(10 June 2016) “Sicily Jass” is a journey into the soul of a man who has tried, almost failing everytime, to reserve a place for himself among the music stars. ” The director Michele Cinque well discusses his documentary film “Sicily Jass – the world’s first man in jazz”. After being welcomed to several important national and international festivals, the film has returned to Sicily where it was presented in two of the most important exhibitions in Italy: at the Salina Doc Fest (June 8) and at the Taormina Film Festival (June 17). The film sees the special participation of Roy Paci and Mimmo Cuticchio. It was filmed in Sicily and New Orleans, produced by MRF5 and Ga & a, in association with Rai Cinema and in cooperation with Lazy Film. Cinque tells the fascinating life story of Nick La Rocca and the making of his first album in jazz history. “Sicily Jass” has already enjoyed great success with audiences and critics at the Festival dei Popoli in Florence, to Seeyousound in Turin (where he was awarded a special mention) and Doc Feed Eindhoven. “Shooting a documentary in the United States on the life of Louis Armstrong – explains the director – I came across the history of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band and the first recording in jazz history. During documentation, I discovered that in early 19th century, thousands of Sicilian poured into New Orleans and their folk music merged into the great melting pot that gave birth to jazz, discovering that the Jazz also has a Sicilian chromosome. I spent part of my childhood in Sicily, part of my family is of Caltanissetta and I always really loved the island. Perhaps this is why Nick La Rocca’s story touches me in a deeper war. (Red)
