The Orchestra Jazz Siciliana (OJS) might sound brand new to some, its long and impressive resume will certainly ring a bell; as the only permanent jazz orchestra in Italy, its founder Ignazio Garsia saw the Orchestra accompany Chet Baker, Pepper Adams, Johnny Griffin, Charlie Byrd and many, many more. Garsia is the driving force behind Italy’s progressive jazz scene, with Sicily as its traditional breeding ground. As a visionary educator, he cradled two generations of musicians and raised them to follow his globalist philosophy. Under his command, the Orchestra developed “una mirabile capacità policentrica di affrontare vari repertori”, or rather the miraculous capacity to master multiple brands of repertoire.
Excelling at jazz, funk, fusion, rock, afro, swing and impro, the group doesn’t blink twice at Musica Eurocolta.
Nowadays, the OJS is led by Domenico Riina, as it continues to honor and celebrate collaborations with conductors such as Gil Evans, Emir Deodato, Gunter Schuller and Carla Bley. With Bley and Steve Swallow, the OJS recorded an album on Europe’s most famous indie label, ECM. Countless guest soloists have since joined the Orchestra’s ranks, including but certainly not limited to Richard Bona, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Toots Thielemans, Billy Cobham, Dave Weckl, Scott Henderson and Markus Stockhausen.