Arrivo in Abruzzo

In August of 2010 I 'arrived' in the Abruzzo Region of Italy following an invitation to perform there with a wonderful pianist and grande amico Walter Gaeta who hails from Lanciano. While on tour, Walter kindly took me to the small village of Alanno where my grandfather (mother’s father) Giacomo Sansonetti was born in 1899. The village today is surrounded by beautiful vineyards and olive groves, much as it was during my Nonno’s early years before he emigrated to the USA. I can’t thank Walter Gaeta enough for introducing me to the fantastic musical talents and beautiful souls of bassist Gabriele Pesaresi and drummer Roberto Desiderio, and in assisting me in finding my roots from the Sansonetti side of the family in this beautiful region of Italy! Grazie Mille Walter! This medium up-tempo piece harmonically is fun and easy to solo on, as each chord lasts for 8 bars while moving up in minor thirds before resolving down a perfect 5th (Eb dom., Gb dom., A dom., D min.). Pay special attention to changes in dynamics where they occur during the melody (bars 5,15, 17, 31) and on the solo backgrounds starting at bar 41. The rhythm section - keep your eyes open for when to fill, break and mirror the melody rhythmically. The Sample Solo or Tutti Section beginning at bar 66 was written to assist soloists with material to play or draw from during solos. It can also be played as a unison Tutti passage following solo choruses at bars 41-56.
Arrivo in Abruzzo is dedicated to my mother Janet Sansonetti Rossi and the warm people of Abruzzo, Italy. Dedicato a mia madre, Janet Sansonetti Rossi, ed all’accogliente gente di Abruzzo, Italia.