A Tribute to The White Album – Blackbird – Jaffa Jazz Festival 2026 (16:00)

The White Album is the popular and well-known name for the ninth and double studio album by the British rock band the Beatles, officially titled simply The Beatles. The album was released in 1968 and is known for its completely white cover, free of any graphics or text except for the band's name embossed on it. This minimalist design was chosen as a complete contrast to the psychedelic, busy covers of their previous albums. The album is considered one of the band's creative peaks, but it also marked the beginning of their breakup. Most of the songs were written during the band's stay in Rishikesh, India, in early 1968, but the recording sessions at Abbey Road Studios were accompanied by intense tension and arguments, stemming mainly from each member's desire to launch a solo career. The album is characterized by an enormous range of styles, spanning classic rock, acoustic ballads, blues, folk, avant-garde, and even early heavy metal. Among the album's 30 tracks are classics such as: While My Guitar Gently Weeps (written by George Harrison, featuring Eric Clapton on guitar), Blackbird (Paul McCartney's famous acoustic ballad), Back in the U.S.S.R., Honey Pie, Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, and Helter Skelter (considered one of the first punk/metal songs), Dear Prudence, and Revolution 1. The Italian saxophonist Rino Cirinnà, born in New York, is a third-generation member of a family of musicians. He studied clarinet at the conservatories of Catania and Rome. In 1984 he won a competition for soprano saxophone players in Rome's prestigious national Carabinieri orchestra. He studied under Ibrahima Camara. He appeared on several RAI television programs and performed with some of Italy's most famous singers. In 1989 he moved to the United States, where he lived for ten years, studying at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and with Jerry Bergonzi and Charlie Banacos. Upon returning to Italy, in addition to his personal projects, he collaborated with the Mediterranean Jazz Orchestra conducted by George Gruntz, Maria Schneider, Bob Mintzer, Maurizio Giammarco, and Paolo Silvestri. Rino has performed on tours in the United States and Canada, and at various jazz festivals in France, Portugal, Brazil, Israel, Malta, Slovenia, and Austria. In recent years he has embarked on an intensive production career, founding Archimede Records and collaborating with Anaglyphos Records and the Mhodi Music Company. He has taken conducting courses with Thomas Briccetti. He was a member of the teaching staff at the Brookline Music School and Somerville High School, and is an honorary citizen of the city of Little Rock, Arkansas. Featuring: Rino Cirinnà (Italy) – saxophone, arrangements and musical direction; Kasperi Sariloski (Finland) – trombone; Gil Zohar – piano; Alex Barshadsky – bass; Yogev Shitrit – drums. Rino Cirinnà's participation in the International Jaffa Jazz Festival is made possible by the support of the Italian Institute of Culture in Tel Aviv.