Gibraltar International Jazz Festival 2019

STEFANO DI BATTISTA The illustrious Italian saxophonist Stefano di Battista – Charlie Parker’s worthy successor, acknowledged as one of the greatest musicians in Europe for the past two decades – is back with a definitive, multi-faceted album that delves into bop and hard bop, explores new horizons and is entirely dedicated to women. Devised as a tribute to the Feminine, that endless source of inspiration, each track is in fact a tribute to one of his muses.

Stefano di Battista’s music, with its warm and opulent harmonies and mesmerizing melodies, is a constantly delightful display of virtuosity; a sincere virtuosity which the Roman saxophonist masters to perfection. There is a kind of marvellous transparency, a sense of effortless openness about the flow of his playing. The touch of magic probably comes from Stefano di Battista’s perfect knowledge of the jazz legacy, which enables him to infuse every lick and solo with his very own personal touch.

His new project, Woman's Land, stemmed from Stefano’s deep-seated desire to set to music the outstanding female figures of the past millennium. '’Ella’' is of course a tribute to singer Ella Fitzgerald; '’Valentina’' tells the story of Valentina Tereskova, the first female cosmonaut; and '’Molly’' is a portrait of Molly Bloom, the Penelope in James Joyce’s celebrated novel “Ulysses”… And he also draws inspiration from the likes of Lara Croft and Coco Chanel! Most of the tracks were imagined and composed by Stefano di Battista in collaboration with the great Italian music journalist Gino Castaldo (La Repubblica).

Levanter Breeze is an eclectic Jazz fusion band from Gibraltar incorporating influences from Flamenco and Arabic music, comprised of four members; Brian Torres (Keyboards), Francis Pecino (Drums), Luis Chipolina (Bass) and Peter Martinez (Guitar). Formed in 2015, Levanter Breeze have been actively playing locally and internationally, in venues and festivals in Spain and in Gibraltar, where they have been the opening act for Jools Holland at the Gibraltar Jazz Festival 2015 and for Al Di Meola in 2017. The band is currently working on new compositions for their upcoming independent album. For further information please visit www.facebook.com/levanterbreeze.levanterbreeze.5

Surianne Dalmedo is an independent singer songwriter from Gibraltar who joins Levanter Breeze performing songs from her own repertoire including her upcoming independent single ‘She Flies’. Her soul-filled sounds are very reminiscent of her Mediterranean roots and are filled with infectious melodies, emotive story telling lyrics, enriched with an engaging and captivating stage presence. Surianne performs locally and internationally, in venues and festivals such as the 2nd London Gibraltar Music Festival, The Beverley Folk Festival, The London International Music Show, The Princes Trust Business Awards and she has shared the stage with artists such as Suzanne Vega, Natalie McCool and Juan Peña amongst others. The inspiring purity in her unconventional singing style is powerful and authentic and reflects the raw and untainted nature of her talent; a combination of a broad and soaring vocal range with an exquisite warm and distinguished tone that have earned her favourable comparisons to the likes of Eva Cassidy and Janis Joplin. For further information please visit www.surianne.com

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