Roberto Gatto, drums, percussions, electronics
Alfonso Santimone, piano, Fender Rhodes, live electronics
Pierpaolo Ranieri, electric bass
The Parco della Musica Records presents the new record Starship for Lovers of Roberto Gatto’s PerfecTrio done for the series MIT Meet in Town, the Musica per Roma Foundation brand dedicated to electronic music.
The latest adventure sees the Roman drummer, one of the most iconic musicians of the Italian jazz, alongside two excellent musicians, the enterprising and creative pianist Alfonso Santimone and Pierpaolo Ranieri, an extraordinary bassist and attentive connoisseur of the latest trends, to create a disc with improvisations of original compositions and three interpretations of standard tunes (Mancini, Barroso, Monk). Without forgetting the link with tradition, this trio moves under the auspices of experimentation related to new sounds and leads the audience into the world of electronics and improvisation, creating a multifaceted performance. Moments of great energy and groove alternate with moments of high lyricism and progressive sounds. The trio’s sound is characterized by the Fender piano, analogue synthesisers, loops, and the use of live electronics by all three musicians. Roberto Gatto named the group “perfect trio”, indicating that this is the formation with which he feels really comfortable and that allows him to play the music in total freedom.
A very special project, that has mainly affected the quality of improvisation (it is difficult to listen to authentic improvisation today); a concentrated search for various degrees of tension and different moods was instantly expressed by the three, all excellent musicians: besides the leader, Alfonso Santimone on keyboards and Pierpaolo Ranieri on bass, both also skilled on electronic effects. Pointillist or banging situations have grown gradually to culminate in themes of various authors, never exposed slavishly, but always obliquely and harmonically distorted.
(Libero Farnè, Allaboutjazz.com, 2013)
A perfect trio. Nomen est omen – ancientRomans would have said. At the Casa del Jazz, Roberto Gatto along with Alfonso Santimone and Pierpaolo Ranieri have created a concert that we can hardly say not to be perfect. Perfect for placing music at the turn of experimentation, improvisation and tradition; perfect for the performance, unbalanced enough to give a sense of an acrobatic flight without a net, and at the same time balanced in instrumental technique and control by of all the musicians.
(Maurizio Alvino, jazzaroma.wordpress.com)
PerfecTrio demonstrated a strong compactness and identity. The cohesion between the leader and his partners (the granite Pierpaolo Ranieri and the imaginative Alfonso Santimone) has pursued a timeless quality jazz. It is exuberant and declamatory in its approach. A composite repertoire, which included classics of Ellington, Monk and the contemplative “Mood” by Ron Carter. Miles Davis alongside originals, has seen alternating evanescent and repeated orientalisms with explicit progressions of an updated funky- fusion.”
(Libero Farnè, allaboutjazz.com)
Roberto Gatto’s PerfecTrio (with Alfonso Santimone on piano, electric piano and electronics and Pierpaolo Ranieri on electric bass), whose CD will be released soon by the label Parco della Musica, played masterfully on the contrast between acoustic and electronic sounds, including songs totally improvised, updated classic,
compositions of Monk and frippian echoes. The balance between the three is admirable: Gatto’s fertile and fruitful drumming is free to create, thanks to the solid rhythmic and harmonic structure of the bass-playing and to the electronic effects led by himself and pianist. The latter is confirmed as one of the glossiest musicians of the Italian scene for his inventiveness, imagination, solid technique and creativity.”
(Enzo Fugaldim, jazzitalia.net)
ROBERTO GATTO
Foto: Roberto Cifarelli
Roberto Gatto was born in Rome on 6th October 1958. His professional debut was in 1975 with the “Trio di Roma” (Danilo Rea, Enzo Pietropaoli). He has performed throughout Europe and the world with his groups and together with international artists. Besides exciting sound experimentation and impeccable playing technique, the formations bearing his name are characterised by warm colours typical of the Mediterranean culture, which definitely makes Roberto Gatto one of the most interesting drummers and composers in Europe and in the world.
