Renajazz: People, Art, and Music

To celebrate the end of the spring semester, AUF students, staff and faculty members gathered in the picturesque institution’s garden of Palazzi Community Center and took part in a multi-disciplinary event.

Presented by David Weiss and Sofia Galli, the event explored the correlations subsisting between Renaissance and Jazz music, with a focus on polyrhythmic qualities and improvisation. These emerged in our two reference countries: Italy and the United States respectively. Both influenced the tastes and developments of the other.

After a brief introduction, an awe-inspiring concert by Kipanga Trio was held in the garden. The trio is composed of Alessio Falcone on keyboards, Alessandro Cianferoni on electric bass and Emanuele Bonechi on drums. Fueled by friendship, a shared desire for freedom, and a love of artistic exploration, this musical trio creates a unique sound that blends jazz, electronic elements, and cultural collaborations.

In both Renaissance and Baroque, as well as in Jazz music, there is a form of rebirth of the self as centrally significant, but equally composite within a whole. To put it another way, the artist can and shall emerge with solos that resonate in terms of sound intensity and length, but the constant dialogue among the musicians is a fundamental core of composition.

The concert perfectly illustrated the key point raised – the artist’s individual expression, often showcased through solos, thrives within the context of a larger dialogue. Just as Renaissance and Baroque music featured prominent solos within the framework of a cohesive composition, Kipanga Trio’s performance showcased the interplay between individual brilliance and collective harmony.

The American University of Florence is determined to bridge cultures, epochs, and people through the power of shared experiences. This event was a powerful testament to the institution’s mission: fostering connections across cultures, eras and individuals. The evening proved that art, in all its forms, possesses the remarkable capacity to not only bridge divides but also spark new ideas and shared experiences.

Next week, the discussion will fly to New Orleans, in the specific context of CASA di FUA, where our faculty members will engage in a vibrant dialogue with partners during the gathering of NAFSA 2024. Here, a creative bridge will entail a specifically designed menu on experimentation, thus creating a powerful hinge between music theory and culinary arts.