SILVAN ZINGG (p, Switzerland)

Organizzatore e produttore del festival é Silvan Zingg. Chiamato dalla stampa "l'ambasciatore svizzero del boogie woogie", il rinomato pianista ticinese darà quest'anno tra altri, concerti in Cina e negli Stati Uniti. 		Organiser, producer and promoter of the festival, Silvan Zingg is passionate about boogie woogie and blues piano styles since his early schoolyears. The press calls him the "Boogie Woogie ambassador from Switzerland". His professional career started 14 years ago. Today he is best known to be a versatile boogie woogie, blues pianist. He played with big names like: Chuck Berry, B.B.King, Champion Jack Dupree,...
In 2008 he's going to share his passion in concerts to China and USA. More on the official webpage with NEXT CONCERTS!.
LEON BLUE (p, voc USA)

 		 Leon Blue (yes, that's his real name!) may just be the finest blues piano man you've never heard of!

 Born in Wichita Falls, Texas in 1931, Leon was first inspired to play piano in 1940 after hearing records of the pounding boogie-woogie of Meade Lux Lewis and Albert Ammons, and also early live performances by fellow Texan Charles Brown.
By 1955, Leon and his three brothers, all also musicians, had relocated to Los Angeles and were performing as The Four Scooters. Before long Leon was making connections with a who's who of the bustling L.A. blues scene, and over the next three decades played and recorded with some of the biggest names active on the west coast (and elsewhere), including B.B. King, Albert King (who says hired and fired him three different times), Roy Milton, Fats Washington, Little Joe Blue, and many others. Leon even played fill-in gig in L.A. with Chicago blues great Muddy Waters, when Muddy's regular pianist Pinetop Perkins missed his plane; he says when Pinetop finally arrived, Muddy didn't want to hire him back! All of this in addition to being a regular member of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue during their most successful years, from 1964 until 1978.

Per la prima volta a Lugano, il texano Leon Blue. Questo é il suo vero nome! Personaggio simpaticissimo con un "tocco di blues" al pianoforte veramente geniale. Anche lui é stato molto influenzato da giovane dai pianisti  Albert Ammons o Meade Lux Lewis. Più tardi diventa accompagnatore di bands famose come B.B.King, Muddy Waters e Ike e Tina Turner.
RUDY BLUE SHOES (p, voc USA)

 		 It was Rudy’s father that introduced him to Boogie Woogie piano styles placing great emphasis on the development of a strong left hand bass line.
Rudy has played on festivals like The Arches Boogie Piano Stage of the Queen City Blues Festival with countless boogie icons like Big Joe Duskin. In fact, he played the Grand Finale of the Queen City Blues Festival with Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, Johnnie Johnson.
Welcome Rudy for the first time in Switzerland.

Rudy Blue Shoes é uno specialista del genere classico americano del boogie woogie. Molto virtuoso ed energico, con una mano sinistra "da diavolo!" Da giovane ha fatto il tamburino nella banda della navy americana. Più tardi si ritrasferisce dal Los Angeles nella Carolina del Sud.
 
JEAN-PAUL AMOUROUX (p, France)

 		 Winner of Hot Jazz Club the France.
Jean-Paul é uno dei grandi maestri del boogie europeo. Ha registrato con nomi illustri come:

Jean-Paul Amouroux is one of the boogie woogie virtuosos in Europe. He produced  masterpiece records with:

Memphis Slim, Sammy Price, Jay McShann, Willy Mabon and Milt Buckner.
 
DOÑA OXFORD (p,voc USA)
Boogie Woogie Woman

Doña ha studiato il piano con Johnnie Johnson. Riesce ad impressionare ogni sorta di pubblico con il suo stile boogie woogie energico, combinando voce e riffs indiavolati sugli 88 tasti.

She was Johnnie Johnson's student.
The word is out that when Doña sings, her vocal cool gets her audience all heated up!! It's all attitude, sultry good looks and a down and dirty beat that makes it happen when Doña (pronounced doan-ya) hits the stage!
ESBEN JUST (p,voc Denmark)
Uno dei maggiori esponenti dello stile in Danimarca. Reduce da un viaggio nella sua città preferita New Orleans. Just propone uno stile originale fusionando sulla tastiera sonorità jazz, blues e boogie.

