Alessio Menconi

guitar

In 1992, he won the "Best Soloist" award at the “Gran Prix du Jazz" (Aosta, Italy). In 1993 (at 23 years of age), he participated in the "Eddie Lang Festival" contest in Monteroduni (the most important competition for guitarists in Italy), winning the first prize as best Italian jazz guitarist. He has toured Europe, Asia and America and played in over 40 albums with countless musicians. In 1995, Paolo Conte called him to play in several world tours; this association lasted until 2004 and also resulted in four cds. From 1998 to 2003, he played with Billy Cobham's bands in different acoustic and electric contexts. Among his collaborations: Paolo Conte, Billy Cobham, Marcio Montarroyos, Danny Gottlieb, Gary Husband, Enrico Rava, Bob Mover, Daniel Humair, Flavio Boltro, Adrienne West, Dado Moroni, Tullio De Piscopo, Franco Cerri, Albert "Tootie" Heath, Red Holloway, Plas Johnson, Franco Ambrosetti, Rosario Giuliani, Carl Anderson, Paolo Fresu. He has played in several festivals and venues: London Royal Festival Hall, Sao Paulo SESC, Kolkata Jazz and Beyond, New York Beacon Theatre, Nice Jazz Fest., Rio de Janeiro Centro Justica Federal, San Francisco Jazz Fest., Den Hag, Los Angeles Ucla, Bruxelles Jazz Fest, Umbria Jazz, Paris JVC, etc. In May 2000, he was selected to play with ONJ (Orchestre National du Jazz). In 2003, he was the only Italian guitarist participating in the cd Voodoo crossing: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix, also featuring Robben Ford, Steve Lukather, Hiram Bullock, Larry Corryell and many others. Lately, he has done a tour in India and one in Brazil with his trio. He has participated in several TV shows and has been involved in film music. Today, he plays in different own lineups of jazz, latin jazz and jazz rock, with acoustic and electrics guitars, and is jazz guitar teacher at the conservatories of Genoa and Cuneo.

Stefano Bagnoli

drums

www.myspace.com/stefanobagnoli   

Very well-known in Italy as one of the jazz classic drumming exponent, Stefano Bagnoli shifts from swing to avangarde jazz-style and he is a real specialist in the use of brushes. Since 1978 he has been carrying out a remarkable musical activity together with some of leading italian and foreign jazzmen. Stefano Bagnoli achieved a considerable instrumental skill, that makes him indispensabile whenever instrumental reliability and jazz-feeling are required. Among his international collaborations are those with Clark Terry, Cedar Walton, Benny Golson, Johnny Griffin, Bob Wilber, Kenny Davern, Lee Konitz, Slide Hampton, Carl Fontana, Al Grey, Benny Bailey, Harry Sweet Edison, Curtis Fuller, Jimmy Woode, Sam Most, Dado Moroni, Sir Roland Hanna, Don Friedman, John Stowell, Red Holloway, Jimmy Withespoon, Mike Melillo, Irio De Paula, Chico Buarque, Jesse Davis, Grey Sargent, Mark Elf, Rebecca Parris, Shawn Monteiro, Lean Skeat, Lilian Bouttè, Jasper Thilo, Buster Cooper, Gene Conners, Glen Zottola, Adrienne West, Gorge Robert, Chucho Valdes, Bob Mintzer and many others.

Riccardo Fioravanti

double bass

Born in Milan in 1957, his career develops along two main lines: the great adaptability and high professional skills lead him to work with artists from the jazz scene such as Gaslini, Cerri, Basso, Sellani, Intra, D’Andrea, Rusca, T.Scott,  and many others, while also following many projects concerning pop music. In the ‘80s, he joins the Rhythmic Orchestra of RAI and plays both in recordings and concerts with a great number of artists: Ennio Morricone, Mia Martini, Fabio Concato, Ornella Vanoni, ecc… The year 2000 is his turning point: from this moment onwards, Fioravanti devotes himself to Jazz, and starts working in recordings and concerts with Franco Ambrosetti, Enrico Rava, Paolo Fresu , Pietro Tonolo, B. Mintzer, P. Woods, L. Konitz, C. Terry, T. Thielemans, B. Kessell, R. Cuber, B. Moover, R. Margitza, J. Owens. He takes part in concerts by Ray Charles, Chico Buarque De Hollanda, Stevie Wonder, Amii Stewart, Nick The Nightfly, and many others. His precise sound and his great interpretational skills have made him, in time, a valid partner – both in seminars and performances – for drum-players such as Alfredo Golino, Billy Cobham, Paul Wertico, Danny Gottlieb, Christian Meyer, Tullio De Piscopo, Ellade Bandini, and many, many others…