His latest CD release is a departure of sorts for seven-time Juno-nominated Jazz guitarist Michael Occhipinti, but a return to his Italian roots.
Occhipinti and The Sicilian Jazz Project will perform music from the self-titled album at a CD release party this Friday, June 20 at The Trane Studio in the Bathurst and Bloor streets area. The CD will hit stores June 24.
It is comprised of Sicilian folk tunes, some of them obscure, others more well known, a lot of them borrowed from 'the song hunter' Alan Lomax, Occhipinti said. Lomax is renowned for setting out after the Second World War to draw the folk music map of the world.
"He went around Sicilly and he'd walk up to a bunch of fishermen and record what they would sing while they worked," Occhipinti told The Villager. "A lot of them are songs that only people in specific regions, doing specific work would know. We're taking archaic music and injecting it with our own experience, a Torontonian experience."
Some of it is party music, some of it is sad.
Occhipinti is known for his love of experimenting with different guitar sounds and effects. He has a keen sense for marrying the familiar with the unfamiliar, according to one Toronto daily newspaper critic.
Occhipinti was inspired to record the CD by a trip he took, after his daughter was born, to visit his relatives in Sicilly. His parents were Sicillian and came to Toronto in the 1950s. His father was a stone mason, who was recruited with other Italians to do construction, but was also an amateur singer. Both his older brothers are musicians. Occhipinti's cousin David is a guitar player, who was nominated this year for a Juno Award in the same category he was. Needless to say, 'Occhipinti' is a familiar name in musical circles.
"It wasn't shocking that I followed in their footsteps," he said.
Occhipinti's brother Roberto is a guest bassist on the new disc. It also features Occhipinti's touring band, and guests Maryem Tollar (vocals), Hugh Marsh (electric violin), Rick Lazar (percussion), Levon Ichkhanian (oud - a string instrument) and a string quartet featuring members of the Gryphon Trio.
Occhipinti went to York University for its Fine Arts Jazz program. In high school, he always played in rock or pop bands, but his music teacher was a jazz player .
"I always had an ecclectic taste. I didn't set out to be a jazz player, but all my records are jazz," he said. "The good thing about York, what I remember, is being exposed to its ethno-musicology program. I think this just cemented the fact that I've been interested in music from other cultures."
Occhipinti's reputation has been built on his work with NOJO, the Big Band he formed in 1994 with pianist/composer Paul Neufeld. Its music is influenced by African, early blues, modern concert music, funk, reggae and a century of jazz.
The Bloor West Village resident has been profiled on Bravo!'s Arts and Minds, CBC television's On The Arts, CBC radio's This Morning and JazzBeat and TV Ontario's Studio 2.
The Trane Studio is located at 964 Bathurst St. Call 416-913-8197 or visit www.tranestudio.com for further details.
Doors open for dinner at 6:30 p.m. Friday. Showtime is 9:30 p.m. Admission is $15.