Jazz at the Columbus Centre: Napoli in Jazz

Vocalist Alyssa Giammaria lends her rich, expressive voice to nostalgic Neapolitan favourites such as “Volare,” “O Sole Mio,” and music from “The Godfather” — all reimagined in stylish jazz arrangements.
With arrangements by acclaimed pianist Anthony D’Alessandro and the distinguished bass work of Paul Novotny, this concert offers a fresh and elegant take on familiar melodies, blending Neapolitan song tradition with the improvisational spirit of jazz.
Alyssa Giammaria - Vocals

Anthony D’Alessandro - Piano

Paul Novotny - Bass

Daniel Barnes - Drums

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Bios:

Alyssa Giammaria - Vocals

Vocalist, composer and arranger Alyssa Giammaria began her life in the arts at the
tender age of four. She has a master’s degree in music from the University of Toronto and
studied at Mohawk College in her hometown of Hamilton, and at The New School of
Music in New York City. She has two commercial releases to her name thus far, “Moments” (2021) , “In time” (2023), and a third is on its way. Thierry De Clemensat from The Paris Move has described her as having “a unique style that fits perfectly on the international jazz scene today or tomorrow”. She has performed her music in jazz clubs and festivals in both Canada and Europe m and can be found arranging in multiple genres in her current home of Toronto.
Anthony D’Alessandro - Piano

Anthony D’Alessandro is a pianist, composer, arranger based in Toronto, Canada. Hailed by WholeNote Magazine as a pianist with a “natural feeling for swing and groove” and “scintillating technique”, and “one of the most impressive young jazz pianists today” by the Jersey Jazz Magazine, he has performed in many notable clubs, concert halls and jazz festivals around the world including the Montreal International Jazz Festival, the Teatro Nescafé de las Artes in Santiago Chile, Birdland Jazz Club and Smalls Jazz Club in New York City, and Koerner Hall in Toronto.
He tours internationally as a bandleader including performances across Canada, the United States, South America, and Europe. He regularly performs alongside a “who’s who” of the industry’s top jazz musicians including international artists such as Benny Benack III, Joe Farnsworth, and Summer Camargo as well as fellow Canadians Caity Gyorgy, Pat LaBarbara, and Ernesto Cervini. D'Alessandro’s most recent album ‘City Lights” is nominated for a JUNO Award, hailed as an album that “swings, breathes, and even smiles” by The Paris Move.
Paul Novotny - Bass

Paul Novotny is a bassist, composer, music producer, author and educator who, over his 45-year career, has performed with international jazz artists such as Geoff Keezer, Cedar Walton, Holly Cole plus many more. He has produced five albums over 20 years co-leading ensembles with Order of Canada recipient pianist/composer Joe Sealy, two of which were nominated for JUNO Awards. The album he produced for Joe Sealy, “Africville Suite”, won a JUNO for Best Contemporary Jazz Album in 1996. He has produced two records on his duo with pianist Robi Botos, both of which have received great critical acclaim. Paul has written and produced countless works for film, commercials and television, and is now a leading authority on the new Dolby Atmos Audio Format.
Daniel Barnes - Drums

Drummer, composer and producer Daniel Barnes is the son of internationally renowned classical music composer Milton Barnes. His two album releases to date, “Culmination” and “Classic Beauties”, feature his original compositions, arrangements of standards and some of Canada’s great instrumentalists. They both have become staples on jazz radio in Canada. His group was a finalist in the 2008 Grand Prize of Jazz at the Montreal International Jazz Festival and his original music can be heard in the adventure film “Amazon Extreme”. Daniel backs a top echelon of jazz talent in Canada, having spent three decades with Order of Canada recipient pianist Joe Sealy (playing on the JUNO-winning release “Africville Suite), and has performed at home and abroad with Jackie Richardson, Holly Cole and Adi Braun plus many others, and visiting Americans Don Braden, Dizzy Reese and Ron Westray. Daniel plays on over 50 albums by various artists and has earned distinction in “Global Music” circles through his touring and recording with icons of Ethiopian music Mr. Mahmoud Ahmed, Ms. Aster Aweke and Mr. Hailu Mergia. The Globe and Mail newspaper has described Daniel as “… among the best of his generation”.

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