“Sissy is the voice and the image of Sicily, her songs are starting a new era for Sicilian popular music. Thanks to her, we can discover a new universe within traditional Sicilian music, extremely rich and powerful melodies and soundscapes, that transport us immediately to this island’s streets and fields full of life and art, something very different, worthy of the utmost attention.” Javier Limon, El Pais (Spain) _BIOGRAPHY_ Sissy Castrogiovanni, with her powerful and warm voice has a unique and soulful sound created from the mixture between her Mediterranean and Sicilian root, jazz harmonies, classical and African music all combined with beautiful melodies in Sicilian dialect. Sissy was born in Sicily (Italy) into a musical family and started singing and composing on piano at the age of five. She started early on to delve into a wide variety of musical styles, from jazz to blues, to soul and funk, but at the same time, being exposed to Sicilian traditional folk music. She continued her studies until the age of twenty as a self-taught musician. In 2005 Sissy starts her musical training in Italy, studying voice technique, jazz improvisation piano and percussion, and the same year she starts to collaborate with some of the best musicians in the jazz Italian scene. In 2009 she receives a scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music where she graduated specializing in Jazz Composition and Mediterranean Studies, and in 2011 Berklee awards her a full scholarship and invites her to be part of the Mediterranean Music Institute in Berklee Valencia. Sissy had the opportunity to collaborate with artists such as the jazz drummer Jack DeJohnette (Keith Jarrett, Miles Davis, John Coltrane etc.) – world-renowned producer/composer Patrice Rushen - 10 time Grammy award, Bobby McFerrin – Latin Grammy award, Javier Limon. She performed in Italy, Spain, Belgium, France, USA, and in many jazz festivals as "Umbria Jazz '08", "Jazz Marathon '08", "Piazza Jazz' 10" (awarded as "Best Singer "), MIDEM Cannes Music Festival, "4th Annual Middle Eastern Festival" etc. Also she performed in such venues as Jordan Hall (Boston), European Parliament (Brussels), Italian Embassy (Boston). Currently Sissy lives in Boston where she’s involved in different music and educational projects, combining performances and workshops. _INTRA LU MUNNU_ PASSION. This entire album is about PASSION. Passion for life, for all the things that make us wake up in the morning, for every little thing we do, for the people that we love, for our deepest dreams, for every second we live, passion in our feelings. Passion is what moves us, passion is what make us move mountains and oceans… Passion is the biggest source of energy and strength we can have. MUSIC All music and lyrics by Sissy Castrogiovanni Except: I me frati (A. Pandolfini) Mi votu e mi rivotu (Unknown, Sicilian traditional) Annuzza (F. Chopin, Lyrics Sissy Castrogiovanni) Arrangments by Sissy Castrogiovanni, Nando Michelin, Renato Milone Strings arrangments track 7, 10 by Nando Michelin In track 5 Balkan Choir arranged and recorded by Christiane Karam MUSICIANS Sissy Castrogiovanni (voice) and Nando Michelin (piano) in all tracks Bruno Raberg (acoustic bass) Franco Pinna (drums) Tareq Rantisi (percussion) in all tracks but 4, 9, 10 Lihi Haruvi (sax soprano) in 1, 2, 3, 6, 8 Jussi Reijonen (oud, guitars) in 3, 5, 6, 7 Naseem Alatrash (cello) in 5, 7, 10 Juan Perez Rodriguez (Cajon) in 5 Balkan Choir in 5: C.Karam, L.Gari, I.Dudukina, G.Lencka, R.Quinones, I.Udroiu, E.Villalba, M.Robodanskyii Choir in 1, 8, 9: Stefania Patanè, Burcu Gulec, Monica Cialona, Christiane Karam, Juana Aquerreta, Giacomo Lamparelli, Francisco Ruiz, Giorgia Renosto (also voce intro in 8), Sung Deep A Cappella ensemble: Joey Blake, Stefano