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Several Drycastle Records Artists' tracks
are featured on the
"Fuse
This Jazz" program
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Fabrizio Festa - The Vast Conspiracy of Birds
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Electronic experimental world fusion
FABRIZIO FESTA - composer, conductor, keyboardist
Fabrizio Festa (1960) began his piano musical studies in classical
repertoire. He studied at the Conservatorio "G.B. Martini" in Bologna
as a composer and in the class of jazz orchestra arrangement. Very
early he devoted his attention to jazz, studying piano, composition and
arrangement with some of the best Italian jazz player (as Enrico
Pieranunzi, Franco D'Andrea, Giancarlo Gazzani) and with the pianist
and composer Mal Waldron. With his jazz-fusion band, Festagroup,
founded with the bass player and composer Maurizio "Bozorius" Bozzi,
Fabrizio Festa toured in Italy and in Europe, and the band has been
invited twice to the International Jazz Festival of Montreux.
In 2000 the band made is debut in USA with a great success. Festagroup
recorded two LPs and two CDs (the newest is " Vinyl" 2005,Drycastle
records, available from this website).
Moreover, jazz guitar player and composer Al Di Meola invited him to
orchestrate and conduct (leading Toronto Symphony Orchestra) for his
recording "The Grande Passion". Telarc released the CD in October 2000.
Since 1989 Fabrizio Festa devotes his musical work mostly to
composition (chamber and symphonic music, ballet, opera, radiodrama),
although he composed and composes for cinema, TV movies and for theatre
shows, and in 1996 he played again piano in a his new jazz band. In
1998 he made his debut as conductor.
His works (both chamber and symphonic) has been performed in Italy, USA
(New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, Cheyenne,
etc.), in Europe (England, Germany, Russia, Holland, French, Swedish,
Denmark, etc), Middle and Far East (China, Lebanon, Turkey, Azerbaijan)
and Latin America (Argentina, Brasil, Peru, Mexico, etc). Some of the
most important Italian theatres (i.e., Teatro dell'Opera - Roma, Teatro
Massimo - Palermo, Teatro Comunale - Bologna, Teatro Valli - Reggio
Emilia) commissioned him symphonic music, ballet music and opera. Main
most recent and relevant works are the following:
in 2000, "Enjoy", strings quartet commissioned by Brodsky Quartet in
order to Beethoven Opus 18 International Project. "Sandaliotim", for
narrator, jazz quartet and orchestra (text by Fabrizio Festa),
commissioned by Ente Musicale di Nuoro for celebrating millennium in
Sardinia. "Tanit" for two narrators, electric guitar and keyboards
produced by Sagra Malatestiana (Rimini, Italy).
In 2001, Festa works have debuted also in China (Beijing) and Iran.
Moreover, new pieces have been performed in Turkey, Greece and Russia.
Fabrizio Festa has been invited to take part to 2001 edition of the
Focus Festival at Juilliard School of Music (NYC), in which has been
the USA debut of his first string quartet, titled "Sleepless traveler".
He has been also invited by the Brooklyn College of Music to take part
at the Brooklyn Conservatory Composers Forum. In 2001 he has been
commissioned to compose a symphonic homage to Verdi (by Orchestra
Sinfonica di Lecce).
In 2002, "Enjoy" for saxophone quartet will debut at St. Petersburg
Festival, and a new trio "Miles to run" (for flute, violin and piano)
will be performed at Carnegie Hall (NYC). The Orchestra Sinfonica di
Lecce has commissioned him a work for wind quintet and large orchestra
(Kite Songs) and the Orchestra Sinfonica Abruzzese invited him to
compose a new score for narrator and orchestra (Il lungo pranzo di
Natale, freely inspired to T: Wilder drama).
