The brass band from Florence, Funk Off, always wows the crowds at Umbria Jazz in Perugia in July. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the gemellaggio (literally, “twinning”) – or sister city tie – of San Francisco and Assisi at the end of June, Assisi invited Funk Off to kick off the celebration:
Few people had noted the poster announcing the event……..
……… so only a handful of “locals” gathered in Assisi’s main square, Piazza del Comune in the morning. Visitors who happened in the piazza just by chance, enjoyed nabbing photos with the group:
What a surprise for me to see Clare there, part of the San Francisco delegation! A young woman I’ve known for years….ever since she was in a cooking class I had taught in San Francisco.
Other members of the San Francisco delegation enjoyed the Funk Off welcome in front of Assisi’s medieval city hall:
….and then Funk Off headed towards the Basilica of St. Clare, their music drawing the shopkeepers into the street to enjoy the music and applaud.
In the afternoon, Funk Off started playing at Porta Nuova (“the New Gate,” ie., mid-14th c.!) and trumpeted their way to the Basilica di Santa Chiara:
Fans of all ages caught the beat:
Mille grazie, Funk Off, for helping us celebrate the Assisi/San Francisco ties with a bit of rockin’ out:
No better way to “twin up.”
Read about – and see! – Funk Off in Perugia at the Umbria Jazz festival
Read about another memorable Umbria Jazz group, performing in Perugia
See Funk Off performing in Orvieto at Umbria Jazz Winter
Funk Off is our favorite band. We purchased both their CDs to share with our friends in America. We came to see both performances in Assisi and again in Perugia. They are great!
This band should not be missed. Great music, great performers. Thank you for telling us about this group, Anne. You are the best and have made our stay in Assisi incredible. Thank you!