Etta D’Elia hasn’t been able to visit her birthplace for three years, so she created a love letter of sorts to all things Italian.

In Buona Sera Signorina, D’Elia and her band will be performing popular songs from the likes of Dean Martin and Louis Prima, as well as lesser-known artists, but humour will also feature heavily.

The classically trained singer has been making people laugh since she was a child, so she wanted to ensure plenty of jokes were weaved between the songs, and encourage the audience to get involved.

This includes learning a thing or two about Italian culture, not the least of which is the Italian’s apparent ability to speak volumes without words.

Greg McFerran chatted to the jazz vocalist — who has performed twice at the Vatican for live broadcast — to find out more.

GM: For Seesaw Mag readers who don’t know you, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your work? 

ED: I am an Italian-born Jazz vocalist with a passion for stand-up comedy. I have been living and performing in Australia, my new home, for the past 10 years and I am completely in love with Perth!

Performing has always been “shamefully” in my blood. My mother says that, since I was five, visiting relatives would pay me money to tell them jokes. Music has always been the other big passion of mine. I enrolled at the Conservatorio in Italy to learn classical voice, followed by a Master’s in music education.

My academic focus had been strictly classical but, encouraged by a lecturer to branch out musically, I discovered a love for jazz, and I started performing with the Italian pianist Gianni Lenoci and his jazz quartet. It was the first page of a musical love letter … a true calling for me! 

Here in Perth, I am now an established jazz singer and proud band leader of Etta D’Elia Jazz Quintet. We usually perform in venues such as The Ellington Jazz Club, The Kalamunda Jazz Club and more.

GM: Tell us about Buona Sera Signorina.
 
ED: Buona Sera Signorina is a show that is between a jazz performance and a stand-up comedy.

We will be performing jazz renditions of very popular Italian tunes (“That’s Amore”, “Mambo Italiano”, “Volare”) with a stellar line-up of jazz musicians: Steve Searle, Tony Celiberti, Manoli Vouyoucalos, Francisco Munoz, Asia Bisi and Alessandra Nigro.

Buona Sera Signorina is also a show that talks about Italian culture and Italian customs. For example, I have created an “Italian hand-gesture guide” and during the show I use it to prove that it is possible to have a full conversation with an Italian, without saying a word, just by using hand gestures. There will also be a dance moment and much, much more.

GM: What inspired you to make/perform Buona Sera Signorina? What is the story behind it?

ED: Buona Sera Signorina is a show that connects all my big passions: Italian music, jazz and stand-up comedy.

The idea came about during the Covid pandemic, when I was feeling really nostalgic about Italy and I could not go back to visit my family and friends. I haven’t seen them for the past three years. So, I started listening to the music that my mum would sing to me as a child again, and suddenly it all came together as a show. I suppose that as an expat the call to talk about my roots became very strong and Buona Sera Signorina is the final product showing my love for Italy.

GM: Take us behind the scenes of your show – what happens during the rehearsal/creative process?

ED: I do love the behind the scenes of my shows. I am really lucky to work with some incredibly talented musicians, who are from all around the world and are amazing souls to work with. During rehearsals the atmosphere is always very relaxed and friendly! I love to exchange facts about our different cultures with my musos. For example, with my Greek double-bass player Manoli, we have discovered that Italians and Greeks use completely different hand and head gestures to answer the same question! It is also very fun to see that they now all embrace Italian slang to communicate amongst them — “Mamma Mia” is the most popular!

GM: What do you hope audiences will take away from Buona Sera Signorina?

ED: I am sure the audience will enjoy this show as they will be very much a part of it! In this show they are allowed to dance, sing along, and be “loud”.

Italians will identify with most of the stories and jokes I tell. Non-Italians will probably remember that time when they went on an Italian holiday and something bizarre happened!

But, most importantly, this is a show that talks about a different country and a different culture. It is a call to embrace multiculturalism in all its aspects. It is a celebration of Italian heritage but also a tribute to all the Italians who came here many years ago and worked very hard to establish themselves so that today we can all be proud of being Italian! It is also an invitation to celebrate the presence of expats in Australia (not only Italians), as their cultural diversity enriches our country.  

Buona Sera Signorina is at The Courtyard at State Theatre Centre, 3-4 February 2023

Pictured top: Etta D’Elia loves working with the ‘incredibly talented musicians’ in the Etta D’Elia Jazz Quintet. Photo supplied

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