A big jam session-party was organized in Rome at Classico for Tony Scott's 80th birthday, with the exibition of a small part of Tony's abstract jazz paintings, as Tony calls his ceramic tiles and big canvas.

Tony was able to make a Harlem jam session with all these musicians of many different styles playing music from 1930 to 1950, Dixieland, Swing and Bebop, in Rome, Italy. Tony opened the concert playing his Blues for Charlie Parker with high intensity and beautiful low sounds, and between the following songs there were a boiling Night in Tunisia, and a sensual Body and Soul with Tony on tenor sax.

The music continued from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., with a small rest to enjoy the mediterranean food. My feeling: I was catapulted back 50 years, living for 4 hours in that jazz world I had a glimpse of listening to the jazz giants from the past. All the musicians were on fire with great energy, great happiness, great emotion.

Tony Scott said:

" This was a high point of my all life, because I have arrived at 80 years old and I am still playing clarinet as if I were 30 years old, when I was at my peak. I am able to do this because first I am playing for Charlie Parker...I always play for Charlie Parker as though he were alive and listening to his student which I am, and everything I know in jazz I learned from Charlie Parker.
I try to pass on to younger musicians who have talent what jazz is all about, as music and a philosophy of life.

Different styles of jazz musicians were playing. All loved jazz and me, I guess, because they showed up and played for no money. I heard many musicians playing better than I had ever heard before.
I would like to mention the names of the musicians who played, first my students; Emanuele Parrini, from Florence, violinist. Evan Christofer, expert clarinetist from New Orleans, who wants me to teach him Bebop. Massimo D'Avola from Sicily, fantastic on tenor sax. All the others worked with me in these 30 years I am in Italy.
From Rome were the great Cicci Santucci, trumpet, Giorgio and son Dario Rosciglione, bassists, Riccardo Biseo, Luciano Fabris, pianists, Gegè Munari, Pietro Iodice, Carlo Battisti, drums, D'Agostino, guitar. Harold Bradley, Black American singer, expert on Chicago Blues, Spirituals, and American evergreen songs. The Dixieland experts Lino Patruno, banjo, Bruno Castracucchi, soprano sax. Alessio Urso, bassist with his two sons, Emanuel and Adriano, playing clarinet and piano, excellent copy of the Benny Goodman trio, with Santini on drums. Mauro Verrone from Rome and Dimitri Espinosa from Russia, alto saxes playing Bebop.

Following Cicci Santucci solos on 'I'm in the mood for love' I could sang, on the enthusistic Happy Birthday played by all the gang: 'I want to live another twenty year !"
All our friends helped to put this concert-exibition-party together. So, really thanks to all !"
© TONY SCOTT

Photos by © Cinzia Scott

Event organized by Miss Cinzia Scott