Meet The Jazz Audience: Maria Scarpelli

by Lara Pellegrinelli

Lara Pellegrinelli

Maria Scarpelli of New City, N.Y

In the last few decades, June has become the busiest month for jazz in New York City, home to the biggest jazz scene in the world. But who is actually going to these shows? A small team of Bloggers Supreme has been attending the festivities — primarily, the CareFusion Jazz Festival New York. In between our reports on various goings-on, we'll be talking to the some of the people who are actually in the audience. We start off every conversation with the simple question: how did you hear about this show? Look for the responses all this week. — Ed.
Maria Scarpelli, 67
Performer: Chris Botti
Venue: Carnegie Hall (Midtown)
Event: CareFusion Jazz Festival New York
Date: Saturday, Jun. 19, 2010
 
What brings you to the show?
I've seen him on television. He's absolutely intoxicating. I get goosepimples!
 
I wouldn't have guessed. You practically leapt out of your seat as soon as he walked out on stage. Well, that's because I was dying to see him, I've been waiting so long. I thought, how do I get to him?
I always look and look and look. I saw it in The New York Times. Finally, I said to my husband. We got it. Let's make sure we get good seats. This is it.

Well, the seventh row isn't chopped liver, but that's setting some pretty high expectations for Mr. Botti.
He was incredible. That's some talent. Now I feel like I'm — I'm full. I can't describe it any better. I was soaking it up like a sponge. I didn't want to miss a drop. I wasn't even talking to my husband.

What was your favorite thing about the concert tonight?
The music, the music.

Well, yes, but did you have a favorite song?
Oh, yes. I recognized the music that he played because I'm a fan of Pavarotti. I'm Italian. He sang — I mean he played, what's the name of it? "E'una Catena." It's a very old song. I remember that as a kid. And you know how old I am.

How do you spell that?
[slowly:] "E-oo-nah Cah-tain-ah..."

I guess I'll just Google it when I get home.
You'll find it because Pavarotti sang it in Italian. It's just great. Unbelievable. Like I said — I apologize if I'm repeating — it's just intoxicating music. [Composed/arranged under the title "Caruso" by Lucio Dalla, 1986; recorded on Botti's Italia album.]

Do you consider yourself a jazz fan?
Yes. Oh my God, I love Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Billie Holiday. You name it. These are some great artists. Are you familiar with some of the other jazz musicians that Botti was talking about (Freddie Hubbard, Michael Buble, the Marsalises, Miles Davis)? Davis. He's the only one I recognized. The other ones, no, to be honest.

Have you ever come to this festival before?
Not this festival. This is the first time we came. We couldn't. I also go to Florida, too, so I miss it. But this is my life. I love it. I'm not much into television or anything like that. Seeing him is really wonderful.

Would you check out other concerts now that you've been here?
Oh, absolutely. I didn't realize they had more. Do they list them all in the paper? This is the first one I really ever got to. But I'd had my eyes on it because I'd been waiting such a long time.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme/2010/06/21/127995989/meet-the-jazz-audience-maria-scarpelli?ft=1&f=1039