GIULIO RISI - radio vinilemania web-radio Latin - Jazz

PIANIST, COMPOSER

My music is devoted to the hybrid. Since the birth of my first Cd " PartidoAlto" my “hybrid music” appeared crystal clear. My last Cd "Deep down where the heart beats no more" is the point of arrival, the result of years of research. The peremptory declaration that there is not such a thing as a music style , there’s a thing called music.

My approach to music began in 1987. After years of listening, absolutely inspired and delighted, to the rock/ blues music of Jimi Hendrix, Jerry Lee Lewis, Eric Clapton, also the Italian artists Vasco Rossi and Edoardo Bennato.

I played rock music for a long time, reproducing all the famous Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard piano rolls, then I was captured by the Hammond on the edge of distortion that John Lord played with Deep Purple and spent hours to re-create , by using distorted synth lead sounds, the guitars of Clapton, Steve Vai, Gary Moore and so forth. Years after, in search of a wider language, I abandoned (but only for the moment) rock music to approach Funk, Latin and Jazz instead.

After piano grade 8, I withdrew from classical studies (continuing to study it in my "free moments") to devote myself completely to Jazz Music (also considering it as an expanding of my rock language). I listened and played all I could: Charlie Parker, the Yellow Jackets, Miles Davis, the "GRP” bands, Oscar Peterson, the "Motown” artists and the big inspirers: Bill Evans, Bud Powell, Chick Corea, Michel Camilo.

In the period of 1992 the idea was growing within me, to leave my city, Salerno. I wanted to enrich my cultural and musical palette. But I needed sharpen my skills, first.

Therefore, in 1993, I decided to enroll myself in the "Jazz music high perfecting course" at “Musicians United” in Naples. At the end of the aforementioned course, I abandoned all the musical plans in Italy for a new objective: London

London and Rome are the cities where I currently live.

In the English capital I have had the opportunity to work with artists from various backgrounds (promoting many different kinds of music), I have played Rhythm & Blues, Funk, World Music, Latin, African, and a lot of Pop, Rock and Jazz.

I enriched my music knowledge, learning so much from all the professional musicians I played with during my live and studio performances, all this was then filtered through to my very personal musical language and conception.

In England I also have had the opportunity to continue my studies. In 1998 I attended a course in "Jazz music Composing and Arranging" at the Westiminster College, then a course in “Music Productions and Studio techniques” at the City& Islington college in the 2000 and joined the selections, succeeding to be admitted to one of the 10 available places for the Master Degree in Composition/ Orchestra conducting (Specializing in Soundtracks), held at the Westminster College in London by ex-Berklee teacher M° Amit Sen. There I studied for 18 months a variety of Classical (From Gregorian chants to Post- Shoenberg) and modern scores (either films soundtracks or - so-called- "Serious" music). I also perfected my skills in Arranging /Conducting and learned techniques to synchronize music cues to the moving image

After completing the course, i begun to work with a few directors and TV producers.

Meanwhile my position as Bandleader had began. With my first Cd " Partido Alto" (1999) I reached the semi-finals at the "Best young jazz musician of the year”, at the " 606" Jazz Club (London), in March 1999.

Since then I have presented with humility and passion my music in many Jazz Clubs (among which the 606 Club in London, "Le Traversier" Club in Brussels , the " 7 Lizards" in Paris) and theaters (among which The Royal National Theatre where I gig regularly).

As Pianist/ Keyboardist in other artist’s bands, i played in France with (Ricardo Guerrero, 2003), Spain (Band "Freespirit," 2000) and in the Middle East with Richard Sampson (1999) in an All Star Band with, on bass guitar, Tony Jones, a great bass player from Philadelphia who at the time (and during the ten years before) toured and recorded for the marvelous Nina Simone.

Among others, I have also played Jazz with Jane Parker, Alice Cousin, Jenny Howe, The Val Kelly Quartet; Rock with Raincheck (studio), David Steele (English tour), the band “Vademecum” from Los Angeles (Studio), Pop with Richard Sampson (Polygram), Tabù, and many others artists and genres that have helped my musical skills to grow and have made an immeasurable contribution to the formation of my versatility as musician and, above all, as a man.

My musical activity at the moment involves the promotion of the music I have produced as a Band leader, the composing of Soundtracks and Jingles produced in my recording studio, the activity of Pianist/ Keyboardist in live tours / studios and that of producer, plus (when I have a little time…) Piano teacher as well.

VIDEOS

GIULIO RISI - FLAMENCO

GIULIO RISI - ...KEYBOARD OR ...GUITAR?

GIULIO RISI - JAZZ TRIO 2006

GIULIO RISI - DEEP DOWN WHERE THE HEART BEATS NO MORE (2006)

Giulio Risi - ac.piano, keyboards,Hammond organ,FenderRhodes, Vocoder, Samples
Koby Israelite, Nick Marangoni, Asafs Sirkis - Drums
Nick Haward - Double Bass
Henry Thomas - Electric Bass
Henry Thomas, Silvio Galasso - Fretless Bass
Gael Bilger, Kevin Briggs, Antonio Onorato, Rocco Zifarelli - ac. Guitar
Antonio Onorato, Nico Sabatini - electric guitar
Andreas Borg - Flamenco guitar, Cajon & Palmas
Cousin Alice - Ukulele
Gilad Azmon - Tenor, Alto & Soprano Saxes
Nathan Mansfield - Trumpet
Roberto Casaburi - Violin & Viola
Pierluigi Marotta - Cello
B.Atwell - Rap Voice