
Salento, the heel of the Italian boot, is the wellspring of a deep musical tradition that has in recent times been enjoying a spirited revival. Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino are a major force in this revitalization and since fiddler Mauro Durante took over the leadership from his famous father Daniele in 2007 the excellent ensemble have brought the ancient ritual trance dance of Pizzica Tarantata and traditional songs with roots in the Griko language a form of Greek spoken by a minority in Salento - to the enthusiastic attention of a new Italian generation and beyond. Bristling with bagpipes, bouzouki, accordion, palpitating percussion, fiery fiddling, the impassioned singing of Maria Mazotta and the lightning steps of dancer Silvia Perrone, CGS have been entrancing audiences from the USA and Canada to Europe and the Middle East.