A Full Bill in Italy

%1a"/_"/_ Notes DAN OUELLETTE douellette @billboard.com umbrella. much of the "Idol" audience. onates. I don't know that Mandisa also signed a deal "The message of true beauty we've had an artist that con- to represent the Ashley Stew- was important to me, espe- nects that way with the fe- A Full Bill In Italy art clothing line and wrote a cially after having been on male audience." book, "IDOLeyes: My New Per- Idol,' " says Mandisa, who "Only the World" is the The Umbria Jazz Festival Draws A Stellar Roster spective on Faith, Fat and stood up to Simon Cowell's lead track for AC and CHR From Both Sides Of The Pond Fame," published in May by criticism of her weight. "I Christian stations. Crace says Tyndale House. wanted to record a song about the label is looking at taking A native of Sacramento, where our true beauty comes another track to gospel radio, Calif., Mandisa attended from." but hasn't yet finalized plans. Nashville's Fisk University, The album showcases Man - In addition, inserting the CD where she performed with the disa's powerhouse vocals and in a computer will unlock a famed Fisk Jubilee Singers and her ease with a variety of Web site with a bonus track earned a degree in vocal per- styles. "We really set out to and video footage. Also on formance. She honed her skills make more of a pop- sounding tap are promotions with Ver- as a background vocalist with record," she says. "But it runs izon and Sprint in the mobile such talents as Trisha Year - the gamut because I run the space. wood, Shania Twain, Take 6 gamut. I grew up on everything And while Christian retail and Faith Hill, and also worked from Chaka Khan to Whitney has lent its support with a in customer service at Lifeway Houston to Def Leppard." presale campaign and in- Christian Resources in In marketing "True Beauty," store positioning, the album Nashville. the label plans to capitalize on will also benefit from appear- "People would send in Sun- the exposure generated by ances in Best Buy and Circuit day school orders, and I would "American Idol." "Every promo City circulars during release sit there and type them in all tour we've been on, there's a week. a Christ- day long. I had my earphones tremendous amount of aware- "It is unusual for Every July in the sleepy Italian university with their "fucking" cameras and the "god- on and I would just sing," Man - ness of her," EMI Christian ian artist to get that slot," of Perugia in the heart of the province damn city" of Perugia before he played a disa says. "I guess I was singing Music Group senior VP/chief Crace says. "And we'll have city in the Umbria, jazz gushes for 10 days in a vi- single note. louder than I thought that I was marketing officer David feature positioning all of next day Umbria artistic director Car- and people started hearing me Crace says. "But we want to major mainstream retailers. brant torrent from the Etruscan -era piazza The a to the soccer -stadium arena below the an- los Pagnotta said, "Jarrett, the artist, is sub- and noticing that I could sing. move that dialogue away It will be positioned like the man, is very question- Then, they started asking me from just 'I was an "Idol" con- major pop record, and there cient walls. This year's edition of the Umbria lime, but Jarrett, the largest jazz bash in Italy, able. It is regrettable to witness this sort of to sing in chapel services. testant' to `What do I stand aren't that many Christian Jazz Festival, these two aspects, On "True Beauty," Mandisa for as an artist ?' The concept records that can garner that featured a full bill of American and, signif- schizophrenia involving an artist we love to be- conveys the faith and values of true beauty is very power- kind of retail support from icantly, Italian jazz stars, highlighted by because we expect Bol- have in an appropriate way." that made her a favorite with ful for her right now and res- the mainstream." trumpeter Enrico Rava, pianist Stefano lani and reeds bandleader Gianluigi Tro- As for Jarrett's diss of the city, Pagnotta vesi. said the fest "won't have anything more On July 11, Ornette Coleman presented a to do with him. He will always continue to primo alto sax display of off -kilter, unpre- be part of the history of this festival, but dictable jazz, climaxed in the encore by his we will do without his music." While three through his manager ect and Hot City Music Group for Shiré, Waynne unusual request for audience members to days later, Jarrett, issued an apology for his says his and Swift's eventual goal is to align Fam- come onstage and sing. After a buoyant Steve Cloud, words," it seems certain that ily Ties with one major label. take on "Lonely Woman," a hulking man "choice of return to Umbria. But as they entertain offers, the principal focus sang a Polish folk song, followed by an Ital- the pianist will not in 1973 but on hiatus for three is on rebuilding their production momentum ian- speaking Japanese woman rendering Founded times in Italy and developing other acts on the Family Ties ros- "Amazing Grace" in English, both accom- years during turbulent political Umbria primarily featured ter. The former includes working with such new panied by Coleman's three -bassist, one - in the late '70s, jazz (and pop) stars in its early artists as G. (aka Glasses) Malon, who is signed drummer band. American has become a mar- to Hoo Bangin' /Cash Money. The latter In perhaps the most interesting program- days, but increasingly includes female rapper Precious ming twist, two standards -oriented trios quee showcase for Italian jazz. "I was ac- of not booking Italian artists for Paris (who's worked with SO Cent), were featured: pianist Keith Jarrett per- cused singer /songwriter Sonyae forming his straight -up American Songbook years," Pagnotta said. "But within the past of Italian jazz has be- Elise, Bay Area rapper Bal- improvisations at the 4,500 -seat Arena 10 years the quality come world -class. And we've been a part ance -and Midi Mafia it- Santa Giuliana July 10 with bassist Gary Pea- Jazz has become self. "Our album will be cock and drummer Jack DeJohnette, and of that growth. Umbria Rea, the brand that represents Italian jazz." a fusion of a lot of Doctor 3, comprising pianist Danilo music and turntab- bassist Enzo Pietropaoli and drummer Fab - In promoting its home -grown music, Um- to New York every lism," Waynne says. rizio Sferra, putting a jazz spin on pop -music bria Jazz exports top acts (this year's June 26 -30 "We're going to take fare July 9 at the 1,200 -seat Teatro Morlac- June at Birdland Francesco all the music we love chi. show featured saxophonist with strings), and inaugurated Um- and put it into a melting pot. Doctor 3 proved to be a pure delight as Cafiso the trio dynamically segued from the Red bria Jazz in Tokyo May 14 -19 at the Blue Note QUICK HIT: Speaking of Hot Chili Peppers' "Californication" to club, starring Rava and Bollani. Kline, co- songwriting /production Wayne Shorter's "Footprints" and back, as Umbria regular Randall executive director of the San duos, Soulshock & Karlin, well as reharmonized and embellished two founder and the pair behind Whitney Damien Rice tunes, "Cannonball" and "The Francisco Jazz Festival, which celebrates says, "Carlo Houston's "Heartbreak Hotel," Blower's Daughter," all without an ounce of its 25th anniversary this fall, the are back in the studio with schmaltz. has used the Umbria brand to expose show- Houston as well as Usher, Jarrett's show was typically transcendent, world to tremendous musicians. He's Jordin Sparks, Frankie J, but was marred by his profanity -laced tirade ing that they deserve a stage everywhere, JoJo and Keyshia Cole. against the "asshole" audience members not just at home." AUGUST 11, 2007 www.billboard.biz 33 .

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