The Baronissi Blues Festival returns to the Pino Daniele municipal amphitheater

The Baronissi Blues Festival returns to the Pino Daniele municipal amphitheater: from July 19th to 21st, a showcase of blues music.

The Tutti Suonati association, chaired by Fabio Clarizia, with the support of the municipal administration of Gianfranco Valiante and with the support of the municipal councilor delegated to tourism Giuseppe Pasquile, has organized a program of free events, which enjoy the moral patronage of the Campania Region. The opening, on July 19, is entrusted to an artist of international fame, the legendary James Senese. On June 4, James is back was released, his twenty-first album of unreleased material, accompanied by the documentary “James” by Andrea Della Monica. The Neapolitan saxophonist, born in 1945, has been on the scene for over fifty years, becoming an artistic icon who, at the height of his 77 years, is still a point of reference for the new musical generations.

His tutelary deities are Miles Davis and John Coltrane. His granite artistic and intellectual coherence are as famous as the sound of his sax. Passing through the Showmen with Mario Musella, Napoli Centrale (still the band that identifies him), the collaborations with the unforgettable friend Pino Daniele, but also the artistic and fraternal partnership that tied him to Franco Del Prete, James Senese played and sang the vanquished, those who never had a voice. He gave it back, with the energy and anger of his sax, which characterized his production, made of courage and determination.

On July 20th, it will be Kellie Rucker’s turn. Over the course of a professional career spanning more than 25 years, she has appeared on stage with legends such as Dizzy Gillespie, Stephen Stills, Albert Collins, James Cotton, ZZ Top, Dan Hicks, Warren Zevon, Little Feat and BB King. Kellie has three CDs to her credit, *”Ain’t Hit Bottom,” “Church of Texas” and the latest release, “Kellie Rucker, Music of Soul Return.”

Her mastery of the blues harmonica and her powerful voice have made her a key figure in recordings and live shows with legendary blues guitarist BB Chung King and Grammy nominee Jon Butcher. The evening will open with The Smokerz, a trio of musicians from Salerno immersed in the blues in its most electric derivation with an ear always turned to the roots of Mississippi. In addition to evenings in pubs and clubs, the band boasts participation in events such as Salerno Limen Festival and Crocevia. This year, in addition to the BBF, they will be present at the Atri Blues Festival on August 6. Special guest of the evening is the pianist and keyboard player from Salerno Lucio d'Amato.

On July 21st, the headliner will be Mike Zito, one of the most appreciated artists in the contemporary blues arena. One of his early works, “Pearl River” from 2009, won the “Song of the Year” award at the Blues Music Awards and marked his first collaboration with Cyril Neville, with whom he would later work in the Royal Southern Brotherhood. From here a series of critically acclaimed albums, culminating with “Greyhound” from 2011, nominated for best rock-blues album at the Blue Music Awards ceremony of that year in Memphis.

He has produced albums for Samantha Fish, Albert Castiglia, Ally Venable, Jeremiah Johnson, Jimmy Carpenter and many others. His album, “Make Blues Not War,” debuted at #2018 on the Billboard Blues Album Chart and earned him the XNUMX Blues Rock Artist of the Year award at the Blues Music Awards. Mike Zito’s latest CD, “Quarantine Blues,” was recorded during the height of the pandemic and was a symbolic love letter to his fans.

Opening her live, Jane Jeresa, a soul, blues and funk singer and songwriter of African origins now living in Pavia; she is considered a fully-fledged emerging voice with a great impact on the Italian scene.

“The Baronissi Blues Festival is without a doubt the most important event dedicated to the blues in the Campania region – comments the mayor Gianfranco Valiante – in terms of quality, attendance and guest profile. It is the Festival within the Festival and it is certainly an extraordinary opportunity for cultural and tourist promotion. One thing is certain: the Blues Festival is growing and becoming an increasingly attractive event for thousands of enthusiasts. I would like to underline once again the financial commitment of our administration, which reserves significant resources for the Baronissi Blues Festival.
Culture is a priority and must be the heritage of all, even those who cannot afford the cost of the ticket. Hence the choice of free admission”.

Councillor Giuseppe Pasquile, delegate for tourism, underlined: “Last year we resumed our activities to promote the territory through culture but we were forced to social distance; today, finally, with the necessary precautions, we managed to create the Baronissi Blues Festival as it was before the pandemic. The commercial activities of the territory were involved and many traders supported us and collaborated with the municipal administration and with the Tutti Suonati association that organizes the Festival, now in its seventh edition. Personally, I have always been on the front line for this event, helping and supporting the initiative inside and outside the town hall”.

A huge satisfaction, explains the president of Tutti Suonati Fabio Clarizia: “Over time the event has grown, becoming a point of reference for many music lovers from all over the province of Salerno and even from outside the region. This means that passion, commitment, dedication and quality always pay off and repay us for the efforts made so far to ensure a program that always lives up to the expectations of our audience. Music is culture and it is with culture that territories grow and that communities become increasingly cohesive, cementing a well-defined identity. All this is possible thanks to the sensitivity of an administration that is always attentive to these aspects”.

The concerts will start at 21pm and are free to enter.