Cassandra Wilson, David Sanborn, Stefano di Battista, Joe Locke

Cassandra Wilson and David Sanborn were the main attractions here last night in Perugia - after torrential rain during the afternoon the skies cleared just in time for the evening performance at the Arena Santa Guilliana.

Cassandra opened the show and with her smooth vocals and excellent band she gave a terrific show - outstanding was her haunting and really slow version of Glen Campbell's' 'Witchita Lineman' and her opening choice 'Caravan'.

David Sanborn played some excellent bop and blues and with his Italian brass section went down excellently with the home crowd - St Louis Blues, Basin Street Blues and Smile were great and the band were allowed plenty of space to show their stuff. Like Bill Frisell, Sanborn is re-discovering his roots and influences.


Later at the Midnight show Stefano di Battista and Flavio Boltro let rip and ran through a succession of hot numbers that the home crowd 'whooped and hollered' after every solo (and quite rightly too!). This is a great band - lets hope it comes to the UK.

We ended the evening at the 1am show with Joe Locke in the Rocco Paulina - this is a fantastic quartet, drummer Jonathan Blake is outstanding - one of those drummers who gets maximum sound from minimum exertion, with his low set kit his hands just rock from side to side to great effect. The whole ethos and purpose of this band seems to be of maximum enjoyment of both musicians and audience and having now seen two shows they are really succeeding.

Stefano Di Battista and Herbie Hancock

Last nights double bill of Italian Sax maestro Stefano Di Battista and Herbie Hancock was a superb double bill of eclectic playing and high energy jazz.

Battista playing mostly tracks from his latest album 'Trouble Shootin' was on fire from the moment he took the stage, playing long blistering runs and then some delicate melodic interplay with trumpeter Fabrizio Bosso.

Di Battistas compositions 'Under her spell' and 'I will love you' sat beautifully with Kenny Burrell's 'Midnight blue' and to cap off a great show Baptiste Trotignos on Hammond and Greg Hutchinson on drums never put a foot (or note) wrong.

When it comes to Herbie Hancock these days it is fair to say that you must always expect the unexpected. Tonight's performance was no exception. From Joni (River) to Headhunters (Actual Proof) with a little Leon Russell song more recently covered by Christine Aguilera (A song for you) thrown in 'because I just love this song'.

The show was a roller coaster ride of virtuoso playing, be it Dave Hollands really poignant bass solo, Lionel Louke's african interlude or Herbies own solo spot where for nearly 20 minutes he kept 7,500 people on the edge of their seats, silently waiting for his next note or chord - quite extraordinary!

The show came to its climax with 'Watermelon Man' and 'Cantaloupe Island', both greeted with huge applause and played out as though brand new compositions that were as fresh as this mornings croissants and coffee and just as tasty!

There have been mixed reviews of this 'River of Possibilities' tour but this was a special show everyone on stage played their part and shone.

Brilliant!!

Herbie Hancock (Keyboards), Dave Holland (Bass), Lionel Louke (Guitar), Vinnie Colaiuta (Drums), Chris Potter (Sax), Sonya Kitchell (Vocals), Amy Keys (Vocals).