In 2019 Stefano Bollani was conferred honorary citizenship by the city of Naples. One of Bollani’s earliest music idols was the father of Neapolitan singing, Renato Carosone, whose compositions – popular classics of the traditional Italian songbook informed by joy and jazz – have always taken a special place in Bollani’s concert repertoire. Naples is a place with volcanic energy. Thanks to that energy its inhabitants have managed to exist and resist throughout continuous dominations and maintain their cultural identity: that unique culture Bollani has always cherished and pays homage to with his project Napoli Trip (released on Universal in 2016). Napoli Trip is mainly composed & improvised music of Bollani’s, inspired by the universe of traditional forms of popular Neapolitan Song, and sparks of inspiration are also Raffaele VivianiNino TarantoPino Daniele and, of course, Renato Carosone. In concert Bollani is joined by crackerjack Naples character Daniele Sepe on tenor sax, long-time companion Nico Gori on vibrant clarinets, and by young dynamic Bernardo Guerra on drums. A cornucopia of musical ideas and surprises: Napoli Trip quartet always embark in Naples, but before taking the stage, they never know where their musical journey will lead to.

Photo by Roberto Manzi.

Musicians

Stefano Bollani – piano, Fender Rhodes

Daniele Sepe – tenor saxophone, flute

Nico Gori – clarinet

Bernardo Guerra – drums