Australia’s Hussy Hicks duo in concert in Precenicco, Italy October 26th, 2013

The Australian duo, Hussy Hicks, put on a very entertaining  90 minute show in the small town of Precenicco, Italy.

Hussy Hicks, also known as Julz Parker and Leesa Gentz, formed back in 2006.  The Australian duo have been influenced by their own family record collections of old skool blues and country, and from their travels, combining a distinctly Australian roots edge with European gypsy guitar, Arabic rhythms and optimistic social commentaries.

Julz is regarded as one of Australia’s finest guitarists and has performed with the likes of  Phil and Tommy Emmanuel, John Jorgenson, Lulo Reinhardt and Joe Robinson.

Leesa is instead famous for her soaring vocals and joyful, endearing stage presence and she has been steadily earning respect as one of the most captivating vocalists in her field.

The female duo has been welcomed with honorary memberships into blues, folk, country and jazz circles while at the same time spreading their fine music across festival stages and venues throughout Europe, America and Australia, with the single goal of playing music for the absolute joy of it.

Jazz duo in concert in Spilimbergo, Italy October 20th, 2013

The Kenn Bailey-Michele Bonivento jazz duo put on a short but nevertheless entertaining show in the small town of Spilimbergo.

  
Sax player Kenn Bailey from Nottingham and Italy’s Michele Bonivento on piano entertained an appreciative audience with cover versions of old Ray Charles songs and their own home-made version of blues-funk music.  Bonivento has played with several international musicians, such as Youssou D’Nour’s bass player, Abdou N’Diaje.  He has also played at both the Montreux Jazz and Pistoia Blues festivals. Bailey has  instead developed his own style of jazz, soul, R&B and reggae tunes in honor of his Jamaican roots and British musical influences. 

Guitar virtuoso Steve Vai in concert in Padua, Italy October 3rd, 2013

Fifty-three year old guitar virtuoso Steve Vai played in front of a sell-out crowd in Padu. Steve Vai, an American guitarist, songwriter and producer of Italian descent, played in front of 3,000 people at the Geox Theater in Padua, Italy.   Vai’s Italian show “only” consisted of an amazing high-voltage 2 hour and 50 minute performance.    

After starting his career with Frank Zappa, Vai recorded and toured in Zappa's band for two years, from 1980 to 1982. He began a solo career in 1983 and has won three Grammy Awards. Vai has also sold so far over 15 million albums.  Vai has also recorded and toured with PIL, Alcatrazz, Whitesnake and David Lee Roth.   He began playing guitar at the age of 13 in 1973 after listening to Jimmy Page’s solo on Led Zeppelin’s “Heartbreaker”.    

The following year he took guitar lessons from another great guitarist, none other than Joe Satriani.   His influences have been Page, Brian May, Ritchie Blackmore, Jimi Hendrix and also Jeff Beck.