Last summer the appointments of the Blues & Wine Festival around Sicily were already wonderful, with lJoe Castellano’s Big Band and related special guests. The same creator and artistic director of the event, now brings the great Gospel back to Sicily and brings to the close of this magnificent edition of the Ventennale, one of the most beautiful choirs of the Baptist church made in the USA. On December 28th on the stage of the Pirandello Theater in Agrigento and the day after (December 29th) in the always magical scenario of the Piazza del Duomo in Cefalùthe great ensemble of the Gospel Star, Nate Martin.
Robust tones, reinvigorated sound, more markedly Gospel Soul made in USA rhythms, are in fact the elements that characterize the entire personality of Nate Martin & SIGN (Singing In God’s Name) choir of 12 elements, founded in 2016 in the cradle of music Gospel, Chicago. Nate Martin & SIGN, quickly made a name for themselves in the city of Chicago for their youthful energy and passion. Nate has few equals in excursions and vocal timbres, and this is his new sound guise, less devoted to the canons of romantic gospel and more prone to modern spirituality that manifests itself, with groove-rich rhythms and ballads, raising the emotional level with emphasis and with the intent to transport the audience to each song. Tradition and modernity go hand in hand as in the best episodes and in this dimension, between the rhythmic and vocal group contributions, one of the most full-bodied gospel live sets that can be witnessed takes place. Pleasantly ruffian temptations, exuberant character, vocal energy play a fundamental role in the group led by Nate. Thanks to numerous collaborations and participations with other stars of the American Gospel – Nate Martin acquires a role of primary presence on the artistic scenes of Gospel & Soul in the USA. In 2020 Nate Martin & SIGN received an Eddy Award for “Album of the Year” and in 2021 a Gospel Music Choice Award for “Band of the Year”. For the first time in Europe, this formation presents a set of religious music between Traditional Black Spirituals and modern sonorities, appropriately revisited and made popular by the classical tradition for a perfect realization, between precision and beauty of the voices, depth of the sacred chants, all connected to the more modern and contemporary side of the band. Success is immediate and remarkable.
The formation of the Group, for this exceptional first Tour in Europe, comprises: Nate Martin, Leader; Zaji Nixon, soprano; Monée Webster, soprano; Tyona Menzies, tall; Faith Johnson, tall; Renecia Cameron, tall; Asia Davis, tenor; LJ Murdock, tenor; Tuan Stinson, tenor; MJ Holman, keyboard; Nathan Harvey, bass; Xavier Lewis, drums.
A return of the great Gospel aboard those which, for sixteen years, have characterized the winter phase of the awards of the largest festival in the world of wine and music.
Many great names of the Gospel went on stage in recent years, during the splendid evenings of the “Blues & Wine Awards”, among them we like to remember: Tim Peterson Singers, Crystal Aykin Gospel Choir, London Gospel Community Choir, Mike Brown & Focus Gospel Choir, as well as the Sicilian Gospel Project and Palermo Spiritual Ensemble.
In recent days, the award dinners for Wine Personalities, Scholars and Cultural and Entertainment Personalities have also been very successful, with many actors from those worlds being awarded. In particular, the prize awarded to a great Italian musician, which was Lelio Luttazzi and which was retired by his wife, Mrs. Rossana Luttazzi.
In the next 20 and 21 January 2023, in Agrigento, the great scholars who have just been awarded as Blues & Wine characters of the year for Wine will converge, such as Dr. Rosario Lentini, Prof. Attilio Scienza and Dr. Manna Crespan, from the CREA Institute of Conegliano Veneto, which will instead give life to what promises to be the largest vine study meeting of the last 40 years.
So, there are truly many great events in this edition of the Blues & Wine Ventennial, which since last summer have been receiving great acclaim and attention throughout Italy and which undoubtedly saw the creation once again of a titanic work by its creator and director artistic, Joe Castellano .
Now, however, space for this stupendous large Gospel choir, which even more at the Luigi Pirandello Theater in Agrigento (December 28) and at the Piazza del Duomo in Cefalù (December 29), will make the Christmas atmosphere vibrate with the overwhelming music that characterize . Both concerts are scheduled for 8.30 pm.
For Teatro Pirandello, it is possible to purchase tickets online on the Theater website.
For info and contacts: [email protected] – 392.2590022