Skip to main content

THE WEEKEND IN SIENA: JAZZ, FILMS AND HALF-PRICE CHAMPAGNE


Riccardo del Fra with Roy Hargrove
Tribute to Chet Baker


Siena Jazz always manages to take me by surprise. This week with their tribute to French Jazz that brings double bass player Riccardo del Fra into town. The Italian musician has played and recorded with Chet Baker, Art Farmer, Enrico Pieranunzi and Roberto Gatto, but he is also behind one of my favorite contemporary Jazz records - Soft Talk - which he recorded in 2000 together with French pianist Michel Graillier. He plays in Siena for free. So you better show up early at Circolo La Tuberosa (via Vallepiatta, 10). 


FESTIVAL SUONA FRANCESE (Paris - Siena), Friday 19th of April 2013, 9.30 pm


RICCARDO DEL FRA - contrabbasso

TIMOTHEE QUOST - tromba
OLIVIER CHAUSSADE - sax tenore
NOE’ MACARY - piano
ARIEL TESSIER - batteria
ACHILLE SUCCI - sassofoni
CAMILLA BATTAGLIA - voce
SILVIA MANCO - piano
FRANCESCO FIORENZANI - chitarra
GIOVANNI MIATTO - basso elettrico
CARMINE CASCIELLO - batteria


If you understand a bit of Italian, you may want to continue your cultural weekend in Siena with watching one of the films that are on show during the CAMPO & CONTROCAMPO film festival. The title of the 2013 edition is Corruzione e Potere (Corruption and Power) a topic that definitely comes at the right time, considering Siena's Monte dei Paschi crisis which continues to go from bad to worse. 

 Not in the mood for culture, art & co.? Just wanted to drown your worries in a bit of alcohol? Try Un Tubo's Laurent Perrier night on Friday then (be sure to make a reservation). Buffet and two glasses of bubbles for 25€. And every extra glass of vintage Champagne for half of the price the whole night long. It won't be cheap, but it was your decision to skip the free Jazz concert in town. 
Labels:
Location: Via Vallepiatta, 10, 53100 Siena SI, Italia

Popular posts from this blog

SIENA AND THE MONTE DEI PASCHI CRISIS

The world's oldest banking institute (founded in 1472) has made it into the media big time since 2012. But not because of its longevity.  Wondering what the financial nigh tmare is all about? I'm still trying to figure it out - just as everybody else who's living in Southern Tuscany.   The crisis of the Monte dei Paschi bank isn't just about MPS employers losing their jobs and museums their funding (which on its own is already bad enough). But it's also about research, universities and even kindergartens. Basically every age group in and around Siena will be affected in some way or another by the drying up of the streams of money that supported most social and cultural aspects of Southern Tuscany.  Right, I would look worried too. Palazzo Spannocchi, part of the MPS HQ in piazza Salimbeni Want to know more?  The art newspaper has published a well researched article in April, which explains some of the artier effects of the bank's crisis.  
Read on...»

BEST BIKE RENTAL IN SIENA

Villa Catignano: one of the many beautiful places an e-bike can get you to from Siena A few years ago, I interviewed an American writer , who during her month-long stay in Siena whizzed through the city on a bicycle. This was an unusual sight - vespas are the two-wheelers of choice in Siena's hilly town center, not bikes like in mostly flat Florence.  But the invention of e-bikes is about to change this. The city of Siena has installed an  electric bike sharing program which is functioning well. However, it's mostly aimed at locals and residents, as its set-up is a little complicated for visitors who only stay a couple of days in town. Hence, for tourists, the best bike rental options in Siena are with the privately owned shops which supply bycicles of every size and type for a day or two or an entire week.  Giulia from Julskitchen.com cycling through the hills of Siena Siena Bike Shop rents out racing bycicles, hybrid and e-bikes and is a great optio...
Read on...»

DRIVING IN ITALY AND ROAD FINES IN SIENA

Thought if the Italians do it, you can do it too? These were the good old times. Speeding, bad parking and drink-driving are no longer part of the Italian way of life. Okay, the rules of the road still aren't as strictly followed as in Northern Europe, but things have definitely changed during the past decade.  With driving being more strict now, it's only right that paying your fine should become easier too. Siena and many other of Italy's tourist destinations have finally installed online payment. Click through to the website of Siena's town council  to get done with it right away.
Read on...»