awards for his film scoring work. Julyo has worked and performed with Armando Corsi (Paco de Lucia, Ivano Fossati), Mark Mangold (Cher, Michael Bolton), Mike Mangini (Steve Vai, Extreme), Keith Patchel (Johnny Thunders, Television), Michael Maccini (Simple Minds) and Laurence Gartel (Andy Wharol, Coca Cola).

More info www.JulyoMusic.com

A Milan-born, Dublin-dwelling improviser, pianist, keyboardist and composer Dario Rodighiero is a versatile musician. He left Italy in 2014 to pursue his music career in Dublin, where he performs in live shows, regularly collaborates with a wide range of artists, and composes soundtracks and scores for films. After moving to Dublin in 2014, Dario started his own musical project by founding Miss Phoenix and the Jaffa Cakes a trio that makes retro swing versions of modern pop songs. He is also a keyboard player in two other Dublin-based bands. He arranged, recorded and performed several singles in London for Ciara Donnelly, talented Irish singer and songwriter. Passionate about films, Dario found his true vocation when he started composing film scores. He collaborated with the Irish director Cathal Feeney as well as other film producers and directors in Ireland. Recently, several of the movies he scored have been selected for film festivals and competitions.

More info dariocomposer.com

Iordanis Sidiropoulos

Iordanis Sidiropoulos

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We are happy to introduce the Mediterranean part of our lineup. This year the Italian Fusion Festival presents Iordanis Sidiropoulos.

Iordanis Sidiropoulos is a Greek poli instrumentalist music composer, singer- songwriter. He explored the paths of Rock through his bands and also classical music through string orchestration and piano. He collaborated with major Greek artists, released various albums. He also shared the stage with Donal Lunny and has played in the Mansion House in Dublin in the presence of the Lord Mayor. In 2020 he composed music for a short length film that was awarded at the New York International Film Festival. Currently he is preparing his next album and also a cover of the “Sardinian Deus Ti Salvet Maria”.

MORE INFO https://iordanismusic.com/

Maja Elliott

Maja Elliott with Dylan Lynch

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Maja DylanWe are happy to introduce the classical undercurrents and breakbeat improvisation part of our lineup. This year the Italian Fusion Festival presents Maja Elliott with Dylan Lynch.

Maja Elliott is a pianist/singer/composer. Her music is dreamy and ethereal weaving in classical, ethnic and jazz influences and has been played on Lyric FM The Blue of the Night and Vespertine. She toured internationally with underground phenomenon Current 93, played solo in the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco and performed alongside Will Auldham and Antony and the Johnsons (now Anohni) who wrote, “Maja Elliott´s playing has touched me. She is so expressive, holding notes in fearless witness to subtle emotions.”

This daring new Duo Maja Elliott / Dylan Lynch combines original compositions, jazz, classical undercurrents and breakbeat improvisation. Dylan Lynch is a highly sought after drummer and session musician (Zaska, Loah, Little Green Cars, Soda Blonde, Charlie Moon Organisation). His scintillating and subtle rhythms punctuate Maja’s sonorous soundscapes.

 

More info: majaelliott.com

Frank Francone

Frank Francone

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We are happy to introduce the blues part of our lineup. This year the Italian Fusion Festival presents Frank Francone.

Frank Francone is a blues and rock guitarist and singer. In his career Frank played with several Bands and Artists in Italy, France and Ireland, such as Karl Potter (U.S.A.), Cheryl Porter (U.S.A.) and, in Ireland, with Dermot Byrne, Don Baker and with the Jim Finn Blues Band (Australia). He also collaborates in some projects of films and documentaries.

Now he’s performing as solo Blues Artist. In his repertoire we find songs by Freddy Mc Dowell, Lightning Hopkins, Willie Dixon,…, as well as original blues songs and instrumentals. Lastly, he’s starting as guitarist with the rock-blues Band  ‘The Voodoo Kitchen’.

