Dialektos is the remarkable musical encounter between Italian vocalist Maria Pia De Vito and Welsh pianist Huw Warren and includes their own compositions, settings of Neapolitan poems and Brazilian songs. Mixing a telepathic sense of interaction with an even greater sense of fun and adventure, the poetry of the Neapolitan dialect makes this project an unique duo on the World jazz stage.
“I honestly can’t remember the last time I saw a live performance in which two artists were so completely attuned to each other”. Jazzwise
“Swelling with subtle surprises.****” (Guardian)
As a duo Maria and Huw have performed worldwide over the last ten years, and have recorded two duo albums (for the Parco Della Musica label) with special guests clarinettist Gabriele Mirabassi (Dialektos) and guitarist Ralph Towner (O Pata Pata). They are also both associated with the ECM label, Huw through his Quercus collaboration with Iain Ballamy and June Tabor; and Maria through her Il Pergolese collaboration from 2013 with Francois Couturier, Anje Lechner and Michele Rabbia.
Their most recent recording/collaboration is Core/Coração (Jando Music) and features new lyrics/translations by Maria Pia de Vito of music by Chico Buarque, Guinga and Egberto Gismonti. Chico Buarque appears as a special guest.
Maria Pia De Vito is one of the leading improvising vocalists in Europe. As well as her work with Huw, she is known here for a long-time collaboration with Colin Towns. She studied operatic and contemporary singing, piano, percussion and ethnic polyphony before turning to jazz. Testament to her incredible versatility (from scat to human beatboxing), performances include: Joe Zawinul, Michael Brecker, John Taylor, Rita Marcotulli, Paolo Fresu, Norma Winstone, the Art Ensemble of Chicago, Dave Liebman and Rama Mani.
Huw Warren is well known to Vortex audiences. From his early days with June Tabor, with the iconic Perfect Houseplants and his leadership of the Vortex Jazz Quartet, his albums based on Welsh hymn tunes (with Lleuwen Steffan), Hermeto Pascoal, and John Dowland.