Honoring the Sea Goddess

Presented to sold out audiences  at the New York Open Center, Cathedral of St . John the Divine, Venice, Perc Fest and Salsomaggiore Italy.    

Featuring:

Alessandra Belloni: voice, tambourines, frame drums, ocean drum, ritual dance
Eve Sicular: drumset, dumbeck,
Susan Aquila: acoustic and electric violin,
Jessica Valiente: Flutes, vocals, congas, shakers, agogo,
Kristine Massari: mandolin , vocals,
Yasuja Kimura:  congas, cajon

In Italy:
Kikki elli Santi: marimba, djembe, snare drum, riqq dumbeck, tambourines,
Serena Davini: Congas, drumset, djembes

The concert is inspired by two geographically distant but thematically parallel traditions. Southern Italian and Brazilian purification rites and procession performed in the summer o honor the archetypical sea goddess. In Brazil she comes from the West African Yoruba culture and is called Yemanja, in Italy she is called the Black Madonna of the Sea (once called Aphrodite). Alessandra Belloni plays a series of percussion instruments:

  • the ocean drum, recreating the sound of the waves of the ocean,
  • her Yemanja drum made by Remo that combines the sound of the water with the drum,
  • her line of Southern Italian tambourines and frame drums

She is accompanied by a small ensemble of women percussionists, dressed in white and blue to honor the sea.

They recreate rituals with songs, chanting and dancing, drumming and offerings of flowers to the images of Yemanja and the Black Madonna. The music played will include fishermen's songs and love laments from Southern Italy and Brazil, as original songs written by Alessandra Belloni inspired by her trips to Hawaii and Brazil written in honor of Yemanja. This is unique passionate show  with great music and joyous ritual that invokes the healing power of primordial waters, was presented in Italy (Venice, Salsomaggiore Thermal resort, PERC FEST,  New York OPEN CENTER, Los Angeles Italian Culural Institute)  Trumpets Jazz Club

 

New York press:  Noted Italian percussionist/singer Alessandra Belloni and her all-female trio   

As the lights onstage went down, it was as if the crowd had been transported to a secret clearing somewhere in the Piemonte to witness some wonderfully obscure, mystical ritual. Alternating between high, eerie incantations and earthy folk melodies and playing a small museum’s worth of percussion instruments, they wove a sonic web not unlike another very popular vocal group, le Mystere des Voix Bulgares.

As head spell-caster, Belloni was so wrapped up in the music herself that she’d back off the microphone, eager to launch into the next song, even as she announced what it would be. In addition to melodies from various parts of Italy as well as Brazil and a couple of impressive solo turns from band members, their dancer whirled through the club, finally dragging a couple of audience members out on the floor as the drums and voices wailed high overhead. It was a performance that was as physically gripping as it was sonically captivating, even psychedelic.      

Upcoming Events

Previous events

To celebrate the holidays Italian style, the 43rd anniversary of I GIULLARI DI PIAZZA and our music directors birthday! John La Barbera , sharing food, drink and wonderful music while we celebrate four decades of Alessandra's Belloni's work! During this holiday end-of-year fundraiser, you will meet special people as we also honor Tony and Obie award-winning producing artist and formerly Artistic/Executive Director of Cherry Lane Theatre Angelina Fiordalisi, Award Winning actor Saverio Guerra, Director & Cinematographer Lisa Leone, and Award-Winning Author, Therapist & CEO Alex Iantaffi. Tickets: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/igiullaridipiazza/1043310? You will have the opportunity to listen to Alessandra Belloni, author of the book "Healing Journeys with the Black Madonna", published by Inner Traditions-Bear & Company. This fund raiser will also help Alessandra raising funds for her upcoming knee surgery December 21, and her recovery time. This will be such a special celebration of over four decades of work for I Giullari di Piazza, a non profit organization, who are artists in residence at the Cathedral of St. John Divine and who have also performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and Symphony Space, to name but a few. The joyous afternoon will include a performance of "Tarantata," by award winning percussionist, singer, author Alessandra Belloni with composer, guitarist John La Barbera, founders of I Giullari di Piazza, in their famed production of "Tarantata," an impeccably researched production rich with songs, tarantellas, and magic rituals used to cure the mythical bite of the tarantula, along with healing chants and ritual drumming in honor of the Black Madonna. With its authentic music, costumes, and instrumentation, Belloni and company here unite the fascinating and similar legends, traditions, and musical rhythms of Southern Italy and Brasil. And, as always, the fun concludes with audience members being invited to join the cast for a "raise the roof" tarantella. Featuring: Alessandra Belloni - Artistic Director, Percussions and Vocals John La Barbera - Music Director, Composer, Guitar, Mandolin, Chitarra Battente Wilson Montuori - Guitar Joe Deninzon - Violin Steve Gorn - Bansuri Flutes, Saxophones, Clarinet Dancers - Amara & Mark Mindek also playing the commedia character Arlecchino www.alessandrabelloni.com www.igiullaridipiazza.org www.facebook.com/alessandrabelloni54 instagram@belloni.alessandra Press quotes: Don Hackman, writing in the Los Angeles Times, found that "Alessandra Belloni and "Tarantata: Dance of the Ancient Spider" is a revelation, utterly fascinating." Drum Magazine noted that "Italian-born virtuoso Alessandra Belloni is established as a unique phenomenon, not just a percussionist, but also an actress, lecturer, entertainer, and healer." Jon Pareles of The New York Times, reviewing an I Giullari di Piazza show, remarked that "Ms. Belloni sang in an exultant voice. The songs blazed with an age-old momentum." Do not miss this wonderful winter celebration of life, joy, and community! Tickets and donations include dinner and the performance, 75% tax deductible Can't make it to the fundraiser? You can still I Giullari di Piazza non-profit organization under the 501-c-3 code and Alessandra Belloni;s work by donating here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/black-madonna-center General Admission $125.00

Ticket plus a program listing and a CD $150.00

VIP Ticket plus a program listing, CD & Book $175.00

FILM PRESENTATION! Black Madonna Pilgrimage & Summer Solstice Musical Celebration in Sicily

On December 13th, 2023 Internationally renowned singer, percussionist, teacher Alessandra Belloni, Author of ‘HEALNG JOURNEYS WITH THE BLACK MADONNA” together with I Giullari di Piazza Italian Music and Dance company

Filmed, directed and edited by Francesco Piccolo in the summer 2023 produced by Alessandra Belloni & The Black Madonna Center Join us for A MUSICAL JOURNEY TO THE BLACK MADONNA IN SICILY & THE SUMMER SOLSTICE at the MEGALYTHS OF ARGIMUSCO & the ANCIENT SOLSTICE PAGAN FEAST OF U’ MUZZUNI December 13th Celebrating the Feast of Santa Lucia with the Sicilian Folk Music LA SANTA LUCIOTA We will begin with the screening of the film to be followed by live Sicilian Folk Music, featuring: ALESSANDRA BELLONI , artistic director vocals & percussion JOHN LA BARBERA , music director , guitarist & composer , chitarra battente & mandolin STEVE GORN on bansuri flutes, saxophone and clarinet WILSON MONTUORI – Guitar – JOE DENINZON - violin Joseph Giannini accordion and vocals (to be confirmed) · Special guests from Sicily on zoom from the group SUDCANTICA: Federico Chiofalo - accordion, tambourine, guitar, Sebastiano Pietrini - vocals, guitar, tambourine, Santino Scordino – vocals, bagpipe, tambourine, Jew’s harp Francesco Piccolo- film director, editor

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