Website: https://www.facebook.com/KTFrankOne/

Julian Colarossi Organ Trio

The Jazz & Prosecco edition Lineup 2019 in 5 Videos

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7PM – Brixia Trio

8PM – The Jones Way

9PM – Luisa Annibali in “Compartir” Project

10PM – The Jaffa Cakes

11PM The Julien Colarossi Organ Trio with Laoise Leahy

 

Laoise Leahy

Laoise Leahy

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We are happy to introduce the special guest of our lineup. This year the Italian Fusion Festival presents, from Cork, Laoise Leahy, who will sing in the last act with the Julien Colarossi Organ Trio.

With a wealth of experience and having trained in both London and Ireland, vocalist Laoise Leahy (Née O’Hanlon), has developed into one of the most accomplished, versatile and in-demand singers on the Irish jazz and pop scene. Laoise has performed and recorded with Bon Iver (4AD), Gilbert O’ Sullivan and the RTE Concert Orchestra, Damon Albarn (Blur/Gorillaz), Brian Deady (Decca Universal), Efterklang (4AD/Rumraket records), Mary Coughlan (Rubyworks Records), Niall Mc Cabe Band, Jack O’ Rourke and Waiting Room in addition to varied theatre, commercial & studio sessions.

As lead vocalist, Laoise performs as jazz vocal soloist with many bands and large ensembles such as The Paul Dunlea Big Band / New Irish Jazz Orchestra, Hothouse Bigband, Cork Concert Orchestra, Cork Pops Orchestra, Opus Pocus Big Band among others and has toured with theatre companies throughout Europe. She is an avid songwriter and has had original music released by a UK independent record label and internationally broadcast on BBC, RTE 1, Sky Showcase, RTE Lyric Fm, Newstalk, RTE Pulse, Bath fm and Today FM among others. She has performed at many festivals including Electric Picnic, Cork Jazz Festival, Limerick Jazz Festival, Sproi fest and many more.

Laoise is passionate about vocal education. She graduated BMus (‘Vocaltech’ London College of Music, London 2004- 2007) and MA (Cork School of Music 2008 – 2010) with 1st class honours degrees and top overall performer awards from both institutions. She co-founded Corks first specialist vocal tuition centre ‘Voiceworks Studio’ with colleague Gemma Sugrue and currently enjoys lecturing full time at the Cork School of Music, specialising in pop and jazz vocal performance on the BA, BMus and MA degree courses.

Julien Colarossi

The Julien Colarossi Organ Trio

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We are happy to introduce the final act of our lineup. This year the Italian Fusion Festival presents The Julien Colarossi Organ Trio.

Despite the name, the Julien Colarossi Organ Trio is led by three distinct voices, working together in harmony and syncopation to make ‘Music’ the only real leader of the band.

This tight and groovy band draws inspiration from the straight ahead jazz classic organ trio sound of Jimmy Smith, all the way to the more modern Larry Goldings trio.The rhythm section features the very experienced Spanish drummer Gonzalo Del Val and the Irish Organ player Darragh Hennessy making for a very tasteful, solid and synchronized unit.

Floating in and out with the rhythm section, Julien Colarossi is known as a ‘dyed in the wool jazzer’ but he also brings a lyrical quality to his guitar playing from his roots deep in the mountains of beautiful “Val Di Comino” in Italy.

Their longstanding collaboration is quite evident in the original material that the band presents. The band recorded their first album in March 2019.

Julien has collaborated with many of Ireland’s finest jazz musicians, his professionalism, his ductility and his dedication to music has made him one of the most hired guitarist in the Irish scene. At the moment he’s actively involved in these projects: the Julien Colarossi Quartet, Francesco Turrisi Trio, Phisqa, the Riona Sally Hartman’s Band, Edel Meade Quintet, the Hot House Big Band.

Just for the Italian Fusion Festival the Julien Colarossi Organ Trio will play a few songs with the Irish jazz singer from Cork Laoise Leahy.