We don't hear music like this too often, meaning authentic performers from Sicily or otherwise, but we did this night, upstairs, in the bar, at Smiths. It was a small gathering, Fabio and Barbara were travelling and performing in various cities, with daughter Adele who sat in for the final song. And they performed quite a mix, what with Fabio on classical guitar playing solo music of Spain and more and Barbara joining in for a string of songs from Naples (Napoli) and Sicily (Sicilia) and more too. They mentioned that Neopolitan song was more serious (was that the exact description?) but at least one was a luscious film tune (Torna a Surriento). We were struggling with language, F&B with English, me with my Italian, helpfully there was a Chilean with Italian and lots more. We can travel anywhere and default to English and it's handy, but a limiting thing, I feel, curbing our opportunities to enter a culture. But song works regardless and there were plenty of lively, dancey tunes sung in Italian, perhaps in some local dialect, not sure. This was a night of closeness to a famed local culture from 12,000km away. Many thanks and ciao to Fabio and Barbara and Adele.
Fabio Barbagallo (guitar, vocals) and Barbara Intagliata (vocals, tambourine) performed at Smiths and Adele (vocals) sat in for the final song.
