Caterina Zapponi returns to DC’s Blues Alley from New York City for the annual Italian Jazz Series in collaboration with The Italian Cultural Society on Monday, June 15, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. shows. Tickets here. Listen to chat with Caterina and CiaoDC above.
“I follow my husband, Monty Alexander’s show at Blues Alley…we’re trying to plan a little preview with Monty the night of my show on Monday, June 15th.” - Caterina Zapponi, Jazz Artist
Caterina is a multi-lingual vocalist exploring music ranging from jazz and the American popular song to cabaret and musical theater. Caterina performs an eclectic, multilingual repertoire that blends traditional vocal jazz with international styles like her native French cabaret and Italian melodies, and more.
Caterina was born and raised in Rome, Italy, Caterina’s mom was from France and her Father from Italy growing up, as she describes, with a “double cultural story.” Her mother was a French born chanteuse and instilled in Caterina her love of the French repertoire. And father was celebrated screenwriter Bernardino Zapponi, a collaborator and longtime friend of iconic Italian filmmaker, Federico Fellini. The film High Society helped introduce her to jazz while fueling a desire to move to the United States, which she did upon receiving a scholarship from Berklee College of Music. She graduated in two years and won the Berklee Cleo Laine Award for vocal achievement and performance. Later, marrying jazz pianist, Monty Alexander.
“I think jazz is a very specific jazz form…it requires people like Harry Schniper of Blues Alley to know the value of the art…you have to learn to appreciate jazz, but once you learn to love it, there is no going back…so you have to go to the places that play jazz like Blues Alley in DC and The Blue Note in New York.” - Caterina Zapponi, Jazz Vocalist
Caterina has performed at such legendary venues as New York’s Birdland, and The Blue Note, and internationally at the Verbier and Saint Barthelemy festivals. She has also performed internationally with pianist/husband Monty Alexander at numerous venues including London’s Ronnie Scott’s, Marseille Jazz Festival, Paris’New Morning and Theatre des Champs Elysees, Tokyo’s Blue Note and Cotton Club, Switzerland’s Cully and Bern Festivals, Russia’s Moscow International House of Music, and at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City.
“…Every time I come to Washington, D.C. I love the monuments and the big buildings…I do like the narrower buildings of Georgetown it feels like home…and I do love how international Washington, D.C. is.” - Caterina, Zapponi, Jazz Vocalist
Her recordings include the album “Universal Love Songs”, released by Inak Music and “Romantica” on Motema Music. Zapponi is also a member of the Screen Actor’s Guild, and performed “A Song For You” for the film For the Love of the Game with Kevin Costner. Hear how this came about in our CiaoDC conversation.
“Jazz is a treasure…it’s very special.” - Alyssa Ciccone, CiaoDC
Blues Alley 1073 Wisconsin Ave., Washington, D.C. Caterina Zapponi performs June 15th, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Shows. Ci Vediamo a Blues Alley!
