The piano confirms its status as an instrument particularly suited to the atmosphere and rules of the Umbria Jazz Festival held in Orvieto. In fact, an entire separate section was set aside for pianists in this Festival, comprising a series of solo performances and unusual combinations with other instruments: such as the one seen in the event featuring Brad Mehldau and Danilo Rea, or the equally unusual and entertaining concert featuring Martial Solal and Stefano Bollani.
Italian jazz was to the fore once again, as Danilo Rea meets one of the best, most famous of Italy’s jazz musicians Renato Sellani. Then there was Cedar Walton (his presence inevitable given his longstanding rapport with UJW), accompanied by the child prodigy, sixteen-year-old Francesco Cafiso, and Enrico Pieranunzi. Trombone player Ray Anderson led an enthusiastic summit of specialists like the band leader himself, Wycliffe Gordon and Gianluca Petrella, another up-and-coming star of Italian jazz.
