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.