In 2003 have been premiered new pieces: Bach is cruising through
interstellar space for piano (March, USA - Kansas City, Sanantonio and
Washington), Libera Toccata Quarta for Marimba (July, Switzerland,
Lugano), Preludio per il mare d'inverno for organ (August, Germany,
Berlin), Pegasus for flute and strings (October, Mexico, Cervantino
Festival), Americana (September, Teatro Comunale, Bologna). Some
chamber pieces will be performed all over the world, from Beijing to
New Delhi to Latin America. In summer Fabrizio Festa brought to debut
his new ensemble, Auranova Quartet, with a special program titled
Utopia. This program has been realized with the collaboration of many
composers form different countries (as John Psathas form New Zealand,
Tomi Raisänen from Finland, Shaun Bracey from Great Britain).
In 2004 Martha Mooke has performed in NYC his Urban Dances (for five
strings electric viola and CD), dedicated to her. Bologna Opera Theater
has commissioned to Fabrizio Festa Three Divertissements for orchestra
(premiered in March). Moreover, Thelema Trio debutted Omnia Tetramuta
(in Ghent, Belgium, at the end of March) and Madrid Soloists brought to
first performance Miles for Five (Avellino, Italy, still end of March,
the same piece has been performed in Spain). In Copenhagen (Danmark)
soprano Anne Aaen and Sirenkvartetten performed two pieces for voice
and string quartet (April). Fabrizio Festa, with Aedōn Trio, has been
invited at Festival Encuentros in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in August.
Here he presented his new work, titled: New Lands, No Borders, lyrics
by Michael Hall. The same work has been presented at BBK Festival at
Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao (Spain). With Trio Aedōn, Fabrizio Festa
toured in South America. At Teatro Colōn, in Buenos Aires, he presented
"New Lands, No Borders", a new piece commissioned by Festival
Encuentros. The same piece has been performed too at BBK Festival, at
Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao (Spain), and will be presented again in
2005 in Italy and Europe.
In 2005 have be premiered new works. Between them, in January, at
Copenhagen (Denmark), soprano Anne Aaen have sung the first performance
of My Icon (for soprano and string quartet, lyrics by Michael Hall) at
the Danish Radio Concert Hall, in a program including more pieces of
him. Then, in April, at Zagreb International Biennale of Music debuted
a new chamber piece, Sirene. In September debuted "Clandestino Songs"
for piano and percussions and "Voglio fare il gentiluomo" for accordion
and harp at Rovereto International Mozart Festival.
Main 2006 debuts are: "The path beyond the rocks" for orchestra at
Cheyenne (Wyoming, USA) commissioned and performed by Cheyenne Symphony
Orchestra, Rock Songs for ensemble (Lucca, Italy), Voi che sapete for
quartet (Mendrisio - Switzerland), Closed skies and urban dreams for
clarinet and strings (Milano - Italy), Nomads for orchestra (Grosseto -
Italy), Windows for cello solo (Budapest, Ungary) and a new piece about
Mozart commissioned by Ente Orchestra Sinfonica Sicliana - EOS (Palermo
- Italy). With Trio Aedōn Fabrizio Festa has been invited in July at
Ljubljana Festival (Slovenia) and in October at Cervantino Festival
(Mexico).
Fabrizio Festa is the artistic director of the International Composer
Competition "2 Agosto" in Bologna. He is appointed as artistic
consultant for contemporary music programs at Bologna Teatro Comunale
(Opera Theater). He is artistic consultant at Musica Insieme Foundation
(Bologna).
Fabrizio Festa teaches Arrangement and Orchestration at Bologna
Conservatory. He teaches Music and Dance and he is assistant at the
History of Modern and Contemporary Theater Chair at Music, Theater,
Fine Arts Department of the University of Bologna.
Fabrizio Festa collaborates as music critic with "La Repubblica". He
his the editor of Musica Insieme magazine and a member of the National
Association of Music Critics.
©CDbaby website
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Bozorius, one of the Italy's foremost bass players.
He is also a highly regarded composer, producer and sound engineer.
