History
The Brass Group of Palermo is one of the major national music realities. Ideated in 1974 by Ignazio Garsia it was at first a group of brass – hence the name “The Brass Group” – and it’s the only italian jazz music production entity, one of the world’s most rare.
His Orchestra Jazz Siciliana – on a par with the Lincoln Center (New York) and the BBC (London) – has had among the greatest conductors.
Such as Toshiko Akijoshi, Carla Bley, Francy Boland, Bob Brookmeyer, Billy Childs, Eumir Deodato, Peter Erskine, Gil Evans, Frank Foster, Paul Jeffrey, John Lewis, Mel Lewis, Vince Mendoza, Bob Mintzer, Pete Rugolo, Bill Russo, Gunther Schuller, Martial Solal, Clark Terry, Bob Wilber, Ernie Wilkins. E tra i solisti, Patti Austin, Wayne Bergeron, Stefano Bollani, Lester Bowie, Natalie Cole, Rachel Ferrell, Paolo Fresu, Tony Hadley, Jane Monheit, Renèe Olstead, John Pizzarelli, Dianne Reeves, Sam Rivers, Arturo Sandoval, Archie Shepp, Diane Schuur, Toots Thielemans, Carol Welsman, Phil Woods.
With about 3000 concerts, the foundation hosted the main protagonists of afro-american music history: Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Max Roach, Sun Ra, Ornette Coleman, Chet Baker, Bill Evans, Michel Petrucciani, Dexter Gordon, Joe Henderson, Frank Sinatra, Pat Metheny, Sarah Vaughan. This activity has been going on for almost forty years and it made Palermo a capital for european jazz.