Zighi Baci

Sheri Mignano’s Zighi Baci (pronounced “ziggy-botch-eee”) band likes to play dance music in the Italian “Ballo Liscio” style: waltzes, mazurkas, polkas, rumbas, tangos, tarantellas, paso dobles, jotas, and marches. You’ll hear most of them starting at 10:20 am, Saturday August 27th.

A hundred years ago, Italian dance hall music saturated popular culture with the Viennese school influence; it later fused with Latin rhythms and Italian melodies to create a broader appeal. By the mid-1950’s, the next generation of Italian-American composers were introducing these dance genres to San Francisco Bay Area audiences in cafes and nightclubs. Zighi Baci performs Italian standards and music written by Bay Area composers such as Frank & Lawrence Andrini, Peter Tarzia, Rudy Cipolla, Gino Pellegrini, Mike Corino, and other Italian immigrants.

2004 marked the debut of Zighi Baci  at the Cotati Accordion Festival and we’re pleased to present them again. Their performance is dedicated to Sheri Mignano’s grandfather, Francesco Mignano who played the button box, and to Mike Corino, composer, accordion virtuoso and teacher.

Petosa Accordion: 

Sheri Mignano, bandleader-Zighi Baci and “Mattinata di Matteo” bands. also plays flute on the Hot Frittatas’ new CD “Invitation to the Dance.”

Ron Borelli, accordionist,: has performed in a variety of musical settings including The San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Opera, 1999 Three Tenors Concert, Santa Rosa Symphony, Diablo Ballet, Robin Williams, Frances Ford Coppola, and Those Darn Accordions.

Two mandolin players will also be included in the ensemble.