Umberto Sangiovanni - musician
Umberto Sangiovanni is a pianist and a composer who rediscovered the musicality of the Foggia dialect; he re-writes old folks’ music by blending it with contemporary Jazz. With Daunia Orchestra Umberto has formed a mini-orchestra consisting of a piano, drums, guitar, accordion, clarinet and the voices of Rossella Ruini (La Controra and Calasole) and Sara Sileo (Sciamboli e Nuovi Inverni).
Umberto has participated to prestigious concerts such as the Roma Jazz Festival (2002), Dolce Vita Jazz Festival – Roma (2003),Radio Rai 3 Suite (2004), Concerti del Quirinale (2005),Valladolid Jazz Festival (Spagna), Notte della Taranta (2006) Istituto Italiano di Cultura – Londra (2009).
Discography includes: “Travels" (1997); "Secrets" (1999), "Live" (2000, “La Controra” (2006), “Calasole” (2006), Sciamboli e Nuovi Inverni (2009).
The Accademia asks Umberto Sangiovanni some questions:
1. You are a Jazz pianist, accordionist and a composer busy in preserving old musical traditions from the region of Daunia where people speak a very old dialect, a mixture of Arabic, Slovenian and Neapolitan. What is the reaction of young people to your style of music?
Youngesters seem interested. Of course, it is not the kind of music they are accustomed to, but their reaction at concerts is very positive. There may some kind of ‘genetic’ response to the sound of the old dialect, even if at times may not always be comprehensible.
2. What is the ‘Controra’?
It is a typical Southern Italian word that describes a time, which begins straight after lunchtime – from around 13:00 to 16:00 (and even later during hot summer months). La Controra is a kind of Mexican siesta.
During this time everything stops and keeps still as if suspended by time. I like to think of it as a magic time because people stop their routines and their mind is allowed to wander off. I am most inspired during the Controra even though, I must admit, in Rome , as in big cities, people don’t always have time for a siesta.
3. Music from the 60s made folks music unfashionable – the Beetles dominated the charts. Considering that people back then (and even now) didn’t understand English, how important would you say is to understand the lyrics of a song? Do you think that one day Umberto Sangiovanni e Daunia can make it to the English charts?
I didn’t use to pay much attention to lyrics – I liked a song if it evoked a nice ‘atmosphere’ . Lately, however, I do pay more attention to words. At time it’s a single word that grabs my attention, but, again, it is the sound of a word makes magic magic. The English Charts? Why not?
4. What would you say has been inspirational to your artistic career?
Listening to more than 300 LPs, which I proudly keep at my parents’ in Foggia.
I bought them in the 80s and 90s so I could listen to Jazz and rock, especially records by artists that at the time weren’t well known.
5. Is there a particularly gratifying moment of your life/career?
No doubt the concert I held at the Valladolid jazz festival in Spain. I shared the stage with international Jazz stars and made to feel most welcome. To see the long queue of people lining up to buy our CD after the concert, told I managed to convey something to the crowd. This is the essence of music.
6. Is there been a difficult time and how have you overcome it?
Being a musician can be a difficult as there are moments when one can get too critical, too hard on oneself.
7. What is ‘hope’?
It’s life’s engine, which you need to know how to best use it. Realizing when ‘hope’ is turning into an ‘illusion’ is most important in life.
8. Which book will you pack for your next holiday? Which film will you watch next?
"Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance" by Robert M.
I think I would like to watch Angels and Demons at the next opportunity.
9. What is your next dream?
There are a number of artistic projects that I would like they came true, but the biggest dream of all is that my family may continue to be healthy and happy.
10. What advice do you have for young people looking for affirmation around the world?
Keep a piece of the sky of Puglia in your heart – it’s an unforgettable colour.
You can listen to Umberto Sangiovanni and the Daunia Orchestra by following the links below:
http://www.myspace.com/umbertosangiovanni <http://www.myspace.com/umbertosangiovanni>
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=umberto+sangiovanni&aq=f
<http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=umberto+sangiovanni&aq=f>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFMvIMoEfaY <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFMvIMoEfaY>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dND7-rQzts <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dND7-rQzts>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STvkPkd5V0Q <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STvkPkd5V0Q>
