Richard Galliano Quartet Estival Jazz Lugano 2009 [hdtv 720p]

Trumpeter/composer Avishai Cohen is a forward-thinking musician who has performed in various ensembles mixing avant-garde jazz, post-bop, klezmer, rock, and world music since the '90s…

George Gruntz (b. Basle, Switzerland, 24 June 1932) is a Swiss jazz pianist, organist, harpsichordist, keyboardist and composer most noteworthy for his work with artists such as Phil Woods, Roland Kirk, Don Cherry, Chet Baker, Art Farmer, Dexter Gordon, Johnny Griffin and Mel Lewis. From 1972 to 1994 he served as artistic director for the JazzFest Berlin. Gruntz is also an accomplished arranger and composer, having been commissioned by many orchestras and symphonies.

Cesária Évora, born 27th August 1941 in the port town of Mindelo on the Cape Verde island of São Vicente is a notable folk singer. She is known as the “barefoot diva” because of her propensity to appear on stage in her bare feet in support of the homeless and poor women and children of her country.

Medeski Martin & Wood (or MMW) is an American jazz trio formed in 1991, consisting of John Medeski on keyboards and piano, Billy Martin on drums and percussion, and Chris Wood on double bass and bass guitar. The band draws on influences from a number of musical traditions, from funk to Hip Hop, and is known for an unconventional style sometimes described as "avant-groove". MMW has found moderate mainstream success—often working with noted guitarist John Scofield—and touring on the jam band circuit.

In the past, there never seemed to have been one great artist associated with the accordion, an instrument that, because of its connotations, seemed as far removed from swing as it is possible to be. Then along came Richard Galliano, fired by an unrivalled determination to share his conviction that the accordion was worthy have a place at the heart of jazz alongside the saxophone and trumpet. Inspired by the admiration he felt for his friend Astor Piazzolla, creator of the Tango Nuevo, Galliano succeeded not just in doing this, but with his "new musette" style managed to breathe new life into a thoroughly French tradition that seemed to have got stuck.