Best known successful pianist from Denmark. His influences are mostly jazz roots boogie and blues from New Orleans to Chicago.
JO BOHNSACK (p, voc Germany)

Gradito ritorno per le serate introduttive del festival del nordico dell'isola di Sylt con il sangue afroamericano. Influenzato da Champion Jack Dupree con il quale aveva stabilito un rapporto di amicizia.

The pianist and singer from Westerland is a great lover of boogie woogie and blues. Bohnsack admits to have beeing influenced by legendary boogie woogie masters like Jimmy Yancey and Meade Lux Lewis and by New Orleans exponents like Prof. Longhair James Booker and Dr. John.
 
 
CHRIS CONZ (p, Switzerland)
Nato nel 1985, é la giovane promessa svizzera dello stile. Ha suonato per la prima volta nel 2003 come ospite al festival. Da allora dimostra annualmente il talento e la passione per il suo stile di musica preferito.

Born 1985, He played first at the festival as special guest in 2003. Since then he is taking part of it as a rising prodigy and confirming his progressive passion and talent for the authentic style.
ARICIA EVLARD (p, voc Belgium)
Con i suoi 22 anni, Aricia fa parte della generazione dei più giovani talenti. Le sue composizioni e arrangiamenti dimostrano la passione infinita per un puro stile boogie woogie degli anni 40.

22 years old young and talented "Boogie Woogie Girl" from Belgium. Her favourites are u.o. Big Mama Thornton, Otis Spann, Memphis Slim, Pete Johnson, Meade Lux Lewis, Howlin' Wolf and all good 20 to 50's chicago blues singers
.Her main source of inspiration are blues and roots music from the early forties. However, in stead of copying songs note for note, she always try to add her personal touche, respecting, of course, the lyrics, the spirit and the dynamics of the original song. Aricias own songs are in the purest Boogie Woogie style. Sometimes with vocals, sometines instrumental, always full of energy...
SABRINA ROCKIN' BONNIE (Italy)
Sweet italian voice. Close your eyes and you will remember the great old 40s and 50s!
More biography to follow date tba. 3 april

Una dolce voce che vive gli anni '40 e '50 con grande passione e talento.
NUNO ALEXANDRE (b, Portugal / Switzerland)
Completely into roots music of the 30's, 40's and 50's he start learning the upright bass by himself ,listening and watching as many bass players as he could and trying to develop what later would be his trademark-the slap style that was so common in the New Orleans bass players.

I suoi assoli fanno la meraviglia di chiunque lo ascolti. Nuno Alexandre ha una vera passione per lo slap-bass in stile anni quaranta. Capace di accompagnare in qualsiasi momento qualsiasi artista, Nuno è uno dei componenti che danno anima (e che anima !) al Silvan Zingg Trio e al Festival internazionale di Boogie Woogie.
VALERIO FELICE (dr, Switzerland)

 		 Let the ryhthm swing. Valerio and Silvan already performed together in schooltime in various Brass Bands. Since begin of the new millenium they play together in trio with Nuno on the bass. Watch out for Valerios astonishing drum solos with sticks jonglage!

Uno dei maestri di batteria più richiesti in Ticino e accompagnatore fedele del Silvan Zingg Trio. Spesso e volentieri Valerio integra nei suoi bellissimi assoli dello jonglage con le bacchette. Molto impressionante! Velocità, precisione ed un grande feeling per lo swing.
 
WILL & MAÉVA(France)
 William Mauvais, Maéva Truntzer



 		 Today's most acclaimed dance couple! The past year they won the worldchampionships and their worldclass dancing on Silvan's own composition "Dancin' The Boogie" became quickly a multiawarded Youtube Clip. Boogie Woogie dancing at it's best!
During the festival (saturday afternoon) they will give a 2 hours dance workshop. Reserve now! Limited places!



L'anno scorso hanno vinto i campionati del mondo. Il video dove Maéva e Will ballano sulle note della composizione di Silvan "Dancin' The Boogie" é diventato presto un clip favorito in Youtube.

Il sabato pomeriggio sarà possibile seguire un corso di ballo. Iscrivetevi adesso, posti limitati! (ballerini e non)
 
NICOLAS & MÉLANIE DENIAU (France)

 		 Fratello e sorella, giovanissimi ma già a livelli di classe mondiale. Già l'anno scorso sono riusciti a stupire con il loro talento il pubblico.

Brother and sister, worldclass talented. Outstanding boogie woogie dance skills!
 
 
 

 More biographies to be updated....