::: OFFICIAL BIOGRAPHY :::

Biography :


Alessio Menconi was born in Genoa - Italy. He approached guitar when he was 10 as self-taught. Cosidered a prodigy, he start in 1986 is professional career with best italian musicians. In 1992 he won the award as "Best Soloist" in Gran Prix du Jazz" (Aosta-Italy). In 1993 (23 years old) he participated, in Monteroduni-Italy in "Eddie Lang festival"contest (the most important competitions for guitarists in Italy), winning the first prize as best italian jazz guitarist. He play in tour in Europe, Asia, north and south America and recorded in over 40 cds with several musicians. In 1995 Paolo Conte call him for play in several world tour until 2004 and he recorded four cds.Billy Cobham wanted him since 1998 to 2003 to play with him in several concerts..In the same year, he have been selected in Paris to play with "ONJ" (orchestre national du jazz) In 2003, He partecipated as only italian to the cd "Voodoo crossing-a tribute to Jimi Hendrix" with Robben Ford, Steve Lukather, Hiram Bullock ,Larry Coryell and many others. Lately is leaded of his own trio and of his solo project with whom jus made cds, and he is the jazz guitar teacher in the conservatory of music in Cuneo and Genoa. Lately he made tours in Italian embassys in India, Ecuador, Brazil, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador and others and in 2009 he receives the career award from "Jazz lighthouse". Actually is one of much important and wanted guitar player in Italy and Europe.

Here are some of most important festivals he participated. He played in:

Italy, Switzerland, France, Brazil, Ecuador, Uk, Spain, Usa, Austria, Guatemala, Belgium, Luxemburg, Holland, Poland, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Greece, Macedonia, India, Germany and Canada.

Kolkata "jazz-blues and beyond" "04, Sao Paulo “sesc”’06, Quito “jazz festival” ‘07, Ascona "New Orleans & classics" '04 & '05, Samois sur Seine "Django festival" '01,Umbria jazz '01, Guatemala City '08, Rio de Janeiro “centro justica federal” ‘06, , London Royal Festival Hall '96 e'99, San Francisco jazz festival '01, Den Hag '98, Skopje blues festival '03, Paris "New morning-JVC jazz fest" '03, Nice Jazz Festival '98, Athens Festival '98, Bruxelles jazz fest. '01 e '03, Montreal '01, Bolzano "jazz and others"'04,Verona jazz '02, Calvi '94 , Parigi "Olimpya" '95 e '98, Berlino '96, Seville '97, Pistoia Blues '93, Monteroduni "Eddie Lang jazz festival" '93 & 95, Montreaux '88 and many others...

Some musicians he have been playing with:

Paolo Conte, Billy Cobham, Adrienne West, Anna Oxa, Marcio Montarroyos, Danny Gottlieb, Enrico Rava, Tullio De Piscopo, Daniel Humair, Bansigu Big Band, Peter Washington , Albert "Tootie" Heath, Red Holloway, Franco Cerri, Gary Husband, Dado Moroni, Bob Mover, Flavio Boltro, Paolo Fresu, Carl Anderson, Cheryl Porter, Bobby Durham, Franco Ambrosetti, Plas Johnson, Antonio Faraò, Maurizio Gianmarco, Gary Bartz and many others...


Some press quotes :

“Alessio Menconi plays and writes with intelligence and grace. His music is both strong and gentle, deliberate and yet full of surprises. Listen! - Steve Swallow

"Guitar player with long experience in jazz and beyond, confident improviser endowed with great technical mastery"
- Musica Jazz 2001 -

 "Alessio Menconi, one of the best guitarists in Italy, involved with the cream of national and international jazz (and not only) over the years, plays regularly with some of the best musicians" - Chitarre 2005 -

"Alessio Menconi, internationally well-known guitar player whose talent was recognised by great jazz masters
who wanted him to play with them" - Il quotidiano di Reggio 2006 -

"He started by playing jazz, now he teaches, he’s a session man, and can boast many international experiences - Genoese guitar player Alessio Menconi, at only 25 years of age, is more than promising"
- Chitarre 1995 -