Rossy-Tonolo-Deidda Trio

Jorge Rossy (drums, vibes), Pietro Tonolo (tenor/soprano saxophone, alto flute), Dario Deidda (electric bass)

 

ROSSY-TONOLO-DEIDDA TRIO

The Rossy-Tonolo-Deidda Trio brings together three European jazz masters who have performed and recorded with many of the top international figures in jazz, past and present. They share a deep knowledge of the jazz language and jazz standards as well as a wide-open adventurous approach to improvisation that takes them to a place that transcends style. Each has a strong individual voice as a profoundly lyrical soloist. Playing in the tradition of the “pianoless trio”, which offers plenty of space for each instrument to create parts outside of their traditional roles and for transparency in collective interplay, the various combinations in the instrumentation of the band provide for a myriad of colours in the repertoire.

Dario Deidda‘s musical voice is expressed through his absolutely unique approach to the electric bass guitar. He has deep roots in bebop and his particularly beautiful sound and melodic phrasing are unmistakable. His sound blends elements of acoustic and electric and his style is deeply rooted in both traditions.

Pietro Tonolo’s deep understanding of a wide variety of different musical traditions allows him to move fluidly between them while remaining thoroughly himself. He is a true improvisor; always listening hard and incredibly imaginative in his contributions to the development of the band’s sound. The different instruments he plays – the tenor and soprano saxophones and the alto flute – bring out different aspects of his vast musical palette.

Jorge Rossy plays two very different instruments in this band, each of which contributes a different set of colours. As a vibes player, he has a unique melodic voice that focuses on expressive dynamics and evocative harmonies. As a drummer, Jorge shapes the band sound with imagination, subtlety and a driving energy.

The repertoire covers a wide spectrum of jazz styles, from Thelonious Monk to Sam Rivers to Burt Bacharach. Fresh takes on works by these and other composers are complemented by original compositions. The musicians contribute uniquely personal statements that arise from the magic of the moment in a joyful yet intimate setting. Collectively, the band tells engaging musical stories and creates playful sonic paintings.

Jorge Rossy

Barcelona-born Jorge Rossy began playing drums at the age of 14. Starting at 18, he began collaborating with musicians from the Spanish and international jazz scenes at concerts and festivals and in recordings. These included Woody Shaw, Kenny Wheeler, Jack Walrath, Dave Schnitter, Sal Nistico and Sean Levitt, among others. In 1989 he moved to Boston to study trumpet at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. In the US he had the opportunity to play drums with Danilo Perez, Paquito D’Rivera and musicians from the emerging American jazz scene including Mark Turner, Chris Cheek, Seamus Blake, Brad Mehldau and Kurt Rosenwinkel. He achieved wide recognition in 1995 as the original drummer in the Brad Mehldau Trio. He played with the trio for a decade.

Jorge’s sideman work on drums includes over 180 recordings with renowned jazz musicians such as Ethan Iverson, Kevin Hays, Albert Sanz, Mark Turner, Chris Cheek, Seamus Blake, Joshua Redman, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Enrico Pieranunzi, Jakob Bro and Steve Swallow. He achieved wide recognition in 1995 as the original drummer in the Brad Mehldau Trio. He played with the trio for a decade. Jorge has also toured with many other jazz greats including Charlie Haden, Wayne Shorter, Lee Konitz, Carla Bley, and Joe Lovano.

As a vibes player, has recorded over 30 albums as a band leader or co-leader over the past two decades. The long list of his bandmates includes Jeff Ballard, Robert Landfermann, Al Foster, Jimmy Wormworth, Joey Baron, Billy Hart, Mark Turner, Joshua Redman, Domenic Landolf, Pietro Tonolo, Chris Cheek, Mike Kanan, Kevin Hays, Doug Weiss, Putter Smith, Pete Bernstein, Jaume Llombart.

