From 25th June to 5th July, Ascona, the pearl of Canton Ticino on the shores of Lake Maggiore, will host the 2009 edition of Ascona Jazz. This is a very special event because the Swiss festival, which attracts over 60,000 jazz lovers, will celebrate its 25th year.
The organisation of the event is the responsibility of Ente Turistico Lago Maggiore (ELTM), with the support of a group of institutional partners; the initiative, which is true to its musical identity, linked with New Orleans and classic jazz, once again will see Nicolas Gilliet in the role of artistic director, a role he has performed since 2004.
Let’s take a look, then, at the 2009 edition. The main characteristic of this year is the onus placed on vocal jazz, with the participation of a record number of singers, among whom there will be names such as Take 6 and Kevin Mahogany, but also Freddy Cole (singer, pianist and brother of Nat King Cole: “one of the greatest jazz artists of today” said the New York Times of him); Ascona’s beloved, American Niki Harisla (who returns with a band which features drummer Herlin Riley); the group Three Ladies of Blues (with Joan Faulkner, the official testimonial of the festival posters); the phenomenal Gegè Telesforo (the king of scat, singer, multi-talented musician, producer as well as journalist and Italian Radio-TV presenter) and the French group Pink Turtle, whose project Pop in Swing – presented at last year’s JazzAscona – is flying high at the top of the jazz Album hit list in France.
As always, the festival will have its fair share of special events. Among these are: jam sessions, which guarantee daily entertainment until 4am; two Gospel masses celebrated by Father Jerôme LeDoux from New Orleans on 28th and 29th June in the suggestive Papio Church accompanied by the great Topsy Chapman’s gospel group; the New Orleans in Stresa event, which will preview the festival on 24th June (five concerts in Stresa Old Town Centre at the famous Italian resort on Lake Maggiore, twinned with Ascona in its love for Jazz.
For further information
www.jazzascona.com.
www.maggiore.ch
