Italian jazz legend for Piano Festival
This year New Ross Piano Festival has added an extra day, with two jazz piano concerts.
On Wednesday, September 20, there is be a concert at 1 p. m. with Irish- based Phil Ware and Damian Evans, and in the evening Enrico Pieranunzi performs at 8 p. m. There will also be a pre- concert chat between Enrico and Phil at 7 p. m., when they will talk about their experiences in the jazz piano world. Enrico has for many years been among the most significant and well- known protagonists of the international jazz scene.
A pianist, composer and arranger, he has recorded around 80 albums under his own name, ranging from piano solo to trio, from duo to quintet. He has collaborated, either live or in the studio, with Chet Baker, Lee Konitz, Paul Motian, Charlie Haden, among others. He has been named Artist of the Year three times by the Musica Jazz magazine critics’ poll ( in 1989, 2003, 2008) and has won numerous European awards.
Phil Ware and Damian Evans played in New Ross last year in the short sessions in the library and at the Dunbrody.
Connie Tantrum of the festival committee said: ‘ It was because they were so well received that Phil was asked to organise this special Jazz Day this year. This time they will have a proper full concert at 1 p. m. on September 20 in the wonderful acoustic setting of St Mary’s Church.’
UK- born pianist Phil Ware made the transition from blues to jazz in his early twenties. After moving to Ireland, he rapidly established himself as a major player on the scene, where his hard- swinging, bop- tinged style made him much in demand from Irish and international musicians. Damian Evans is a double bassist and researcher from Perth, Australia who has been a major contributor to the Irish jazz scene since his arrival in 1997. He is leader of the Damian Evans Trio and co- leader of the Boylan/ Buckley/ Evans Trio.
‘ For any music- lover these two concerts are not to be missed as it is a rare occasion to have such excellent jazz pianists in the south east. For the Piano Festival committee this is a new venture which is to be welcomed and supported.’
The festival runs till Sunday, September 24, and is run by a voluntary committee with the support of the Arts Council, Wexford County Council and Fáilte Ireland.
The full programme, which is mostly classical, can be found on www.newrosspianofestival.com.
Booking for all concerts is at St Michael’s Theatre, New Ross, tel 051 421255 and online at www. stmichaelsnewross@ eircom. net.