After many years of experience playing and recording with his bands,and
as a studio musician and sideman, he now presents his first solo cd.
This cd is not overly technical, nor full of the usual scales and
solos, but is made up of original compositions that mark his personal
influences and tastes.
Outstandingly played, these original songs vary from contemporary jazz instrumentals to vocal latin jazz.
The music is performed with a unique warmth and feeling by some of Italy's best known musicians.
BOZORIUS (Maurizio Bozzi)
("Bozorius" comes from a nick name that some musicians gave me in the
early eighties, because I was playing very well the Jaco Pastorius'
style: Bozzi+Pastorius=Bozorius).
Electric and acoustic bass, guitars, composer, arranger.
In 1978 he is a professional session man, and plays in a tour in South America with an Italian pop group.
In 1980-81-82 he plays in the world tour of PUPO, a famous Italian pop
star. This tour includes many dates in the USA and CANADA.
In 1981 he meets Angel "Pocho" Gatti, a pianist, arranger, and composer
from Argentina, well- known for his contributions to Frank Sinatra,
Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker and Astor Piazzolla. With "Pocho" he
produces two studio LPs, and one live recording at the international
jazz festival of Zagreb 1981.
During the eighties he continues his activity as a session man, playing with Italian pop stars (Pupo, Ramazzotti,
Zucchero, Masini), and also plays in jam sessions and concerts with
Chet Baker, Gerry Mulligan, Massimo Urbani, Franco D'Andrea, Enrico
Rava, Fabio Morgera, James Thompson, Andy J.Forrest, Stefano Bollani,
Enrico Granafei.
In 1982 he begins a collaboration with the pianist,composer,and
arranger Fabrizio Festa; together they found a jazz-rock band named
"FESTAGROUP".
With this group they record two LPs: "Congo Square" and "Montreux
Live", and one CD: "Strings"; they play in numerous concerts in Italy
and other parts of Europe, and take part, for two years in succession,
in the international jazz festival of Montreux (1988-89).
In 1986 Bozorius signs a contract with the best Italian publishing
house of musical methods (Berben); he publishes his first book on
method of bass technique "The Electric Bass", and soon it becomes a
best seller (over 20.000 books sold in Italy,and still growing).
In 1990, he publishes his second book on bass method "The improvising
Electric bass", and in 1992 the third, "The Great Electric Bass Riffs",
is published.
The collaboration with Fabrizio Festa continues through the nineties.
Together, they play pieces of contemporary classical music composed by
Fabrizio Festa, and perform beside famous classical soloists in some of
the most important Italian theaters.
In 1996 Bozorius joins the world tour of the Italian pop star Marco Masini, and once again, plays in Canada and the Usa.
In 1999 he also begins to play acoustic bass.
In the summer of 1999 he plays in the European tour of Larry Coryell's
Eleventh House (as a substitute for Jeff Berlin)with Alphonse Mouzon on
drums, and Shunzo Ono on trumpet. In the same summer, he also plays
with Al Di Meola and Larry in a great concert in Bologna (piazza
Maggiore).
In october 2000 he plays at the jazz club "Trumpets" in Montclair (NJ).
In april 2001 he plays in the European tour of Ted Curson. In 2003 he plays with Michel Portal.
In 2004 he creates a new indie label "Drycastle records".
©Reviewer: Bill Gervasi
"BOZORIUS" is in
fact Maurizio Bozzis' first solo outing after a mispent youth playing
bass, and gives us an insight to the varied aspects of his excellent
arranging, composing and technical abilities. This is the seventh
release from Drycastle Records, a new italian independent record label
aimed at (and beyond) the contemporary jazz market, well recorded and
performed by many seasoned guest musicians, this album reserves many
pleasant surprises.
