Slow Life presents Jazz at The Bakery - Mike Rossi's Ensemble Fragile at The Olympia

ABOUT

Ensemble Fragile 

This cross-continental jazz ensemble combines world class musicians from Germany (Patrick Bebelaar - piano) and from Italy (Roberto Zechini – guitar and Mike Rossi – saxophones & flute).  Ensemble Fragile presents music where the traditional mixes with the unknown and familiar sounds mix with the exotic, as well as a passion for South African Jazz. The players involved in this project have long associations via recordings, tours and masterclasses. The many months of the pandemic exposed in extraordinary ways just how fragile our society is - and so it seems more important than ever to bring jazz back to the place in society from which it once emerged: as a lament against oppression and social injustice.

Patrick Bebelaar

Bebelaar is one of Germany's most renowned pianists. In 2000 he was awarded the Baden-Wurttemberg Jazz Prize and composed on behalf of the International Bach Academy (2002/2005/2008), the German Literature Archive and many others. His CDs have received international awards (including the German Record Critics' Prize, the Critics' Prize/the New York City-Jazzrecord-Magazine: "Album of the year"). For many years he has been working across disciplines with international colleagues such as Michel Godard, Joe Fonda, Gavino Murgia, Gunter "Baby" Sommer, Akardy Shilkloper, Johannes Enders, Carol Rizzo, Wolfgang Puschnik, Herbert Joos, Gunter Lenz, Pandit Prakash and Pandit Vikash Mahraj he appeared with writers such as Peter O. Chotjewitz, Peter Hurtling, Adonis, Oskar Pastior, Jusuf Naoum, VincentKlink and Wiglaf Droste.

Website: https://bebelaar.de/wordpress/

Mike Rossi

American born Mike Rossi is Professor Emeritus in Jazz and Woodwinds at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. He regularly performs at jazz clubs and jazz festivals and conducts workshops and master-classes in Africa, Europe and the United States. He was President of the South African Association for Jazz Education (SAJE) from 2012 to 2016. His achievements include numerous recordings, and international stage appearances as leader, soloist, and sideman with Tony Bennett, Dave Liebman, Darius Brubeck, Winston Mankunku Ngozi, Carlo Mombelli, George Russell, Clark Terry, Patrick Bebelaar, Massimo Morganti, Roberto Zechini and Alessio Menconi, amongst others.

He is an exceptional saxophone and woodwind player, and artist for Rampone & Cazzani Handmade Italian saxophones. He has performed around the globe in small and large ensembles and gives workshops worldwide. As a composer and performer, he has appeared on numerous jazz and classical recordings, and has written a series of method books on jazz improvisation, with translations in other languages, along with many compositions, all published by Advance Music, Schott Music and Edition Gruber.  Roots & Routes (containing 12 of his compositions), was published in 2022 by Edition Gruber. He has taken bands to other parts of Africa where he introduces audiences to South African standards and also plays mainstream jazz. In 2018 he became a Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy (Cavaliere dell'Ordine della Stella d'Italia). In 2019 he was recognised for his exceptional work in promoting jazz education in South Africa by the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festival.

His jazz sextet The Mike Rossi Project has released four CDs and has performed throughout South Africa at Festivals and jazz venues. They will perform at the inaugural Journey to Jazz Festival in Prince Albert in May 2023.

For the past five years Rossi has been participated in the Kanazawa Jazz Clinic and Kanazawa Jazz Street Festival in Japan. Rossi currently lives in Fermo, Italy with his wife Diane.

Website: www.mikerossijazz.com

Roberto Zechini

Composer, Guitarist, Arranger and Music Educator. Born in Fermo (Italy). Begins to study music and play the organ when very young. Starts playing the guitar at the age of 12.

Studies guitar, jazz and improvisation, Russian language and literature, Philosophy. Obtains a 3 years course diploma in Jazz guitar with Garrison Fewell of the Berklee College of Music. Specializes in jazz guitar with Fabio Zeppetella and in improvisation techniques with Ramberto Ciammarughi. Jazz Arrangement at Fermo Conservatory of Music. Self taught in oud playing (Arabian lute). Degree in Russian language and literature first at the University of Lomonosov in St Petersburg and then at Macerata University, Italy. Attends a 3 year seminary on the Philosophy of Aesthetics organized by the philosopher Giorgio Agamben.

Currently he teaches improvisation and jazz guitar in APM – Pescara and in the Conservatorio Statale di Musica Tito Schipa, Lecce (Ceglie Messapica)

He plays in many festivals and international seasons (Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, Austria, Spain, France, Russia, Morocco, Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, South Africa, etc.)

Website: https://robertozechini.it/

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