Give Me a Beat

Musicians can connect with other musicians immediately. We don’t need words, we just need song and rhythm. Here’s a shot of me (Photo credit: Joe Ravo) in the Mercato Antico in Ortigia singing “Cu ti lu dissi” with Marco and Tito at Casa del Pesce “Tito.” What a great time! And the fish was fantastic…

Ancient Mixology

In the end of the 5th century B.C., “The Lugano Painter,” or “Il Pittore di Lugano,” worked on many pieces that archaeologists have unearthed and attributed to him. This “calyx krater,” or urn, shows a bearded Dionysus with his thyrsus (staff topped with a pine cone), a bacchante (female follower of Dionysus (a.k.a., Bacchus) playing…

Private Serenade

Last night, we enjoyed a private house concert by a trio of musicians from Casteldaccia who performed traditional Sicilian and Southern Italian folk songs for us on my cousin Evelina’s patio. Fiorenza, Raffaele, and Ettore were fabulous. They even were gracious enough to play three of my songs with me! As a group we enjoyed…