Ava Alami is of Iranian descent, and although she was born and raised in Italy, she breathed in the scents and traditions of the Middle East at home and carefully guards this cultural baggage that she inherited from both her parents. Her musical journey began with the study of classical piano, which she completed with a thesis focusing on 20th-century pianism, particularly the music of Nino Rota.
In the last four years her path takes an unexpected turn, thanks to her discovery of the world of jazz, which leads her to explore her singing talents and her inner world in a much more authentic way. Her passion for jazz is evident in each of his musical projects, however, often imbued with other sounds belonging to folk and electronics.
In her quintet, there is a focus on Iranian folk music, full of wonderful melodies that the singer decided to arrange for a purely jazz formation. The artist currently has two records out, the first, titled “Azalea,” commissioned and produced by the Italian label WoW Records, to be released in July. The album is a collection of jazz standards, two Italian songs and a tribute to Stevie Wonder. She is accompanied by some of the best musicians on the Italian jazz scene: Francesco Fratini on trumpet, Vittorio Solimene on piano, Giuseppe Romagnoli on double bass and Matteo Bultrini on drums. The first single, released in the first week of May, is titled “The Secret Life Of Plants” and features legendary pianist Dado Moroni.
The second disc, due out in January 2025 with Brooklyn-based record label La Reserve, is a duo project with young pianist Vittorio Esposito, produced by Francesco Fratini.
Her quintet, operating in the vibrant Italian jazz scene, offers a multifaceted repertoire that nevertheless maintains a distinctive and personal sonic cohesion. Jazz influences predominate, but suggestions from indie, folk, and electronica are also discernible. A fascinating journey through original compositions, jazz standards, songs from the Persian musical tradition and enchanting Italian author’s songs.
