After the exciting start of the weekend dedicated to opera and Giacomo Puccini on the centenary of his death, with a journey that unraveled around silk art and that Silk Road that united Catanzaro to the China of Turandot, and of Marco Polo, of which this year marks the 700th anniversary of his death, the Autumn Festival, supported by the Calabria Region/Calabria Extraordinaria, by the Chamber of Commerce of Catanzaro, Crotone and Vibo Valentia, by the Municipality of Catanzaro, by the Carical Foundation as well as by various bodies private, continues with a two-day event entirely dedicated to international jazz. Three events are scheduled: Friday 11 October at the Politema Theatre there will be the premiere of “Timba Jazz”, the new project by Aymée Nuviola who will meet his audience before the concert in the foyer of the Theater, at 7 pm; Saturday 12 instead there will be a tribute to “Chick Corea: a Spanish heart” In the San Giovanni complexwhile at 9 pm at Politeama will go on stage”Mater” with Trilok Gurtu, Omar Sosa And Maria Pia De Vito. The latter will be the protagonists of the meeting with the public before the concert, in the foyer of the Theater, at 7.30 pm. To open the weekend program called “It’s jazz time”, which attracted the attention of the national press due to its uniqueness, will be the splendid one Aymée Nuviola: his is the face chosen to represent the 2024 edition of the Autumn Festival. And it is precisely on the stage of the Politeama Theater that Aymée Nuviola, the “sonera del mundo” who People en español has elected as one of the 25 most powerful Latin women in the United States, and the magazine Hola among the most influential, will debut for the first time with his new project “Timba Jazz”, dedicated to traditional Cuban songs in a jazz key, and more. Known for her powerful and versatile voice, Aymée Nuviola’s music is extremely engaging, as she blends influences from genres such as salsa, jazz, pop and soul, creating a unique and engaging sound that has captivated a wide audience all over the world.
Aymée Nuviola, what is “Timba Jazz”?
«Timba Jazz is a combination of Jazz and the major contemporary forms with which we make our music in Cuba. Timba is Cuban music in its most contemporary form. For example, Irakere, the famous Chucho Valdes band, took its first steps with the timba, introducing American drums, this is the timba: very rhythmic, born to be danced».
On stage she will be accompanied by some extraordinary musicians including Kemuel Roig.
«Roig he is my main guest: we work together on two or three projects at the same time, Timba Jazz is one of them. He is an important pianist and producer, despite being very young, especially compared to me (laughs, ed.). He is similar to Gonzalo Rubalcaba, but from another generation, it is a great privilege to have him with me. He will be there on the guitars Julian Avilaan extraordinary Colombian musician; the Venezuelan will be there on percussion and congas Jose Majito Aguileraalso very talented; the Cuban will be on drums Mitchell Nonnatowhich is a new element for me, I can say that he loves the timba, and everything he is doing he is doing very well; on bass there will be another Cuban, Samuel Burgosalso very young but gifted with a special talent. We all play timba, but without the timba instruments, and the result is incredible».
Singer, pianist, composer and actress: who is Aymée Nuviola?
«Aymée Nuviola is a mix: she is an Afro-Latin woman, with a goal in life, to show people that good music can be made in more ways. First of all with good messages to spread, with faith in God, with happiness, many things that we have lost especially in this very dark period for music: many do not realize that music is a means to connect to the spiritual world . For me it is very important that I like my music first of all, that I believe in it, so that I can share it. I am this».
What are the great female jazz voices that inspired you?
«Sara Vaughan and Aretha Franklin. Their voices were instruments with which they could do extraordinary things. They were singers who showed a truly different spirit from the others: they had something unique to show the audience. I owe a lot to each of them».
She is nominated for the Latin Grammys as Best Album for “Busco tu recuerdo”, among other things made together with Gonzalo Rubalcaba, guest of last year’s Festival: how do you reconcile your artistic identity with the rules of the market?
«It’s very difficult. I have a general audience that always follows me, no matter what I do. And then there is the new audience, which approaches me in particular phases and is always different. For example, at the moment we are nominated with Gonzalo for the Grammys for an album made with Sammy Figueroa: also in this case it is a different audience that has approached us. I think the important thing is to show all the versatility and all the evolutions possible as an artist».
What role does music have in your life?
«It’s very important, I grew up surrounded by music. My mother was a pianist, my father a singer, not a professional, but he was, with my sister we even won as a duet in a very famous contest in Cuba. In terms of experiences, of opportunities around the world, music is important. But even if we talk about emotions: music comes into contact with the spirit of the person, it is no coincidence that in religions music is the way to communicate with one’s God. Music has a power that no one can ignore: for me it music is healing».
The appointment with great jazz music is therefore for Friday 11 October at the Politeama theatre at 9pm. In addition, ticket holders will be able to participate, upon reservation, in the special “Aperitif with the artist” scheduled from 7 pm onwards in the foyer of the theater in which Aymée Nuviola will also participate.