Marchese, Patricia Moreno, Tracey Robertson, Lucia Sentirenla ARTWORK Design by Sissy Castrogiovanni. photos by Pamela Hersch. all the LYRICS AND TRANSLATION AT: www.sissycastrogiovanni.com just a hint... 1. AFRICANNU (Sicilian dialect) Ccà c’è ‘na storia ca ti duna a chi pinsari ca ti pigghia ppi lu cori e si nun senti, unni è l’amuri? Amuri, ppi la vita, ppi lu suli, e p’ ‘a natura ranni amuri ppi ‘n surrisu e ppi tia C’era ‘n picciriddu senza paci e senza petri senza jochi ni manciari ‘a menti china di duluri Sulu ‘nu pallunu ppi jucari ccu l’amici e ppi campari di risati macari ddà… Africannu n’da li jorna ca fa mali arrusbigghiarisi Africannu n’da li jorna ca voi moriri Africannu n’da li jorna ca nun viri lustru n’da la via e arrirennu a facci ri cu nun sapi amari Nenti iddu avia sulu turmentu e malatia nenti matri e nenti patri nenti soru e nenti frati Sulu ‘na canzuni e di spiranza a so’ ‘ntinzioni di la vita ci’nn’è una e nenti chiu’ Africannu n’da li jorna ca fa mali arrusbigghiarisi Africannu n’da li jorna ca voi moriri Africannu n’da li jorna ca nun viri lustru n’da la via e arrirennu a facci ri cu nun sapi amari MASCULI: Genti di lu munnu ascutati li paroli ca vi rici ‘n picciriddu c’ha’ capiu comu campari Genti di lu munnu ascutati li cunsigghi di ‘stu spertu picciriddu c’ha’ capiu comu s’ha’ fari FIMMINI: n’da ‘stu munnu semu nati ppi magia di lamenti nudda banna si va e c’è sempri cu’ stà peggiu di tia strinci i denti arriri e abballa ‘u truccu cca stà! Africannu n’da li jorna ca fa mali arrusbigghiarisi Africannu n’da li jorna ca voi moriri Africannu n’da li jorna ca nun viri lustru n’da la via e arrirennu a facci ri cu nun sapi amari ________ 1. AFRICANNU (english translation) There’s a story that gives you something to think about that takes you from the heart and if you don’t feel it, where is the love? Love for life, for the sun, for nature a big love for a smile and for yourself There was a child without peace and without stones without toys or food with his mind full of pain All he had was a ball to play with his friends and to survive with laughter even there… Africannu on the days where it hurts to wake up Africannu on the days where you just want to die Africannu on the days where you don’t see light in the street and laughing at those that don’t how to love themselves He didn’t have anything he just had torment and disease no mother, no father, no sisters and no brothers All he had was a song and his intentions full of hope life is one and no more than that Africannu on the days where it hurts to wake up Africannu on the days where you just want to die Africannu on the days where you don’t see light in the street and laughing at those that don’t know how to love themselves MEN: Folks of the world listen to the words of a child that understood how to live Folks of the world listen to the advice of this smart child that understood how to do it WOMEN: In this world we are born for magic complaining will take you no where and there’s always one who’s in a worse place than you so bite the bullet, laugh and dance, this is the magic trick! Africannu on the days where it hurts to wake up Africannu on the days where you just want to die Africannu on the days where you don’t see light in the street and laughing at those that don’t how to love themselves ________________________________________________________________ Produced by Sissy Castrogiovanni, Co-produced by Nando Michelin Recorded Jan 27th 2013 at Wellspring Sound, Acton MA, USA Mixed by Javier G.F.Escudero for Cubex Studio. Track 10 by Lewis Pickett Masterd by Jonathan Wyner for M Works Studios, Cambridge MA, USA Copyrights © Sissy Castrogiovanni and UWSAA Records 2013 All rights reserved. Made in USA ________________________________________________________________