[Update 5.15.13] We had a blast at Zurzolo Teatro Live on Sunday, May 12th at the garden (Giardino di Babuk) in Naples, Italy. From the street, there was an unassuming brown door which transported us into a cozy garden where we were greeted by orange and lemon trees. No literally, there was no one there when we arrived. We got a bit nervous because this was such a last minute announcement we didn’t know what to expect. Nonetheless, we sound checked and then went for a little tour of the garden.

Turns out, the garden was built on top of a ruin so we explored it with our host, Marco Zurzolo. We ventured the 200+ steps to the end to find a huge open space with long passageways and dimly lit rooms. Pottery pieces were randomly spotted and while we could only imagine how the space was originally used, Marco smartly turned it into a jazz chamber by taking out his saxophone filling the room with music.  He then promoted the show and all  and the guests then returned to the surface for more music.

Performing tunes from the current project “Reed My Lips,” Yonnet kept the crowd on the edge of their seats. Despite language barriers, solos by Dennis Turner, Daryl Hunt, Robbie McDonald and Chis “Biscuit” Bynum  told musical stories that everyone could relate.

Special guest vocalist Maimouna Youssef added her own flavor to Erykah Badu’s “Didn’t You Know” (see video) and Sylver Logan Sharp, former lead singer for CHIC, turned what is normally a smooth and jazzy Sunday morning, into a full blown party with her version of “We Are Family.”

Our hour in the park was a great way to start the day. After greeting guests, we stopped for an impromptu photo shot at a simple, yet intriguing spot in the park. Be sure to check out some of the photos.

After ZTL, our driver and “friend for life” Christrian Maresca took us to Brandi’s — the pizzeria where pizza Margherita was invented in 1889, in honor of Queen Margherita, the Savoy queen of the then less than 30-year-old unified Italy. The Margherita was good but the pizza Biscuit ordered was amazing!  It had  italian sausage, a broccoli with tasted more like mustard greens and Provola cheese (pictured on right). We had fun with the manager Francesco and staff.  We jammed with guitar player — Sylver and Maimouna on vocals and everyone else on spoons, forks and knives.

From Brandi’s we headed to Pompei, the ancient Roman town-city was buried in ashes when the volcano Vesuvius erupted on 24 August AD 79. It engulfed the flourishing Roman town of Pompei. The site has been progressively excavated and made accessible to the public since the mid-18th century.  It was pretty amazing to walk the streets of Pompei and to wander thru the ruins. From mansions to brothels, from temples to coliseums, we time traveled back to a period of time many have only seen on the History Channel. We all  agreed it was a major highlight of the trip.

Read the full article and then visit Frédéric’s fan page on Facebook to see all the pics from the trip.

[May  8, 2013] Special thanks to Marco, Juna and Marco Zurzolo who — when they found out Yonnet was in Amalfi, Italy for a private event, they immediately created an opportunity to bring he and the band to Naples.  If you’re in the area be sure to come by Zurzolo Teatro Live for an afternoon of great music, food and drinks on Sunday, May 12, 2013 from 10:0 AM -12 noon.

Location: Via Giuseppe Piazzi n° 55
80137 – NAPOLI

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Visita/Concerto/Aperitivo in GIARDINO
Via Giuseppe Piazzi n° 55
80137 – NAPOLI

Ore 10.00
Visita al Giardino di Babuk
ed all’Ipogeo Napoletano
Durante la Visita all’Ipogeo ci sarà una performance del
Maestro MARCO ZURZOLO Sax Solo
Appuntamento in Cappella Mauro, Via Giuseppe Piazzi n° 59

ore 11.00
Frederic Yonnet in Concerto