“Occhipinti has crafted this music with uncommon perfection.”        Raul d’Gama Rose, All About Jazz

“The players deeply feel this music, bringing it to joyous highs and sub-strata lows, positioned in a hopeful and richly rendered framework… a triumphant recording on many levels”                     Michael G. Nastos  Billboard

“This is really why we listen to music: to be surprised and lifted up, stripped of our preconceptions and left breathless by hearing something brand new. Big props to Michael Occhipinti and all the players for taking jazz into a new room.”           Bill Bentley – Sonic Boomer

Michael Occhipinti’s Sicilian Jazz Project has been dazzling audiences world-wide with its intriguing mix of Sicilian folk material and the best elements of modern jazz, world music, funk, blues, and chamber music. Using Sicilian folk music as its starting point, the group takes the audience on a journey that reveals the drama and passion of Sicily’s past and showcase the global sound and great musicianship of modern day Toronto, Canada.

The Sicilian Jazz Project has been called “a masterpiece of cultural fusion” and received a 2009 JUNO Award nomination (Canada’s Grammy Award).  The recording also resulted in the prestigious Ragusani nel Mondo Award being presented to Michael and Roberto Occhipinti in Ragusa, Sicily in 2009, and in 2010 Michael Occhipinti received a Chalmers Fellowship to live in Sicily and explore the folk culture there further.

The Sicilian Jazz Festival has brought its captivating and infectious live show to  music festivals across Canada, Italy, the USA, and Mexico.  Mixing a unique repertoire, great story-telling, and some of Canada’s best jazz and world music musicians, the band is not to be missed live.  The Sicilian Jazz Project is now working on a follow-up to its acclaimed debut.