January 21, 2007 Italian Jazz Comes to Carrboro North Carolina
This week I had a special treat on my radio show (Melva's Musings on Jazz) with a visit by a studio full of Italian jazz musicians, sharing their wonderful music, live in the studio with a full crowd there to enjoy it. My radio show is on WCOM 103.5 fm; the Hundred Watts of Wonder station. We are low power but high octane. You can hear my show any where in the world by going to the WCOM website and clicking on the button in the upper right-hand corner and that will get you to my show - in live time on Sunday night from 7:00 - 9:00 EST.

Joining me in the studio this week, and for a full weekend of great jazz, was Fabio Rigamonti on bass and from Milano, Italy; Tony Galiani on bass and from Carrboro, NC; Paolo Frigerio on drums (more on that) and also from Milano; and Marco Nardelli on alto and soprano sax and flute, from Rome, and now residing in Raleigh, NC. The weekend of Italian, plus much much more, jazz jaming was organized by Mietek Glinkowski, who earlier in the weekend joined the musicians on electric violin and Vitar. Unfortunately, at the last minute Mietek had to dash off to Florida so missed being on the show.

Normally my show features the musicians and music of North Carolina. But after hearing about Fabio for several years, it was a thrill to finally meet him and get to hear a weekend of his music.
I thank Paolo for rising to the occasion and playing the multiple drums I was able to borrow from different friends, including the metal strainer from my kitchen. Thanks Catharine and Mariana for lending the drums.
Many people came by the studio to hear the music and Eli brought a plate full of home-baked chocolate goodies - yummy and thanks, Eli. And once again Chris Frank (jazz piano player and multi-talented musicians with the Red Clay Ramblers) and his daughter, Molly, gave me great assistance in the studio - getting everything set up and functioning for the musicians, helping with techno problems, recording the show, and assuring good quality.

I look forward to the return of my newfound Italian friends. They visited ole Carrboro via Los Angeles.

Playlist

• Nina Simone (b. Tryon, NC); Anthology CD; Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood

Playlist of Music Played by the Band in the Studio

• Blue Bossu
• Equinox by John Coltrane
• Improv as inspired by Jean Pierre
• Blue Monk
• Foot Prints by Wayne Shorter
• Afro Blue

Playlist of Music Played After the Band Left

• John Coltrane (b. Hamlet, NC); Like Someone in Love
• Beyonce Knowles, Jennifer Hudson & Anika Nona Rose; Dreamgirls CD; Dreamgirls as requested by Molly and sung and danced by Molly, Eli, and Melva
• Miles Davis; The Best of Miles Davis CD; Well You Needn't
• John Coltrane; My Favorite Things
• John Coltrane: Lushlife CD; I Hear a Rhapsody
• Marcia Ball (playing in Carrboro last week); Presumed Innocent CD; You Make Me Happy
• Natalie Cole; Unforgetable CD; Unforgetable and singing with her dad
• Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong; Ella and Louis Again CD; Don't Be That Way
• Sawyer-Goldberg (Durham-based jazz group who will be guests on my show next week); Jazzadelia CD; Black Orpheus
• Frankie Alexander (Durham-based jazz singer) & Scott Warner (lived 10 years in Chapel Hill, jazz piano player, performer and teacher); Like Someone in Love

I want to thank the following for coming by the studio to hear the great live music: Laura and Nell, Eli, Chris, Molly, Noah, Mariana, Cameron, Meg, Erin, Heather, Myra, and Paolo Lopes (a Brazilian guitar player)

Feb. 11th will be a big jazzy day in Carrboro. I hope you can join me. From 1:30-3:30, I will be hosting a jazz CD Release Party, and also a concert, for Frankie Alexander at the Carrboro ArtsCenter. We will serve wine and food. Frankie will sing songs from her new CD, Mad About the Words, and she will be joined by all the musicians who played on the CD. Please join us. Then later that evening from 7:00-9:00, at the WCOM studio (on the corner of N Greensboro St. and Weaver St. in downtown Carrboro), I will celebrate with friends the 2nd anniversary of my radio show, Melva's Musings on Jazz. Please come by to say hi (on the air), and have some cake and bubbly stuff and enjoy the music of Chris Frank, playing jazz favorite live in the studio. It will be great fun. If you can't be there in person, please call in your greetings at 919 929-2690.

Ciao.