Folly Jazz News
Singer Roberta Gambarini and her Quartet will appear on Saturday, December 13. A dynamic performer
with virtuosic vocal chops, she draws rave reviews and enthusiastic fan support wherever she performs. The
Boston Globe stated that “Gambarini is a true successor to Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Carmen McRae.”Roberta’s American debut recording, Easy to Love, shows off her warm timbre, impeccable timing and intonation, as well as her impressive scatting and improvisation skills, on a set of jazz standards and classic songs from The Great American Songbook.
Gambarini was born in Torino, Italy, into a family where jazz was much loved and appreciated. She began listening to this music as a child and started taking clarinet lessons when she was twelve years old. By the
time she was 17, she began singing and performing in jazz clubs around Northern Italy and at the age of 18, she decided to move to Milan to pursue a career as a jazz singer.
Soon after her move to Milan, still in her teens,
Roberta took third place in a national jazz radio competition on TV, leading to performance opportunities at jazz festivals throughout Italy. She has performed in Jazz broadcasts on the Italian radio and TV channels and recorded since 1986 both under her own name
and as a guest. In 1997, she worked with French Hammond
organ player Emmanuel Bex, touring jazz clubs throughout Italy.
In 1998 she moved to the United States with a scholarship from the New England Conservatory in
Boston. Two weeks later, Roberta stunned many in the
jazz world with a third place finish in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocal Competition.
Since then, she has performed with Michael Brecker, Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, Slide Hampton,
Roy Hargrove, Jimmy Heath, Hank Jones, Christian McBride, and Toots Thielemans, amongst many others,
and has performed at Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Town Hall and Walt Disney Concert Hall, and jazz
festivals around the world such as Barbados, London, Monterey, North Sea, Toronto, and Umbria.
The John Scofield Trio will take the Folly stage on Saturday, January 31, 2009. Scofield is considered one of
the giants of contemporary jazz guitarists. A great jazz improviser, he possesses a very distinctive sound that combines elements of post-bop, funk, r&b and rock. Born in Ohio and raised in suburban Connecticut, Scofield took up the guitar at age 11, inspired by both
rock and blues players. After attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston, he made his debut recording with Gerry Mulligan and Chet Baker, followed by a two-year stint with the Billy Cobham-George Duke band. In 1977, he recorded with Charles Mingus and joined the Gary Burton Quartet. He began his international career as a bandleader and recording artist in 1978. From 1982-1985, Scofield toured and recorded with Miles Davis. His Davis stint placed him firmly in the foreground of jazz consciousness as a player and composer.
Since that time he has prominently led his own
groups in the international Jazz scene, recorded over
30 albums as a leader (many already classics) including
collaborations with Pat Metheny, Charlie Haden,
Eddie Harris, Medeski, Martin & Wood, Bill Frisell,
Brad Mehldau, Mavis Staples, Government Mule, Jack
DeJohnette, Joe Lovano and Phil Lesh. He’s played and
recorded with Tony Williams, Jim Hall, Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson, Dave Holland, Terumasa
Hino among many jazz legends.
Folly Jazz Series subscriptions are still available; single tickets range from $15 - $30. Members of the
Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors are eligible to receive special discounts. For more information call the Folly
Theater, 816-474-4444 or visit our website: www.follytheater.com.
Doug Tatum is the Executive Director of the Folly Theater
