Carlo Pagnotta, artistic director of Italy's prestigious Umbria Jazz Festival, has returned to the shores of St. John for some R&R.
At Thursday evening's David Amram concert at the St. John School Of Arts Pagnotta confided that he was especially pleased with the lineup of artists already booked for this year's 26th festival in Umbria
Those signed for the ten day event beginning July 9 include Branford Marsalis, Joshua Redmond, (whose bass player is St. Thomian Ruben Rogers), Milt Jackson, Andy Bey, John Pizzerilli, Pat Metheny, Chu
Cho Valdez, Patty Austin, James Taylor, Brad Meldau and the Clayton-Hamilton big band. WOW! I can't wait to return.
This is Pagnotta's third trip to the Virgin Islands.