MARCO MARCONI - Exploring New Roads
Italian pianist Marco Marconi has been making quite a name for himself since relocating from his home country to the UK back in 2012. A classically trained jazz pianist his move to London to pursue his musical career, and finding himself drawn to the piano trio as a natural place for his burgeoning compositional and improvisational skills, has seen him to develop in a musician who is able to embrace the tradition of the music he loves, and with his own playing contribute to its continued development.
With two well received trio albums released on 33Jazz, Marconi is poised to release his third recording for the imprint, New Roads, with an album launch at the 606 Club on 3rd October and for this recording and tour bringing an additional voice to the trio in tenor saxophonist, Max Ionata.
"New Roads is for me a huge achievement", says Marco. "Why? For many reasons. I am digging into jazz every single day and I think I will do this for the rest of my life, and in doing so exploring, practicing and listening to other amazing musicians I am constantly increasing my knowledge. More importantly, this means that my brain gets sparked by new information every day. If I look back I see how much difference there is between New Roads and Trialogue which was recorded two years ago and Nordik recorded 5 years ago. The compositions are different in mood, structure, and in arrangement and my own style is evolving all the time."
That the pianist is deeply committed to his craft is clearly evident, and his enthusiasm for what he does deeply infectious. In conversation, as in his playing, he is passionate when discussing the music he loves. "I really do like every single type of jazz", he continues. "I love swing, I love Latin, I love lyricism. When I perform a ballad I love to compose classical melodies harmonized with jazz harmony, sometimes quite sophisticated. About a year ago when with my producer Paul Jolly I got the decision to record a new album I started to compose new material and at that time I was so much committed and focused on unison parts and I composed Mandala as first tune of New Roads. Once completed and rehearsed I knew how this album was going to sound like."
With two well received trio albums released on 33Jazz, Marconi is poised to release his third recording for the imprint, New Roads, with an album launch at the 606 Club on 3rd October and for this recording and tour bringing an additional voice to the trio in tenor saxophonist, Max Ionata.
"New Roads is for me a huge achievement", says Marco. "Why? For many reasons. I am digging into jazz every single day and I think I will do this for the rest of my life, and in doing so exploring, practicing and listening to other amazing musicians I am constantly increasing my knowledge. More importantly, this means that my brain gets sparked by new information every day. If I look back I see how much difference there is between New Roads and Trialogue which was recorded two years ago and Nordik recorded 5 years ago. The compositions are different in mood, structure, and in arrangement and my own style is evolving all the time."
That the pianist is deeply committed to his craft is clearly evident, and his enthusiasm for what he does deeply infectious. In conversation, as in his playing, he is passionate when discussing the music he loves. "I really do like every single type of jazz", he continues. "I love swing, I love Latin, I love lyricism. When I perform a ballad I love to compose classical melodies harmonized with jazz harmony, sometimes quite sophisticated. About a year ago when with my producer Paul Jolly I got the decision to record a new album I started to compose new material and at that time I was so much committed and focused on unison parts and I composed Mandala as first tune of New Roads. Once completed and rehearsed I knew how this album was going to sound like."
The earlier trio albums by Marconi are beautifully balanced in his carefully chosen programmes that intersperse jazz standards and his own compositions, which gives the listener a true sense of where he comes from musically and also where he is heading. Again, Marco says that "New Roads is again a mix of original compositions and jazz standards rearranged by me, but the motive of the whole album is unison parts. The idea to record an album which includes only originals is always in my head and sooner or later is gonna happen but so far I have always found the solution of a mixture between originals and standards really great, it works perfectly both for me and the audience. I love to define my style as a Mosaico, full of colours and variety because that is what I am and my compositions reflects undoubtedly my style so I am so happy the repertoire I have decided and I wish it’s going to be very much appreciated worldwide. I am a pleased with the result and for this I have to thank a million Tom Emiliano and Max Ionata who committed themselves so much to the music,and practiced their own parts at home so seriously."
When approaching any new release, it is always interesting to revisit previous albums and when listening to Trialogue again, there is obviously a very special connection between the trio, so I ask Marco how he feels that the music of the music of the group has changed in the two years between recordings? "This is such an interesting question!" he exclaims. "It’s hugely important for me to create a unique trio sound very recognizable by listeners and we are constantly work on that during rehearsals therefore to be honest I don’t think the music has changed so much but it’s certainly improved in quality and attention to details."
Considering his reply, the pianist elaborates further. "Jazz is improvisation of course and when you launch your solo you don’t know which direction you’re gonna take and that’s why I am addicted to jazz because for me Jazz is a wonderful Safari; ‘the more you drive the more you see’! But in the mean time my original compositions are full of arranged sections and important details to respect as well as dynamics and/or articulations and so if you are aiming to achieve a very high level you need to polish every single detail and this is possible only playing together with the same formation and rehearsing frequently. I am very ambitious and believe in my musicians so much so I would like to make an impact with this formation and with my music that’s why New Roads is complex, groovy and relaxing in the mean time, depending on which track you are listening to.
