July 10 – “When I’m in England, I feel more Italian; when I’m in Italy I feel more English.” Tommaso Starace was born in Milan from an Australian mother and a father from Naples. His life has been a mix of stimuli, colors, cultures and traditions. He started playing the alto saxophone at 18. At the age of 20, he moved to London permanently, where he directs two quartets: one Italian (with Michele Di Toro on piano, Attilio Zanchi on bass and Tommaso Bradascio on drums); and one British (with Frank Harrison on piano, Laurence Cottle on bass and Chris Nickolls on drums). “A few days ago, my new album, the sixth to be exact, was released,” says the Italian-Australian saxophonist, who calls his latest work “a tribute to Italy, its poetry, its beauties.” The album is a journey, because every song is a voyage inside a photograph. “With ‘Italian Short Stories’ I decided to tell my story in Italian through 14 images taken in different parts of Italy by Gianni Berengo Gardin.” In the album “Italian Short Stories” Starace explores the musical potential of Gianni Berengo Gardin’s photography. Each photo echoes the typical colors of great Italian composers, such as Ennio Morricone, and the influences of Italian singers like Fabio Concato. “I love acting. I have always had a great passion for soundtracks – says the artist – so I ‘wandered’ into the world of music for motion pictures. My love for film and photography has lead me to create a second project ‘Jazz-Photo’. In 2005, I had already selected the photos (those of Magnum photographer Elliott Erwitt). I chose eight photographs by Erwitt, all special for their originality and diversity, that later inspired many compositions recorded with my English quintet. This time, I felt the desire to work with compositions that have strong melodic lines, keeping in line with Italian music. After 20 years of living in the UK I couldn’t resist a little ‘healthy nostalgia.’” Starace – who will be in Switzerland in August – is not sorry he moved to London: “I live in one of the most beautiful and exciting cities in the world. There is an extraordinary openness. Today, compared to 20 years ago, there is an impressive number of Italians in London. These ‘new migrants’ come here to grow, exchange, and find work. It takes a lot of courage to leave their homes. But England welcomed me right from the first moment, and I immediately felt at home.” The new album features internationally renowned jazz trumpeter Paolo Fresu: “I’m really happy he decided to take part in this project. He is a very loving, generous soul. He’s on a higher level than me, which gave me the opportunity to make significant progress,” said Starace, who held a series of concerts in June in England. “We will perform in London in November, while on September 11, we will stop in Milan for the exhibition Mito SettembreMusica.”
