concert part of STRUT at the Peacock
It has been said that the clarinet has a ‘muse-like charm’.Throughout its heyday of the Swing Era it was the perfect foil for vocalists and
pianists. Indeed the clarinet is one of the defining instruments of this
period, peppered with illustrious exponents such as the ‘King of Swing’
Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw.While the clarinet is not the
mainstay it once was in the improvisers palette, it still maintains its
alluring charm, and Italian clarinetist Gabriele Mirabassi is one of its finest contemporary exponents.Perugia
born Mirabassi is renowned for both his broad musical knowledge as well
as his extraordinary technique; borne from a background of both
classical and jazz studies. As well as collaborations with French,
Brazilian and Lebanese musicians, he is uniquely placed at the
interstices of contemporary, classical, jazz and world music.This versatility and innovation aligns to another Italian artist – Irish based Francesco Turrisi,
a multi-instrumentalist described by the Irish Times as a “Musical
Alchemist” – a description that highlights why this pairing for STRUT
makes such a compelling prospect.With Turrisi on piano, and
Mirabassi enticing with the clarinet, this artful duo explores the
lyrical Italian jazz tradition with a strong nod to these myriad
Brazilian, Latin, contemporary and early music influences.Both
artists have a wealth of ethnic music collaborations and recordings
under their belt and this melodious duo performance is tailor-made for
the intimate setting of STRUT at the Peacock.book tickets for Gabriele Mirabassi and Francesco Turrisi here