My Own Delta, Where The Music Was Born

The Abbey of Pomposa, where modern music notation system was conceived

There is a Delta in Italy too, the delta of Po river, the longest in Italy. The source is in the Monviso mountain in Piedmont, it crosses many important Italian cities and after 652KM it flows in the Adriatic sea. And here, where the big river meets the sea is where I have my roots. My Grandpa moved from the Delta to the area south of Rome where I still live, 460KM from the Delta. Last week I went for a short visit to the Delta, back to my roots. I still have relatives there.
There are not big cities, Venice is around 100KM north, nature is wonderful here, It is an area where water and silence reign. And it is here, 8KM from where my grandpa used to live that the modern music notation system was created. The Pomposa Abbey at the time was on a island in the lagoon, surrounded by muddy waters. A monk in the Abbey, Guido D'Arezzo, around year 1000, conceived a modern musical notation system which was the base of the five lines staff system which we still use today.
Not far from the Abbey the charming town of Comacchio with its magnificent "Three Bridges", that with its peculiar shape seems to hold together all the lands of the lagoon.


The "Trepponti" - Three Bridges, in Comacchio

There are few tourists, but those who come can enjoy a unique vacation among culture, nature and history, not to mention the lively beaches of the "lidi estensi"
A short but wonderful trip back to my roots, where music was born.

Cape May Jazz Festival "New Orleans Comes To Cape May"

WHAT: 26th Cape May Jazz Festival "New Orleans Comes to Cape May"

WHEN: November 10-12, 2006

WHERE: Cape May Convention Hall, Theatre at Lower Regional High School, Ballroom - Grand Hotel, Aleathea’s Restaurant – Inn of Cape May, Carneys, Cabanas, Congress Hall Boiler Room, Café Promenade – Montreal Inn

WHO: New Orleans All Star Jazz Band featuring Dr. Michael White, Christian Scott, Jonathan Batiste, Juanita Brooks, Victor Goines; Louis Armstrong Summer Jazz Masters featuring Kidd Jordan, Alvin Batiste, Germaine Bazzle: Chuck Mangione; Kevin Mahogany Tribute to Johnny Hartman; Maurice Brown with Derek Douget; Stephanie and Marlon Jordan; Rebecca Parris with George Mesterhazy; Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble; Steve Kroon Latin Jazz; Carrie Jackson; Brian Bromberg; The Puzzle Box Experiment; Tim Eyermann and East Coast Offering; Jeanie Bryson with Coly Mellett; Lou Watson; Edgardo Cintron Azuca Band with Winston Byrd; Frank Bey and Willie Roundtree; Barbara D. Mills; Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers; Clarence Spady Blues.

The festivals promise festival-goers the best acoustic jazz in intimate club settings. The musicians are striving, pushing and complimentary each other as they connect with the audience. Co-founder Woody Woodland says "to witness and see the satisfaction and approval shown in the applause and the reception by the audience makes me realize that we are staying committed to our mission and devotion to the perpetuation of jazz as an art form. The presence of the Cape May Jazz Festival is very keenly realized by local business people, and Cape May is aware of its economic potential.

For info, tickets, and deteiled scehdule: http://www.capemayjazz.org/