ONE of the new acts set to get pulses racing at this year’s City of Derry Jazz Festival is the Italian ensemble Jumpin’ up who are set to take their unique swing and rhythm to the city this May Bank Holiday weekend and get the city jumping to their tunes.This is the first time the eight-piece band from Sicily in Italy have been to Derry and they are really looking forward to performing to the Derry audiences. The band have heard all about the festival from Cataldo Magnifico, a friend of theirs who currently own and run the Spaghetti Junction Italian restaurant in Derry’s Bogside, and really wanted to be part of it.
The band first formed in 2005 in Palermo Italy, with the desire to recreate the original sound of music of the 40s and 50s, Swing, Old Rhythm & Blues, Rock & Roll and Jump Blues.
The band is made up of the powerful voice of Tony Marino, the hot jump-blues guitar by Giuseppe Montalbano, the dragging shuffle-swing by Peppe Falzone on drums, the “walking” of the double bass by Andrea Di Fiore and the boogie woogie of the pianist Giuseppe Vasapolli, the powerful sax tenor of Carmelo Sacco, the baritone sax of Michele Mazzola and the trumpet of Nicola Genualdi.
Through more than 12 years of activity the band has produced 3 CDs and performed a lot of concerts all around the European countries as well Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Greece, Holland and France, and also participating in some of the most prestigious European festivals dedicated to the world of Swing, Rock’n’Roll and related roots.
They are hugely excited about coming to Derry and are hopeful the local audience will enjoy their unique sound and energy.
You can catch Jumpin’ up when they perform at the Gweedore, Waterloo Street, the City Hotel, Silver Street and Bishop’s Gate Hotel over the festival weekend.
Other new acts confirmed for this year’s event is; the hot jumpin’ rhythm and blues band The Revolutionaires, Dinosaur, Kaz Hawkins and one of the UK’s most authentic New Orleans style brass band The Heavy Beat Brass Band.
Other new attractions include the Jessica Radcliffe Quartet; Barrence Whitfield from Boston’s Rumble Club; an eight-piece ska/reggae band from London called The Dualers; Irish jazz and folk singer, Mary Coughlan; the Swing Cats, Darren Beckett Trio and much much more.
Regular festival go-ers will be delighted to hear that many of their jazz favourites such as The Red Stripe Band, The Ska Beat, Jiveoholics, Cat Scratch Fever Featuring Western Valley Hot Club, Paddy Sherlock and Les Swinging Lovers, The Jive Aces and Harry Connolly Band will be making a welcome return to the festival, bringing with them their unique style of musical performance and personality.
The City of Derry Jazz festival is organised and funded by Derry City and Strabane District Council with support from Diageo and Tourism Northern Ireland.
For full details of the jazz festival line-up and to download a copy of the programme visit www.cityofderryjazzfestival.com or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DerryJazzFestival and Twitter @DerryJazzFest for regular updates.
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