Kate Koenig, Arts Editor
This Friday, November 18, renowned jazz pianist Rossano Sportiello will be performing on campus in an event hosted by the Oneonta Concert Association. The concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Goodrich Theater of the Fine Arts Building. Admission is $6 for students and $20 for the general public.
Originally trained in classical piano, Sportiello has performed in venues and festivals across Europe and the United States. Born in Italy, he began performing professionally at age 16, and two years later, he joined one of Europe’s historic jazz groups, the “Milano Jazz Gang,” and toured with them for the following eight years. He has also performed with Slide Hampton, Bucky Pizzarelli, Harry Allen and Dick Hyman, and many others.
On Friday, Sportiello will be performing classical works with jazz improvisation, from “Chopin to Gershwin and beyond.” His jazz influences are drawn from the great masters such as Fats Waller, Art Tatum, Count Basie and Bill Evans, blending with his classical training to create a unique classical-jazz effect in his playing. He excels in his style of stride piano, or a jazz piano style which involves the left hand playing single notes or two-note intervals on the first and third beats of the measure and playing chords on the second and fourth beats.
Enthusiastically received by both audiences and critics everywhere, Sportiello has won multiple awards, including the Ascona Jazz Award in recognition of his expertise and mastery of jazz piano, as well as the prestigious Vittorio Ramella award from his hometown of Vigevano.
The event on Friday is part of the Oneonta Concert Association’s seasonal series, which will be continued with The Boston Chamber Music Society on March 23 at the First United Methodist Church, and Taylor 2 Dance Company, on May 11 at the Oneonta Theatre. Tickets for all concerts can be reserved by calling (607) 433-7252.
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