Swinging Nights of Music & Art at ‘Settembre in Piazza della Passera’

Dre Love

The Oltrarno neighborhood air will be filled with music this week for the 17th installation of Settembre in piazza della Passera, a free four-night jazz festival from September 11 – 14.  Piazza della Passera, close to Santo Spirito, will serve as the stage for a variety of artists and groups, playing primarily jazz music but also rock, folk, blues, hip hop, and more. Organized by Stefano Di Puccio (owner of the esteemed 4 Leoni restaurant) in collaboration with artistic direction by Alessandro Di Puccio, the festival will combine 14 musical events with talks and video installations

The first three nights of the festival will open with performances from a segment called dedicated to young, up-and-coming musicians called “Giovani in Piazza,” with the first act on Tuesday, September 11 at 7 pm. At 9 pm, music critic Francesco Martinelli will give a talk highlighting the life and times of American jazz trumpeter and vocalist Chet Baker and illustrated by audiovisual content from the famed artist’s career. The talk will be followed by Echoes of Poetry, a concert dedicated to Baker in honor of the 30th anniversary of his death. The concert will be accompanied by a series of paintings by Roberto Greco and Mario Minarini projected onto the screen behind the stage.

On Wednesday the Alkaline Trio will be reunited after a 20-year hiatus for a 9:30 pm performance. The group specializes in a unique genre which combines soul, bebop, blues, and mainstream music. Their performance will also feature a solo from special guest artist Scott Hamilton, an American jazz saxophone player renowned for his recording career and prominent world tours with artists such as Rosemary Clooney and Benny Goodman.

Thursday’s lineup includes a performance at 9:30 pm by Leggera Electric Folk Band (widely regarded as the only Tuscan group to unite rock and folk music), incorporating reggae music and songs from the repertoire of Italian singer and folk music historian Caterina Bueno. The evening will also include the premier of a video created by Gianmarco Nucciotti and directed by Andre Muzzi. The video was inspired by nostalgia for the city of Florence and appropriately named “Porta un bacione a Firenze.”

Settembre in piazza della Passera will conclude with an extraordinary finale from Dre Love and The Band at 9:30 pm on Friday, September 14. Dre Love, or Andre Halyard, was born in Queens and brought his lifelong love of turntabling, breakdancing, rap and hip hop to Italy when he emigrated from the United States 15 years ago. His refined style combines acid-rap improvisation and funky, soulful vocals in an intimate tribute to his African American heritage.  (leigh van ryn)