Napoli

[David Flower]

Can anyone recommend musical things to do in the Naples area? We'll be there mid August to first few days of September

[garth cartwright]

I love Napoli but have not done anything musical there - was with children - but I do know the city has a strong jazz tradition with several jazz clubs.

[Rob Hall]

I'm afraid that I can offer no practical suggestions David, but I am reminded that Pietra Montecorvino's album from some years back consisted of a series of covers of Neapolitan pop and folk songs - so the place does have some sort of musical tradition going. Here's Charlie's review of the album from the Observer in 2004:

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/10be ... 81,00.html

[David Flower]

We have the children too so any ideas for them? Non musical? I have an idea there's great street food...

[Chris P]

Going back to the musical question. Spaccanapoli (or whatever they're now called), their larger than life singer & Tammorra player Marcello Colasurdo, NCCP (Nuova Compagnia di Canto Popolare), and possibly Daniel Sepe, all have links or are based in the Naples music scene. Thing to do would be to 'like' them on bookface, and then you'll be able to see any events coming up. Also check their websites/MySpace, and if possible drop any of them a direct email asking what's on, where to find out about it, and what the hippest roots musical joints in town are

..and ask them about food too...

[garth cartwright]

The street pizza is great! Flo's kids loved that. Obviously, visit Pompei and the museum in downtown Naples that houses all the stuff from Pompei - including the brothel's erotic items - is great. Wander the narrow streets and alleys. Maybe take a boat to one of the island's in the harbour - we did but I don't recall us being so impressed by the island (and the boat being surprisingly expensive). I think we went to the island to go swimming as around Naples its too polluted. It's one of the world's great cities to just wander and get lost in, narrow alleys, street markets, African and Arab cultures alongside this very almost pagan Catholic culture. Envious already!

[kas]

About Pompeii: there is also a smaller, slightly less visited site called Herculaneum nearby.

I have actually not visited Napoli myself, but I have been persuaded that the street food (and other food) is superlative. But I've heard of a thing called "pizza fritta" (deep fried calzone pizza), which is a near-lethal cholesterol bomb...

The coastal area near Napoli (Sorrento, Amalfi etc) is also well worth a visit (recommended by my sister who lived in Italy for a while).

Musically, the city seems to be jam packed with artists, traditions and styles. Look for, also and among others, Enzo Avitabile, Raiz, Peppe Barra... Spaccanapoli is still active under the name Spakka Neapolis 55.

Shugs... I should maybe really visit the town myself sometime.

[David Flower]

thanks for ideas. I also just remembered Roy Paci, who's from Sicily not Naples,who we came very close to working with a couple of years back. Decided in the end it fell into the personal enjoyment rather than work category. He was Manu Chao's trumpeter at one time. Good excuse to show this. All his videos are great looking. He's worked in film a lot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eiqvd_r ... re=related

[EleanorT]

No suggestions to make I'm afraid, other than a book. Have you read "Gomorrah: Italy's Other Mafia" by Roberto Saviano? It might not endear you to the place but it is scary and real, and its author has put his life on the line to get this under cover research out into the open. I've always wanted to go to Naples. My grandmother was there for a few months just before the war broke out, as a marine biologist, but I've not yet made it myself. Having read that book, my desire to go has slightly dampened, but I'm sure I will some day. Have a great trip.

[uiwangmike]

You could try this.
http://napoli.zero.eu/2012/05/15/

[David Flower]

I haven't read Gomorrah but saw the film . 10 for bleak. See Naples and die! ( who said that?) Have not included it in books or DVDs to be taken on family holiday!

[kas]

What you might well want to pick up as a DVD is "Passione", the document on Neapolitan music directed by John Turturro. Terrific stuff, and certainly one that has made me want to visit the place. Marcello Colasurdo is mysteriously absent from the film, but it is packed with other enlightening delights - like this medieval popular song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzw-cSVzMp4

Marcello Colasurdo (audio, from his rather brilliant solo album E Manco 'O Sole Ce 'A Sponta:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oszm53Kq ... re=related

[Chris P]

Marcello Colasurdo (audio, from his rather brilliant solo album E Manco 'O Sole Ce 'A Sponta:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oszm53Kq ... re=related

Me likey, will try a few more tracks from this...