THE CITY'S SONG | THE NAPOLI SESSIONS

After earlier wanderings through cities such as Mexico City, Ramallah, Tehran, and Johannesburg, musician Thomas Noël arrived in Naples for this edition of The City’s Song. For this new episode, he turns to musicians rooted in the Neapolitan traditional culture as well as contemporary jazz artists and creators who shape the city’s identity in a modern way.

The City’s Song – The Napoli Sessions is a multifaceted project that brings together music, imagery, sound, tradition, and current reality. It explores the intersections between folk music and jazz, built around six central themes: La Morte (Death), La Madonna (the Woman), Il Mare (the Sea), La Terra (the Earth), Il Fuoco (Fire), and Il Sogno (the Dream). The result is a cinematic concert that seeks to capture Naples in sound and image.

For this project, Thomas collaborates with jazz drummer Emiliano Della Giovanna, born in Naples and now active in Ghent, who serves as a natural link between the two cities. From this collaboration grew an extended collective of musicians and artists from both Flanders and Naples. Together they create a cinematic concert experience in which the city is reflected and diverse musical backgrounds fuse into a new sound.

His research began in late 2023 in Naples, where Thomas met flutist and singer Mimmo Magniolico. With Emiliano and guitarist Roberto Trenca, Mimmo’s long‑time musical partner, the creative process took shape. The collective is further complemented by bassist Marta Riccardi, singer/percussionist Carmine D’Aniello (both from Naples), and violinist Wouter Vandenabeele from Ghent.

The visual component is carried by photographers Sammy Van Cauteren, Silvio Siciliano, and filmmaker Firas Al Halak.

Thomas Noël: project lead, direction – composition – piano, Hammond, guitar, electronics, backing vocals (BE)
Emiliano Della Giovanna: drums (IT/BE) (fixer/translator)
Sammy Van Cauteren: photography, video (BE)
Wouter Vandenabeele: violin (BE)
Mimmo Maglionico: shawm, flutes, vocals – composition (IT)
Marta Riccardi: bass, backing vocals (IT)
Roberto Trenca: strings (chitarra battente, cuatro, guitar, etc.) (IT)
Carmine D’Aniello: vocals, tambourine, percussion (IT)
Silvio Siciliano: video, documentary (archive) + fixer (IT)
Firas El Hallak: visuals (LB)