Three Wishes

What Julius Watkins said to Pannnica when she inquired of him what his three wishes were was:

    1. “To be three nice young ladies.”

    2. “Three more.”

    3. “To put the six of them to work.”

*Excerpt from Three Wishes: An Intimate Look at Jazz Greats ~ Compiled and Photographed by Pannonica de Koenigswarter

GRIOTS GALLERY

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Pierre Favre was born June 2, 1937 in Le Locle, Switzerland and originally was a self-taught drummer. He went on to study classical composition and immersed himself in the diverse percussion music of the wider world, particularly those of India, Africa, and Brazil. Gradually he consolidated all of this new information in the “sound-color poems” he was writing for his Singing Drums group.

He recorded the album Singing Drums for ECM in 1984 with Paul Motian, Fredy Studer, and Nana Vasconcelos. Over the course of his career, Pierre has recorded twenty-nine as a sideman working with John Surman, Tamia, Michel Godard, Mal Waldron, Paul Giger, Jiří Stivín, Michel Portal, Samuel Blaser, the ARTE Quartett, Barre Phillips, Irene Schweizer, Philipp Schaufelberger, Manfred Schoof, Joe McPhee, Dino Saluzzi, London Jazz Composers Orchestra, Stefano Battaglia, Furio Di Castri, Paolo Fresu, Jon Balke, Denis Levaillant, Yang Jing, and Andrea Centazzo.

As a leader, drummer and percussionist Pierre Favre has recorded seven albums and continues to perform and record.

THE WATCHFUL EYE

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Rossano Sportiello was born in Vigevano, Italy on June 1, 1974 and began studying piano at the age of 9 under the tutelage of Italian classical pianist Carlo Villa and continued until his graduation in classical piano from the Conservatory in 1996. At 16, he was performing professionally at jazz venues in the Milan, Italy area, and in 1992, he joined one of Europe’s historic jazz bands, the Milano Jazz Gang. He toured with the group throughout Italy and West Europe until the end of 2000.

That same year, Sportiello met legendary jazz pianist and educator, Barry Harris, who became a mentor and good friend. Drawing international acclaim at the 2002 Ascona Jazz Festival in Switzerland while performing with the eight-piece, all-star American band led by Dan Barrett. In 2007, Rossano established himself in New York City and has performed with Slide Hampton, Clark Terry, Kenny Davern, Bucky Pizzarelli, Bob Wilber, Warren Vache, Bob Cranshaw, Mickey Roker, Harry Allen, Howard Alden, Joe Wilder, Eddie Locke, Joe La Barbera, Scott Hamilton, Jake Hanna, Houston Person, Bill Charlap, Dick Hyman, and the list goes on.

As an educator, Rossano has given lectures on jazz and masterclasses on piano at institutions such as the University of Toronto Jazz Studies, University of Central Florida and Claremont College in California and has lectured as a professor in residence at the Master’s Lodge of St. John’s College, Cambridge, UK.

Stride piano player Rossano Sportiello lists his influences have been Harris along with Ralph Sutton, Dave McKenna and Barry Harris, Fats Waller, Teddy Wilson, Art Tatum, Count Basie, Earl Hines, Ellis Larkins, and Bill Evans, to name a few. He continues to perform, record, and tour.

THE WATCHFUL EYE

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