Every time you record an album you think it’s the best of your life or career so far and that was exactly what I thought when I recorded Nordik and Trialogue but New Roads is something more for me. I have a huge expectation from this album not only because I deeply believe in every single track in it but also because it’s featuring one of the most important and well known sax players in the international jazz scene. I am talking about Max Ionata. An Italian like me and our drummer, and a superb jazz musician and human being.
When approaching any new release, it is always interesting to revisit previous albums and when listening to Trialogue again, there is obviously a very special connection between the trio, so I ask Marco how he feels that the music of the music of the group has changed in the two years between recordings? "This is such an interesting question!" he exclaims. "It’s hugely important for me to create a unique trio sound very recognizable by listeners and we are constantly work on that during rehearsals therefore to be honest I don’t think the music has changed so much but it’s certainly improved in quality and attention to details."
Considering his reply, the pianist elaborates further. "Jazz is improvisation of course and when you launch your solo you don’t know which direction you’re gonna take and that’s why I am addicted to jazz because for me Jazz is a wonderful Safari; ‘the more you drive the more you see’! But in the mean time my original compositions are full of arranged sections and important details to respect as well as dynamics and/or articulations and so if you are aiming to achieve a very high level you need to polish every single detail and this is possible only playing together with the same formation and rehearsing frequently. I am very ambitious and believe in my musicians so much so I would like to make an impact with this formation and with my music that’s why New Roads is complex, groovy and relaxing in the mean time, depending on which track you are listening to.
Every time you record an album you think it’s the best of your life or career so far and that was exactly what I thought when I recorded Nordik and Trialogue but New Roads is something more for me. I have a huge expectation from this album not only because I deeply believe in every single track in it but also because it’s featuring one of the most important and well known sax players in the international jazz scene. I am talking about Max Ionata. An Italian like me and our drummer, and a superb jazz musician and human being.
Marconi's respect for Max Ionata, both as a person and a musician, is unmistakably apparent in the way he talks about the saxophonist, but it was still a bit of a gamble I suggest to bring another voice to an already established group. "I just want to say that Max had a massive contribution to the album, which was terrifically appreciated by the crowd at The Bear Club in Luton last June during the live recording. His sound is awesome and he kept me smiling during the whole performance. Because as I briefly explained above he is superb and I decided to contact him because I fell in love with his sound and his improvisation style.
I would have contacted someone else as here in UK there are lots of incredible musicians, but Max has got something more for me. His style is so warm and very groovy when groove is required. He reminds me Dexter Gordon and Sonny Rollins two big stars that I have always admired and listens since when I was teenager and so this is the simple reason why Max features on New Roads" says Marco, also admitting that , "Actually there is another reason as well... I am aiming to tour both Italy and Japan in 2020 and Max is incredibly well known in both countries so with him on board should be slightly easier to get tour there and take the music on New Roads abroad."
Marco's decision seems to have been a sound one indeed, as he is quick to point out. "As soon as we started to record the new album I felt my Trio was making a different sound. I convened this trio in 2012 and until last June we performed always as a Trio. I have never had the idea to add an instrumentalist or vocalist for important events or clubs or festival because my music, my tunes, need interplay on stage. It’s not enough to be an exceptional talent, in my view the musicians have to be 100% involved and immersed in the music. For me my Trio is like an Orchestra and on stage I want to relax and focus on the music which you can achieve only if every single person knows perfectly what to do and what happens next. Max gave me sureness and strength like no one else and he hasn’t changed the dynamic, but with his contribution and his sound he has changed ourselves. You could breathe happiness, satisfaction and a ferocious groove on all the swing tunes like it never happened before and this made a huge difference.
Just let me tell you this... at the end of the concert that I was obviously exhausted because I always give 100%, and during a live recording pressure is incredibly high, but believe me despite that I was so tired when I announced the last number time had passed so quickly that I was feeling that the concert had only started fifteen minutes before, seriously! Just to let you understand that he joined my Trio bringing himself as a big news both for me and my musicians and so we knew that every number would have been a surprise first for us and consequently for the crowd. Max is a great one indeed!"
I would have contacted someone else as here in UK there are lots of incredible musicians, but Max has got something more for me. His style is so warm and very groovy when groove is required. He reminds me Dexter Gordon and Sonny Rollins two big stars that I have always admired and listens since when I was teenager and so this is the simple reason why Max features on New Roads" says Marco, also admitting that , "Actually there is another reason as well... I am aiming to tour both Italy and Japan in 2020 and Max is incredibly well known in both countries so with him on board should be slightly easier to get tour there and take the music on New Roads abroad."
