By Marilyn Lester**** If music is an international language, then it’s nowhere more true than in the jazz world. Jazz artists—singers and instrumentalists—make up a tight community of travelers. Mention the name of any major jazz artist and it’s likely to be known from New York City to Berlin to Tokyo and beyond. It’s where a group of musicians who might not even know each other can come together and produce beautiful music from a common understanding of the form.
In that spirit, Italian-born pianist (now a US citizen), Antonio Ciacca, hosted a double-barreled event at Minton’s Playhouse in Harlem, announcing news of the International Jazz Festival of La Spezia (July 23-29)—dedicated to Martin Luther King, Jr. this year— plus playing the music of Bud Powell, a pianist at the forefront of bebop. Backing Ciacca at the keys were ace players: Clovis Nicolas, bass; Darrell Green, drums; Matt Martinez, alto sax; Andy Farber , tenors sax; and Scott Reeves, Trombone.
The press conference was followed by a set that swung with straight-ahead interpretations of tunes associated with Powell, including instrumentals, “Star Eyes” (De Paul-Raye), “Blues in the Closet” (Oscar Pettiford) and Powell’s own “Bouncing with Bud.” The cats played a tight groove, with smooth transitions from musician to musician in solo turns. The mood was a relaxed synergy, producing a mellow sound throughout. Vocalist Jamile Staevie Ayres was tentative but sincere on “I Remember Clifford,” a threnody written in 1957 by jazz tenor saxophonist Benny Golson, who was in attendance. (Trumpet great Brown was killed in an auto accident in 1956 at the age of 25.) Lyrics to the tune were added by Jon Hendricks. Ayres was secure as she sang a sprightly “Lullaby of Birdland” (G. Shearing/G.D. Weiss) and scatted to Powell’s version of “Crazeology.”
The overarching celebratory mood of the evening was with good cause—the 50th anniversary of the International Jazz Festival of La Spezia, founded in La Spezia, a port city in northern Italy, by Tiberio Nicola, in 1969. This year’s Festival honors the music of “the new world.” conceived by Ciacca, the Festival’s Music Director. Titled, “Americana,” it is dedicated to 
Martin Luther King, Jr., who said, “Jazz speaks for life… this is triumphant music.” A Festival highlight is the July 28th concert with the Antonio Ciacca Orchestra, with special guest, tenor saxophonist Benny Golson, who will turn 90 in January 2019. Additionally the winner of the Festival Tiberio Nicola Award will participate in the International Jazz Workshop produced by the NYC Jazz Workshop at the Festival. The Festival, which runs from July 23rd to the 29th, is filled with concerts, smaller musical events, jam sessions, workshops and more. For a full roster, please see www.festivaljazzlaspezia.it or write info@festivaljazzlaspezia.it
Reciprocally, from July to October, The International Jazz Festival of La Spezia pairs with the City of New York in a cultural exchange of artists performing in both Italy and the US. Young Italian musicians will be selected during the Festival to play at the Italian Jazz Days in New York, October 7th to the 14th. Entitled “Young Jazz Book—La Spezia Meets New York,” the event is supported by the City of La Specia and the Festival. The young musicians will play in the five participating jazz clubs around New York City with established Italian American jazz stars, including Artistic Director Ciacca. Past editions of the program have included Joe Lovano, Bucky Pizzarelli, Dominck Farinacci and many others. Italian Jazz Days is in its 6th season and is produced by Twins Music Federation, which has partnered with the nonprofit “Amici del Jazz” of La Specia. For more information, please see www.twinsmusicny.com
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