Apart from the David Crosby and Sting covers, the other six tracks are
Bozorius' originals and vary from contemporary jazz to jazz rap. The
album kicks off with "Alex Shuffle" a mid- tempo number that calls to
mind Steps Ahead or Weather Report and gives everyone a chance to
stretch out. "The Fat Cat And The Fiddle" is a bossanova, finely
arranged with Lene Riebau on vocals, and tasteful piano and trumpet
courtesy of Marco Pezzola and Marco Tamburini. "My Precious Love" is a
bluesy lament that has Maurizio duetting with jazz singer Laura
Falcinelli and features a really cool sax solo by Daniele Malvisi.
"HiJoe" is a great composition and is a tribute to the legendary modal
jazz vein of Joe Henderson, nice piano and sax solos from Marco Pezzola
and Daniele Malvisi. "Very Nice" is a mid-tempo jazz-samba, a very
relaxed Laura on vocals and Sam Martinellis' fine acoustic guitar work
make it ideal late-night listening. "Tampalais High" is a David Crosby
song, a beautiful airy arrangement that features some spaced out
flugelhorn and piano from Andrea Donnini and Bill Testa, and is
followed by a bass orientated cover of Stings "Brand New Day" that
features some fine alto sax work from Simone Santini. This interesting
albums' final track "Bass Brothers" could be described as fusion-rap,
with a very seventies' groove it sounds like Return To Art Ensemble
meets the Last Poets. Drycastle are certainly making a great effort to
innovate the italian jazz scene, let's hope they continue to do so for
many years to come.
©Reviewer: Raynelle Arcaini
My home is
New Orleans, and I live in Italy, and have listened to jazz music all
my life, literally. During the 70's, a period when many genius jazz
musicians were born, provided us with a new and different jazz from the
one I had grown up listening to. Now, after so many years I have found
yet again a new mix of creative new jazz for the 21st century. I
especially like the songs with lyrics! I am going to order this album,
send your ad to as many friends as possible, and await anxiously
Maurizio and friends next venture!
©CDbaby website
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In 1982 started a cooperation between the pianist, composer and arranger Fabrizio Festa (Al Di Meola's arranger and
conductor for the cd "The Grande Passion", Telarc 2000)
and the bass player, arranger and composer Maurizio "Bozorius"
Bozzi(Coryell- Mouzon's Eleventh House...), together they founded a
jazz-rock band named "FESTAGROUP".
With this group they recorded two LP's: "Congo Square" and "Montreux Live" and one CD "Strings";
they have performed a lot of concerts in Italy ,Europe and Usa; have
been guests, for two years in succession, at the international jazz
festival of Montreux (1988-89).
Festagroup "Congo square" (Splasc(h) Records)
Festagroup "Montreux live" (Splasc(h) Records)
Festagroup "Strings" (Nueva)
Festagroup "Vinyl" (Drycastle records)
Other cds by these artists you can find in Cdbaby:
Bozorius-Bozorius
Fabrizio Festa-The Vast Conspiracy of Birds
The Sultans Of Swing-All The Things We Are
Carlo Colombo-Playboy
©Reviewer Paul Christopher
A very
interesting and exciting cd, almost taken from
old analogic live and studio tapes;European jazz-fusion at the best,
great rhythm section with a fantastic bass player,
the tracks from the Montreux jazz festival are full of power
and feeling, the compositions are expressive, warm, mediterranean.
There is the "Weather Report" and " Pat Metheny group" influence
inside, but this band reveals
a personal identity, not to be missed!!
©Reviewer: Bill Testa
I've been
surprised about the freshness of this band,I mean,
these are live recordings from the eghties... the musicians are
enthusiastics, they enjoy their music, we can feel it in every track;
there are some great compositions inside, like: Winter Tales,
mediterranean and misteriuos, Wings of Peace, so lightful and positive,
or Northern Lakes, a cool lullaby, recalling the northern European
athmosphere; I love this document, it tells about the state of the art
of the contemporary jazz in Europe, intimate and mellow.
©CDbaby website
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