News...
ABC Classic FM...
Guitarist Giuseppe Zangari recently gave a recital
for ABC Classic FM radio as part of the ABC's "Sunday
Live" concerts that are broadcast live throughout
Australia and internationally through radio and the
internet. Coinciding with Father's Day in September
2008 the guitar and flute/piccolo recital was performed
together with flautist Sally Walker from the Harold
Lobb Concert Hall at the Newcastle Conservatorium Of
Music and included works from Pujol, Myers, Piazzolla
and GMP writer Franco Cambareri. Giuseppe has recorded
works for ABC Classic FM through the ‘Young Australia
Series’. He has also performed as a soloist on
2MBS-FM and Radio 2NUR FM and has participated in master
classes conducted by renowned Australian and international
performing artists such as Pavel Steidl, Tim Kain, Lorenzo
Micheli, Slava Grigoryan, Maximo-Diego Pujol and Karin
Schaupp.

New CD Release...
In February 2008 The Daryl McKenzie Jazz Orchestra
finally launched a long awaited recording at Melbourne's
"The Apartment", the venue which has been
home to their regular monthly Monday night performances
for the past five years. Produced by Daryl McKenzie,
the CD (also available on iTunes) features some of Australia's
finest jazz musicians and includes original works by
McKenzie himself plus compositions by Lachlan Davidson,
Roger Schmidli, Ross Irwin, Gian Slater, Tim Davies
and from GMP writer and the orchestra pianist Gianni
Turcio.

Record
Award...
The 31st ‘MO’ Awards, held on Tuesday
28th September 2007 at Sydney’s Bankstown Sports
Club, witnessed a veritable galaxy of top-class entertainment
presented to a completely packed house of the cream
of Australian show business. Performers who have dedicated
their lives to perfecting their craft were honored by
their peers and presented with stunning 'MO' Award glass
obelisks as a fitting recognition for their wonderful
contribution to the world of entertainment. Nominees
in each category received accolades from the very appreciative
and responsive audience and the music provided by the
cocktail pianist, stage orchestra and dance band was
nothing short of brilliant. Seated alongside such industry
stalwarts as Don Lane and Barry Crocker, GMP writer
Tony Pantano was clearly emotional when it was announced
he had won the ‘MO’ Award 2007 for “Best
Male Vocalist” for a record eleventh time. A fitting
tribute for an artist who has given so much to the Australian
music scene on an evening which also saw, amongst others,
James Morrison receive the “Ricky May Jazz Performer”
award and Billy Thorpe (posthumous) the “Rock
Performer” award.

Manila
Connection...
Vestre's
Tune is the title of a song composed by Melbourne guitarist
Nello Giansiracusa for his long time musical companion
& master trumpeter, the late Vestre Roxas. The song
was performed and recorded live at the Pinoy Jazz concert
held at the Abelardo Hall of the UP College Of Music
in Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines. Featuring the
UP Jazz Ensemble led by Prof. Rayben Maigue, the concert
showcased a selection of compositions and exquisite
arrangements of other writers' works by renowned Maestro
Angel M. Pena. The latter was principal arranger of
the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra between 1969 and 1989
before retiring to live in California till 2001 when
he decided to return to Manila. For the past three years
Maestro Pena has been composing and arranging for the
UPJE and the concert was an acknowledgement of his passion
and contribution to big band jazz.

The
Piccini Magic...
Perth's Trio Alegra, comprising Eddie Staszak
(accordion), Laura Mitchell (violin) and Corinne Brokken
(double bass), have completed a CD titled "The
Magic Of Piccini" in which they perform fourteen
songs all composed by Peter Piccini. Peter was born
in Sydney and is to this day regarded as one of the
great accordionists of our time and is recognized and
respected in many parts of the world as both a gifted
composer and virtuoso performer of the piano accordion.
Trio Alegra was formed in 2002 when these three professional
musicians, from very different backgrounds, found a
common bond in their love of tangos, gypsy and southeast
European music. They perform regularly in concerts,
festivals and functions and Peter's works form an indispensable
part of their repertoire.

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