Gabriele Coen Quintet

The Roman musician, who dedicated himself for years to the encounter between jazz and ethnic music, in particular Mediterranean and Eastern European ones, returns to the Auditorium with a new quintet: Gabriele Coen offers his tribute to Leonard Bernstein, the famous composer, pianist and internationally renowned conductor, perhaps the most influential figure of musician of the second half of the twentieth century and alternates with the most popular pieces of his musicals, such as West Side Story (1957), the composer's lesser known Jewish-influenced production, such as Ilana the Dreamer, Yigdal and Chichester Psalms. The original way in which Coen - saxophonist, clarinetist and composer - returns the music of Leonard Bernstein, reworking it according to the language of improvisation typical of jazz, gives life to a new and unusual style that makes us rediscover all the charm of these pieces without time. The concert follows the Gabriele Coen Quintet cd entitled "Leonard Bernstein Tribute", released in 2020 with the Parco della Musica Records label. Alessandro Gwis, founding member of the group “Aires Tango” and who has collaborated with important musicians such as Paolo Fresu, Ralph Towner, Paul McCandless, Enrico Rava, Dulce Pontes, Roberto Gatto, accompanies him on the piano; on the cello Benny Penazzi, a jazz but also classical and contemporary musician; on drums Zeno De Rossi, one of the most original musicians in the Italian music scene, collaborator of Vinicio Capossela and Enrico Rava. Finally, on the double bass we find Danilo Gallo, present in many formations alongside Giovanni Falzone, Francesco Bearzatti, Enrico Rava, Mauro Ottolini, Guano Padano. Special guest of the evening at the electric bass is Andrea Avena, author of the arrangements for the project.

Photo credits: Courtesy of Auditorium Parco della Musica official site