The city

In 1935, also Louis Armstrong chose Turin to perform in a concert and to spread this new style of jazz. From that moment, “secret” places around the city popped out where musicians, as Later Dizzy Gillespie and Chet Baker, could gather for their “jam sessions”. In those shining years, it was easy to meet Alessandra, Giuditta and Caterine, the Trio Lescano, the most famous swing group in Italy discovered by Carlo Prato dell’Eiar.
Fred Buscaglione, one of the most famous Italian swinging singer in the 1950s, was born in Turin. He was fascinated by the American swinging and he created his public character, inspired by Clark Gable and Mickey Spillane’s gangsters. His friend Leo Chiosso, a lyricist who wrote many of his songs, told him stories about gangsters and their babes, New York City and Chicago, tough men who were ruthless with enemies but easily fell victims to a woman’s charms.

From the book The Days of Fred, Leo Chiosso ed. Mondadori:

“While reading Mickey Spillane, Billy Car came to life. I liked Pavese and Vittorini, but they were too close to me, I was more attracted to what was far, different.

I wanted America. I loved its movies. As soon as the war ended, I watched two in a day. From the desire to bring America in Italy a Turin that smelled of Chicago in the twenties was created and a Piedmontese gangster with a voice hoarse from smoke and whiskey was born: Fred Buscaglione. Swing came easy to us. Fred, during the war, had played a lot for the Americans and this had oriented him to jazz, from Glenn Miller and beyond.

But Turin, back in the days, lived underground, full of nightclubs with musicians, singers, artists who performed making the music they liked not, not that required by the ball rooms. Anyone who wanted to sing in those clubs was welcome. They were simple basements, they did not disturb anyone, they all had fun. That was music.

What nights, those nights! Musicians as Louis Armstrong or Lionel Hampton paid a visit to Turin and gifted the city of fantastic after concert. Just think that one night, after he had performed at the Reposi theater, Armstrong found himself jamming with Fred and Liza Minnelli in an underground cellar”