Monk'N'Roll

Francesco Bearzatti is, without doubt, one of the top musicians of Italian jazz, with certainly the most creative and abundant projects. After tributes to Tina Modotti and Malcolm X, which were widely acclaimed by critics and public alike, in Italy and abroad, he celebrates here the musical genius of Thelonious Monk with a project of pure adrenaline, where all the energy and power of renown rock pieces (by Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Lou Reed, Michael Jackson, Police, Aerosmith...) intersect with those famous themes from the composer who passed away 30 years ago; one of the most extraordinary characters that jazz has ever known. Over recent years, Monk has been the subject of a careful re-evaluation by the critics, while the "new wave" of jazz, based primarily on improvisation, places him ideally as its reference point. Alongside Francesco Bearzatti, who plays saxophones, clarinet and live electronics on this record, is the highly-proven Tinissima 4et including Giovanni Falzone on trumpet and human effects, Danilo Gallo on double bass and electric bass,  and Zeno De Rossi on drums and percussion.

"It's a project, a dream - explains Bearzatti – made by four forty-somethings who grew up with rock and roll, but who then became devoted to jazz, to Monk".   And so now they have decided to put them together, merge them, as we often try to do with the things we love…  to take them always with us.

Recorded and mixed in January 2012 at Artesuono Recording Studio Recording & mixing engineer Stefano Amerio

Photos by Valentino Griscioli

Album cover: Valentino Griscioli & Francesco Chiacchio