Italian soul music with grandezza, power and feeling: that is what Adelmo «Zucchero» Fornaciari has been creating for the last 25 years. In two back-to-back concert evenings, he graced the stage – and on the second evening, he was backed by the vocal group «The Puppini Sisters». The Italo evening is to our festival what mozzarella is to pizza. Even if Zucchero is no typical classical cantautore, his canzoni can be characterized as «Sweet Soul Music».

Also from Italy, Marcella Puppini founded her singing trio in England – giving new life to the Great American Songbook.

Martin Schäfer

With the generous support of «Friends of the BALOISE SESSION».

No other country in Europe makes American music so brilliantly its own as Italy. A prime example of this great tradition is Zucchero, whose soulful duets do not shy comparison with superstars such as Solomon Burke and Tina Turner. Tapping into the same rich treasure trove of black musical inspiration is Steff Müller’s «Groovepack».

Funky, groovy, soulful:  Afro-American blues and soul has been an inspiration for popular music throughout the world to this day. And that’s how it is with Zucchero and with Basel’s own Steff Müller and his band «Groovepack». Can Europeans sing the blues? In both cases, the answer is: Yes.

Martin Schäfer

With the generous support of «Friends of the BALOISE SESSION».