BEYOND the BOOKS
01
Blue Notes in Italy: It’s All That Jazz A T RU E C U LT U R A L EXCHANGE By Alex Gibbons ’16
02
N
O AMERICA, no jazz. With these words in mind — those of the world-renowned jazz
OF BRUNSWICK • FALL 2015
eling, the first energy-filled notes
bringing local townsfolk an art form
of “Groovin’ Hard,” composed by
that is so quintessentially American.
Don Menza, shattered the ice and grounded us in the fact that we were
giant Art Blakey — Brunswick’s jazz
➸ WE BEGAN OUR TRIP IN
band, the Blue Notes, set out on a
VICENZA, a suburban community
musical tour of northern Italy in
not far from Venice, where we
welcomed end to this jam-packed
June. Stopping in Vicenza, Florence,
played a concert at the Villa Zanella.
day, as we found ourselves
Cesana, and Como, we explored
58 | TIMES
food, vistas, and history, all while
The night ultimately proved to be
really in Italy for the music. The homestays provided a
immersed in Italian households,
the country and everything Italian
a nerve-easing experience, as after
compelling us to navigate language
culture has to offer — taking in the
a full, disorienting day of trav-
barriers and explore other means