Pietro Tonolo

In 1976, Pietro Tonolo gave up a career as a classical violinist to become one of the great jazz saxophonists. Around that time, he moved to Milan, where he played with some of Italy’s best jazz musicians, including Franco D’Andrea, Luigi Bonafede, Larry Nocella, Massimo Urbani, Rita Marcotulli and Enrico Rava. In 1982, Tonolo joined the Gil Evans Orchestra, playing with musicians Steve Lacy, Lew Soloff and Ray Anderson. He later went on to perform in jazz clubs and on radio and television around Europe and the USA, both as a sideman and as a leader with his own band.

Tonolo was a steady member of Paul Motian’s Electric Bebop Band from 1999 to 2004. Other notable collaborators have included the likes of Kenny Clarke, Sal Nistico, Chet Baker, Lee Konitz, John Surman, Steve Swallow, Gil Goldstein, Barry Altschul, Joe Chambers, Eliot Zigmund, Aldo Romano, Kenny Wheeler, Dave Holland and Tony Oxley, to name just a few.

Besides Jazz, Pietro Tonolo has been collaborating with contemporary musicians and groups (‘Ex Novo Ensemble’, ‘Laboratorio Novamusica’,  ‘Sentieri Selvaggi’, ‘Orchestra d’archi Italiana’, ‘Virtuosi Italiani’, ‘Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto’, sax quartet ‘Arundo Donax’), performing and composing music for different instrumental combinations from small chamber ensembles to string orchestras.

Dario Deidda

Dario Deidda is considered one of the best electric bassists in the international jazz scene. He describes himself as an “all-around” musician but jazz is at the heart of his musical world. He is a connoisseur of traditional jazz and the American songbook and his expertise extends to more contemporary jazz trends as well.

He has collaborated with several nationally and internationally renowned artists in both jazz and pop & rock. Deidda belonged to the bands of Kurt Rosenwinkel, Ettore Fioravanti and Roberto Gatto. Furthermore he worked with the greatest of the Italian and European jazz scenes, including Enrico Rava, Danilo Rea, Paolo Fresu, Maria Pia De Vito, Massimo Urbani, Antonello Salis, Michel Petrucciani, Stefano Di Battista, Enrico Pieranunzi, Flavio Boltro, Franco D’Andrea or Tullio De Piscopo. He has also performed with North American Jazz Greats including James Moody, George Coleman, Kirk Lightsey, Mulgrew Miller, Marcus Miller, Ben Sidran, Dave Liebman, Randy Brecker, Bob Mintzer, Benny Golson, Tom Harrell, Jerry Bergonzy, Mark Turner, Marcus Gilmore and Vinnie Colaiuta. On several occasions he accompanied Carl Anderson and Pino Daniele on tour.

Deidda has been involved as a sideman in more than 60 albums, among others with Salvatore Bonafede, Jean-Pierre Como, Rosario Giuliani, Nicola Conte, Enrico Rava and Fiorella Mannoia. In 2003, under his own name, he recorded the album 3 from the Ghetto with Julian O. Mazzariello and Stéphane Huchard. Together with Tom Harrell, Maurizio Giammarco, Fabio Zeppetella and Fabrizio Sferra, he recorded The Auditorium Session. In 2017 followed his album My Favorite Strings vol.1 (in duo with percussionist Gegè Telesforo). In 2019 he released 11 Little Things with Roberto Tarenzi and Roberto Pistolesi.

Between 2010 and 2017, he won eight consecutive Jazz It Awards as best jazz electric bass player.

Videos

Audio samples (fragments of unmixed rough takes):

  1. «All or Nothing at All» (Arthur Altman)

2. «Donna Lee» (Miles Davis)

3. «Eiderdown» (Steve Swallow)

4. «Ellipsis» (Sam Rivers)

5. «Penelope» (Wayne Shorter)

6. «Somewhere» (Leonard Bernstein)

7. «Time Remembered» (Bill Evans)

Press

Pietro Tonolo, Dario Deidda e Jorge Rossy

 

Contact

musicbox entertainment gmbh
dencker@musicbox-entertainment.ch