Intense Friday and great Pepper & The Jellies

A perfect combination, a great voice, incredible atmosphere and vibes… they are Pepper & The Jellies, from Italy to this fantastic festival!

Pepper and the Jellies are fronted by Ilenia Appicciafuoco who specialises in singing early jazz and blues: the presence of Fats Waller and Annette Hanshaw clips on her Facebook page suggests her range of influences. In 2010 she met the piano player Paolo Fornara and the guitarist Floriano Andolfo and together they founded the Vaudeville Stomp Revue and recorded the album Low Down Mama. She’s a permanent presence in Rome Cotton Club‘s calendar and in 2012 she published a greatest hits album called Ilenia Appicciafuoco and the Sticky Bones Live at The Cotton Club. In 2013, she founded The Pepper and the Jellies with Marco Galiffa and Emiliano Macrini, adding Andrea Galiffa later on.

I had the chance to interview them and they were amazing, good people, they said more than 10 times that they love Birmingham and it’s jazz atmosphere, so we have to be proud.

Here is the interview and some of their music!

The day didn’t finish there: In the morning I went to buy some food to the markets and I found out a great gig by Digby Fairweather with Becky Brine & her rhythm boys. Shopping never has been that exciting!!

In the evening I did participate also in the fest, but just as a member of the audience, I saw a little bit of Lee Jones Trio and also some from Budapest Ragtime Band.  The trio was in a fantastic place at Britney Place, the Opus Restaurant and the band at the Brasshouse, which has become in one of my favourite venues.

Today is Saturday and the city is going to be full of music and great people!!

And let’s not forget this amazing weather. Keep your bbqs for later, today is festival day!!!