Normally one of the most vital parts of Barga Jazz Festival which finished this weekend was not to be found in the piazzas or as part of the concerts in the Teatro dei Differenti but during the late night jam sessions that took place each evening at the Enojazz after hours session, this year held at the Hotel Villa Moorings.
The musicians who spent each day rehearsing as part of the Barga Jazz Orchestra and then performing in the evening at the concerts would at the end of the shows towards midnight, move across to the the Hotel Villa Moorings and carry on playing until early in the morning only to rise bleary eyed later on that day and repeat the whole process all over again.
A feat of endurance that only the strongest could survive as the Barga Jazz festival moved into the second week.
The final night of the after hours session, by tradition runs on right through the night until dawn to close the festival in style
It has to said that this year the final session did not run right through first light, as tradition demands but there were enough musicians with enough energy left to play until well past 4 am
Most were there to just enjoy playing with like minded people but some had a more serious intent -- to win the coveted Silvano Togneri Prize, awarded each year for the best soloist showing his heart, spirit (and stamina) during the marathon enojazz after hours jam sessions.
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In 2007 to commemorate the passing of Silvano Togneri the outsider musician (articles about Silvano Togneri can be found here) who was a key member of many of the after hour sessions in the past, the prize was renamed the Silvano Togneri prize and instead of a nominal award an actual award was handed to the winner -- a bottle of spumante and a 45 rpm disc from Silvano’s own collection ( an article about Silvano’s record collection here)
This year it was a close fought affair with the counting (and subtraction) of votes by JJ Carde taking place right through the night.
The Silvano Togneri prize 2010 was awarded this morning for the best soloist during the enojazz after hours jam sessions to the sax player -- Renzo Telloli
Song for Silvano -- Renzo Telloli
Renzo, who is the man behind the successful restaurant -- Ristoro Kanagia in Camporgiano, Garfagnana won the prize this year hands down beating off all opposition with his incredible spirit and above all stamina as most nights he worked in the restaurant before coming down to play in Barga.
Past Winners: 2010 --Alessio Bianchi | 2009 -- Leonardo Gnesi | 2008 -- Stefano Onorati |2007 -- Dimitri Grechi Espinoza