Great maturity, deep knowledge of the instrument and a lot of study and research work. With these words the saxophonist Stefano Di Battista, president of the jury of the 25th edition of the Massimo Urbani International Award of Camerino, crowns the artistic personality of Lorenzo Bisogno, born in Assisi in 1992, the alto sax that last night conquered the prestigious prize for jazz soloists, winning , consequently, also the Nuovo IMAIE Award which will see him engaged in a tour of 8 concerts in the next 12 months.
A symbolically important edition. First of all because it marks the 25th anniversary of an event that over the years has found talents of the caliber of Rosario Giuliani, Dino Rubino, Julian Oliver Mazzariello, Nico Gori, Max Ionata, Walter Ricci, Alessandro Lanzoni, Francesco Cafiso just to mention a few. Secondly, because it is part of an important historical moment for the world of live music, the post Covid recovery.
The competition, held at the gardens of the Rocca Borgesca in the ducal city, saw the performance of the 9 finalists who took turns on stage after the concert by Sophia Tomelleri, winner of the last edition of the Prize. A close performance, applauded and of great quality, that of the finalists, accompanied by the rhythmic trio consisting of Massimo Moriconi on double bass, Massimo Manzi on drums and Andrea Rea on piano.
“The level was very high, – highlights Stefano Di Battista, president of the jury of the edition – all the boys were able to express the music in a true way, from the instrumentalists to the singer. It was therefore very difficult to attribute the title. Lorenzo however – he explains – he has shown great maturity, he is ready to do this job – and he continues – he is a guy who has focused on all the details of the saxophone in a surprising way, he struck me from the first note. However, I would like to emphasize – concludes Di Battista – that the absolute winner is the event itself, capable of ferrying 25 years of music, strong in holding on during this difficult moment. I would like to remind all the competitors that the Prize is a stimulus and not a competition tout court, winning or not winning creates emotions, you have to live them, treasure them. Even a disappointment can move new and surprising paths ».
Visibly excited, the winner, Lorenzo Bisogno. “I did not expect it because the level of the competitors was really high – he says – I am very happy with my performance, – he smiles – with an exceptional trio like the one that accompanied me on stage I could only have fun and forget the tension of the competition. What changes after the award? This is a great springboard, a new start and I am already receiving many new proposals, I have to start thinking about my record that I will record thanks to the Award at Enrico Moccia’s Tube Records. Then I hope 2022 will be full of concerts and opportunities ».
After him, in second place, ex aequo, two saxophonists: the 23-year-old Lithuanian Karolis Šarkus and the 26-year-old Florentine Giulio Ottanelli who also received the Critics’ Prize. «We tried to find, among the nine excellent finalists, all protagonists of a valuable performance – explains Fabio Ciminiera, signature of Jazz Convention – who could be distinguished by a more personal interpretation of the songs. We all agreed in recognizing these characteristics at Giulio Ottanelli’s performance “.
The third place went to Sassari guitarist Simone Faedda. To complete the palmarès of the winners, the saxophonist Lorenzo Bisogno, for the social award; singer Ada Flocco for the Fara Music award; saxophonist Vincenzo Di Gioia winner of the Nuoro Jazz scholarship.
«It was an edition of great quality – says Daniele Massimi, artistic director of the Massimo Urbani International Prize, satisfied – The event, once again, makes it possible to meet very talented young people. The intuition of Paolo Piangiarelli to dedicate an award to young people in the name and in the memory of Massimo Urbani was successful and these 25 years of history prove it. We hope that all festivals will give more and more space to young musicians, the future is in their hands ».
The Massimo Urbani International Award is organized by the Musicamdo association, in collaboration with the Municipality of Camerino, the Marche Region, the University of Camerino, I-Jazz, MIDJ, Nuoro Jazz, Fara Music Festival, Emme Record Label, NUOVO IMAIE, as well as with the support of MIBACT.
