Woods Hole Jazz at Highfield Hall & Gardens: Saxophonist Harry Allen and Pianist Rossano Sportiello

Mr. Allen is generally acclaimed as one of the leading swing players in jazz today. While other saxophone players have adopted the contemporary sound of John Coletrane, Mr. Allen has remained true to swing with a sound reminiscent of Stan Getz, Coleman Hawkins, and Ben Webster. He has over 40 recordings under his own name, including three that have won Gold Disc Awards from Swing Journal Magazine.

Rossano Sportiello commands the piano with dazzling improvisational outbursts, a warm and solorful style with prodigious piano techniques whether performing jazz, stride, or classical music. Mr. Sportiello was conservatory trained in his native Italy and began performing in Milan jazz clubs at age 16 before touring with the famous “Milano Jazz Gang” until 2000. Mr. Sportiello first achieved international acclaim at Switzerland’s Ascona Jazz Festival in 2002, later winning the prestigious 2009 Ascona Jazz Award in recognition of his stride piano expertise.