By
Aaron Cowman
Arizona Daily Wildcat
UA grad student Luca Ciarla releases debut classical, jazz CD
The music of violinist and jazz pianist Luca Ciarla, a UA violin graduate student and teaching assistant, is a bit unusual.
"It is very common for a violinist to play the piano," Ciarla said. "It is not very common for a violinist to play jazz on the piano."
Ciarla released his debut CD featuring a blend of these styles, sister classical &brother jazz, in August. The disc showcases a musical talent nurtured since his childhood.
Ciarla took up both the violin and the piano at the age of 8 in his hometown of Termoli, Italy. Around the age of 12, he began taking an interest in jazz.
Ciarla said his interest in music was self-motivated.
"I asked to play violin and piano," he said. "My parents never forced me to do anything."
In Europe, Ciarla studied violin at the European Community's Music School of Saluzzo and received the Diploma di Violina, a prestigious award that required years of dedication on his part.
Ciarla's 1996 move from Europe to the University of Indiana allowed him to further his jazz studies and receive his master's degree in violin performance.
The move also enabled him to see the differences between the two continents.
"I think in Europe the audiences are more prepared," Ciarla said. "People come to the concerts and they know jazz players. They know classical music."
He added that there is a decisive split between the age groups of his audiences in each location.
"Here with the classical world, and even the jazz, you have an incredibly old audience," Ciarla said. "Nothing against them, it is wonderful, but we are the young generation. In Italy and Europe, the young generations are more into sophisticated music."
Ciarla made his way to Tucson on the advice of his sister, and has since found a niche in the Old Pueblo where he can compose his work.
"Tucson is the place, I believe, where you can create your own things,"Ciarla said. "You have space, and that is probably what I was needing at the time."
He has dedicated nearly two-thirds of his life to a love of his art, and he said that he hopes one day his work will be rewarded.
"You need a lot of luck to succeed," Ciarla said. "I put all the energy I can into it. I don't know if it is going to be enough, but I hope so."
Ciarla said he cares about two things when he performs - the emotions of the audience and the idea of having fun with music.
"I don't like the word 'serious' about music, it doesn't make any sense," Ciarla said. "Why do we have to be serious when we listen to music? When you are relaxed then the real emotions come out."
Ciarla said he hopes that this CD will receive a warm reception from the public and that it will lead to greater things.
There will be a CD release party for sister classical & brother jazz at 5 p.m. on Oct. 15 at Borders Books & Music, 4235 N. Oracle Rd.