He surely is the most renowned Italian drummer abroad, boasting important collaborations with artists inside and outside the jazz world. Many are his collaborations as sideman: Chet Baker, Freddy Hubbard, Lester Bowie, Gato Barbieri, Kenny Wheeler, Randy Brecker, Enrico Rava, Ivan Lins, Vince Mendoza, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Joey Calderazzo, Bob Berg, Steve Lacy, Johnny Griffin, George Coleman, Dave Liebman, Phil Woods, James Moody, Steve Grossman, Lee Konitz, Barney Wilen, Ronnie Cuber, Sal Nastico, Michael Brecker, Jed Levy, George Garzone, Tony Scott, Paul Jeffrey, Bill Smith, Joe Lovano, Curtis Fuller, Kay Winding, Albert Mangeldorff, Cedar Walton, Tommy Flanagan, Kenny Kirkland, Stefano Bollani, Mal Waldron, Ben Sidran, Enrico Pieranunzi, Dave Kikosky, Franco D’Andrea, John Scofield, John Abercrombie, Billy Cobham, Bobby Hutcherson, Didier Lockwood, Richard Galliano, Christian Escoudè, Joe Zawinul, Bireli Lagrene, Palle Danielsonn, Scott Colley, Eddie Gomez, Giovanni Tommaso, Paolo Damiani, Emmanuel Bex, Pat Metheny, Adam Rogers, Rita Marcotulli, Niels Henning Pedersen, Mark Turner, Lew Tabackin, Chris Potter, Mike Moreno, Dado Moroni.
As a leader, he has recorded many albums: Notes, Ask, Luna, Jungle Three, Improvvisi, Sing Sing Sing, Roberto Gatto plays Rugantino, Deep, Traps, Gatto – Stefano Bollani Gershwin and more, A Tribute to Miles Davis Quintet, Omaggio al Progressive, The Music Next Door, Roberto Gatto Lysergic Band, Remembering Shelly.
Over the years he has composed film music, creating together with Maurizio Giammarco the soundtrack for “Nudo di donna” directed by Nino Manfredi, and in collaboration with Battista Lena the soundtracks for the films “Mignon è partita”, which got five David di Donatello awards, “Verso sera” and “Il grande cocomero”, all directed by Francesca Archibugi.
In 1983 he was number one in the monthly magazine Fare Musica poll as best Italian drummer. In 1983 and 1987 with the group Lingomania he was the Top Jazz poll winner of the magazine Musica Jazz in the Best group category. In 1988, 1989, 1990 he came first in the drummer category of “Your favourites” Guitar Club poll. In 2007, 2009 and 2010 he was voted as the best drummer in the Musica Jazz poll. In 1993 he made two didactic videos “Batteria vol. 1 e 2”. He was the artistic director of the Jazz in progress project at Teatro dell’Angelo in Rome. For over twelve years he taught drums and ensemble music at the Siena Jazz seminaries. He attended Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome and the Conservatory in L’Aquila. He holds the chair of jazz drums at Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome.
ALFONSO SANTIMONE
Foto: M. Sorrentini
Alfonso Santimone was born in Ferrara and during the 90s he was a permanent member of the Julius Capiozzo Quintet. He has performed in Italy and Europe and collaborated with a number of artists, including Harold Land, Robert Wyatt, George Cables, Jimmy Owens, Tony Scott, Bruce Forman, and John Clark. As a composer and arranger, he writes music for theatre, video and multimedia. He has been collaborating for several years in multiple projects of experimental, electronic and improvised music, and has contributed to several records as a composer and performer.
PIERPAOLO RANIERI
Pierpaolo Ranieri, a bass and double bass player, has worked and/or is working in the field of jazz and pop music with the following musicians and artists: Paola Turci, Marina Rei, Carmen Consoli, Massimo Ranieri, Giorgia, Teresa De Sio, Bungaro, Paolo Di Sabatino trio with Antonella Ruggiero, Mike Stern, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Greg Howe, Bop Mintzer, Bob Franceschini, Paul Gilbert, Robin Eubkans, Joy Garrison, and many others.
Supported by the Italian Culture Institute in Belgrade