The Cosmic Renaissance by Gianluca Petrella in concert at the Roman Theatre in Gubbio.
JazzLife. Episode 3
Categories: Music and Performing Arts
For ‘JazzLife, Life in J major‘, the format created by Umbria Jazz and promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gianluca Petrella relaunches his Cosmic Renaissance in concert at the Roman Theatre in Gubbio, with:
- Gianluca Petrella – Trombone, effects
- Mirco Rubegni – Trumpet, effects
- Blake Franchetto – Bass guitar
- Federico Scettri – Drums
- Simone Padovani – Percussion
Cosmic Renaissance is freely inspired by Sun Ra, an absolute outsider and a unique case in the history of jazz. It is certainly suggestive the notion that Petrella with his Cosmic Renaissance will play in the same square in which Sun Ra played with Solar Arkestra in the first edition of Umbria Jazz in 1973.
This project by Petrella, created in 2007, with many concerts around Europe and three records, has continued to evolve and take on new shapes and sounds. More than by the actual music of the guru Sun Ra, Petrella is inspired by his approach to music, the extraordinary visionary capacity to imagine uncoded worlds of sound and aesthetics, which is characteristic of Petrella as it was for Sun Ra. It is the continuous pushing against new boundaries that can only emerge by exploring in depth personal creative skills and setting aside conventions and patterns. Like a galactic journey with an unknown destination. Over the years, Cosmic Renaissance has been increasingly influenced by Petrella, with free and personal creative work ever closer to the trombonist and band leader. Considered one of the greatest trombonists in the world (he won the famous DownBeat ‘Critics Poll’ in the emerging artists category for two consecutive years), Petrella has worked with artists such as Steve Swallow, Greg Osby, Carla Bley, Steve Coleman, Lester Bowie, Roswell Rudd, Ray Anderson, Pat Metheny, Oregon, John Abercrombie, the Sun Ra Arkestra directed by Marshall Allen and with the biggest Italian musicians including Enrico Rava, Paolo Fresu, Stefano Bollani and Giovanni Guidi.
The concert is held in the Roman Theatre in Gubbio, one of the most fascinating examples of Roman architecture in Umbria. Today it is part of an archaeological tour that teaches visitors about the social organisation of the ancient Roman city of Iguvium – Gubbio (2nd-1st century BC). The theatre, completed by the magistrate Gneo Satrio Rufo around 20 BC, was built with large rusticated limestone blocks and could accommodate up to 6,000 spectators, a considerable number that ranks it among the largest theatres of the time.
