Posted on Oct. 10: School of the Arts presents Alfie Zappacosta

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/alfie_5.jpg” caption=”Alfie Zappacosta”]Alfie Zappacosta, whose jazz career spans 20 years, will perform live in Hamilton, Friday, Oct. 17.

With two Junos, including Most Promising Male Vocalist and Album of the Year, and an American Music Award for the Most Popular Album of the Year, Zappacosta and his voice have been the talk of the music industry. His latest CD “Dark Sided Jewel” sees Zappacosta maturing even further placing him comfortably among one the world's premier jazz songwriters.

The roots of his new sound started when Zappacosta began playing solo before crowds at a Toronto club. Playing only guitar, he explored new harmonies and melodies, later combing rootsy elements such as harmonica and accordion, which eventually manifested itself in a contemporary jazz sound.

While working in the production of Hair, Zappacosta finalized a distribution agreement with Los Angeles based Sindrome Records, and “Innocence Ballet” was released in the United States. The singles “Orlanda”, “Show Me”, “Lombard Street” “Me and Mrs. Jones” and “Someone” were eagerly picked up by US radio stations. The sold-out audiences throughout the western US embraced Zappacosta. More radio stations picked up “Innocence Ballet”, placing the CD on the Gavin Report as “the fourth most added”.

In 2001, Alfie joined Halifax's Neptune Theatre production of “Jesus Christ Superstar. Portraying Jesus, Zappacosta performed to sell out houses. The musical was such a great success, that it was held over for four weeks. In 2002, he returned to the stage to portray Che Guevaera in Edmonton's production of Evita, which toured across Canada.

The performace will take place at 8 p.m. at McMaster University, Convocation Hall. Tickets are $25.