Marco's decision seems to have been a sound one indeed, as he is quick to point out. "As soon as we started to record the new album I felt my Trio was making a different sound. I convened this trio in 2012 and until last June we performed always as a Trio. I have never had the idea to add an instrumentalist or vocalist for important events or clubs or festival because my music, my tunes, need interplay on stage. It’s not enough to be an exceptional talent, in my view the musicians have to be 100% involved and immersed in the music. For me my Trio is like an Orchestra and on stage I want to relax and focus on the music which you can achieve only if every single person knows perfectly what to do and what happens next. Max gave me sureness and strength like no one else and he hasn’t changed the dynamic, but with his contribution and his sound he has changed ourselves. You could breathe happiness, satisfaction and a ferocious groove on all the swing tunes like it never happened before and this made a huge difference.
Just let me tell you this... at the end of the concert that I was obviously exhausted because I always give 100%, and during a live recording pressure is incredibly high, but believe me despite that I was so tired when I announced the last number time had passed so quickly that I was feeling that the concert had only started fifteen minutes before, seriously! Just to let you understand that he joined my Trio bringing himself as a big news both for me and my musicians and so we knew that every number would have been a surprise first for us and consequently for the crowd. Max is a great one indeed!"
The pianist's enthusiasm for his new album and quartet is infectious, and this feeling is sure to be communicated to the audiences as Marco prepares to tour the music with some UK dates throughout October, and a launch gig at the 606 Club on the 3rd October. "I am literally thrilled to launch New Roads at 606 Club which I really love because the atmosphere in there whether you perform or you watch other musicians is awesome, says Marco. "Steve Rubie,the owner, is such a nice guy including his staff and every time I perform at the 606 the audience is so attentive. Max performed at the club last year and he told me he really liked it, so I will be very happy to bring my Trio, Max and my brand new music to the 606 for a really crowded launch!"
As well as dates promoting New Roads, the pianist will again be out on the road again early 2020, this time in the company of the American bassist, Mark Wade, who will be crossing the pond to play some dates in the UK. "Mark is a phenomenal jazzer and a very nice man and a good friend, expalins Marco. "How did I meet him? He was introduced to me by Anthea Redmond, an English lady who lives in the USA who supported me massively since a few years back. She is running ‘Jazzigator’ through which she promotes latest news, gigs, festivals, albums, and artists. I met her on Twitter and she immediately became a massive supporter of mine, promoting literally everything I do and she also interviewed me on Jazzbites Radio quite a few times. We are now such a good friends and I believe so much in our genuine friendship because she is just amazing.
A little while back Mark was heading to Europe for a tour but he could not fly to with his own trio so he was looking for a pianist and a drummer and so Anthea told him: 'Why you don’t you tour with Marco Marconi?', luckily he agreed and Anthea informed me about him and his tour and so she has been the connecting bridge between us. I really enjoyed the week in Belgium and Paris with him and Emiliano my drummer, and we established a very good friendship and mutual respect, and on stage it’s such an honor to play with him.
I also like to thank people in the same way that they treat me, so this time I invited Mark to the UK arranging a week full of music. We will lead together a three day masterclass at Benslow Music Centre in Hitchin and the following day we will perform at The Bear Club, Luton and 606 again. Mark can’t wait to come here and I can’t wait to see him again and spend a whole week with him teaching and performing."
As well as dates promoting New Roads, the pianist will again be out on the road again early 2020, this time in the company of the American bassist, Mark Wade, who will be crossing the pond to play some dates in the UK. "Mark is a phenomenal jazzer and a very nice man and a good friend, expalins Marco. "How did I meet him? He was introduced to me by Anthea Redmond, an English lady who lives in the USA who supported me massively since a few years back. She is running ‘Jazzigator’ through which she promotes latest news, gigs, festivals, albums, and artists. I met her on Twitter and she immediately became a massive supporter of mine, promoting literally everything I do and she also interviewed me on Jazzbites Radio quite a few times. We are now such a good friends and I believe so much in our genuine friendship because she is just amazing.
A little while back Mark was heading to Europe for a tour but he could not fly to with his own trio so he was looking for a pianist and a drummer and so Anthea told him: 'Why you don’t you tour with Marco Marconi?', luckily he agreed and Anthea informed me about him and his tour and so she has been the connecting bridge between us. I really enjoyed the week in Belgium and Paris with him and Emiliano my drummer, and we established a very good friendship and mutual respect, and on stage it’s such an honor to play with him.
I also like to thank people in the same way that they treat me, so this time I invited Mark to the UK arranging a week full of music. We will lead together a three day masterclass at Benslow Music Centre in Hitchin and the following day we will perform at The Bear Club, Luton and 606 again. Mark can’t wait to come here and I can’t wait to see him again and spend a whole week with him teaching and performing."
For reviews of New Roads & Trialogue click on the album covers
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For more information about Marco visit marcomarconitrio.com & marcomarconi.com
