Three passionate Italian musicians, born and raised in the city of Naples, came together to prove that the tradition of Neapolitan songwriting (Canzone Classica Napoletana) is still as moving and relevant as it has ever been.
Suonno d’Ajere means The Dream of Yesterday and refers to a famous song title by Neapolitan singer-songwriter Pino Daniele.
The trio was formed in 2016 from the need to know and enhance what Naples has produced in its vocal musical history. Despite their different musical backgrounds (jazz, pop, traditional, and classical), the members of the group have always been attracted to Neapolitan song, remaining deeply fascinated.
Suonno d’Ajere intend to restore dignity and depth to this tradition by exploring all the repertoire from 1600 to the present day, crafting arrangements that mix stylistic rigor with a contemporary approach.
The choice of musical instruments recalls the popular Posteggia ensembles from the early nineteenth century, street and bar musicians loved by common people as well as by aristocrats. However, the Suonno d’Ajere style is more refined and sophisticated, often far from the street versions. The result is a flamboyant intermingling of traditional and classical that has always been the cornerstone of Neapolitan music.
Suonno d’Ajere are the recipients of numerous awards (including the First Prize at Sanremo Canta Napoli Festival as well as a performance at Biennale di Venezia for the soundtrack of La Chimera documentary) and much critical acclaim for their performances of classic songs as well as their own original compositions.
In 2019, they released their debut album “Suspiro“. In 2021, “Suspiro” was released worldwide with bonus tracks.
Suonno d’Ajere say about their music: “Neapolitan song is not a relic for museums, nor a mummy without oxygen. Its scores are no holy pells but a legacy to be celebrated.”
Lineup: Irene Lupe Scarpato on vocals; Marcello Smigliante Gentile on mandolin, mandola, mandoloncello; and Gian Marco Libeccio on classical guitar.
(headline image: Suonno d’Ajere Photo by Riccardo Piccirillo)
Discography:
Suspiro (Italian World Beat, 2019)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.