Alessandro Sgobbio

Since his debut piano solo album “Aforismi Protestanti”, Alessandro keeps expanding his own personal vocabulary of compositions, improvisations and spiritual explorations throughout music. He’s earned master’s degrees at the Norwegian Academy of Music (Oslo, Norway) and the Parma Conservatory of Music (Parma, Italy). Alessandro has released 12 albums as a leader, co-leader, composer, pianist and producer, including the Debra’s Dream Sextet and the CHARM trio. He regularly tours Europe, China and the US with his co-led project Pericopes+1. Alessandro’s newest release “Forests” (with his Oslo-based quartet called “Silent Fires”) is a collective exploration around the theme of Spirituality in its multiple meanings. In February 2021, Alessandro releases Hitra‘s new album “Transparence” under AMP Music & Records.

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“Fascinating compositions. Regular irregularity.” Jazz’N’More, CH

“Modern jazz that’s heavy on intelligent melody and spirited improvisation.” DownBeat, US

“With his many projects, Alessandro Sgobbio is almost indispensable to the Italian scene.” Concerto, AT

“Excellent quality of the music, with an impeccable interplay.” Musica Jazz, IT

“Alessandro Sgobbio is a musician we hope to see in the future more exposed, because the music he composes as well as his luminous playing deserve to be shared with the broadest possible audience.” Mozaïc Jazz, FR

Awards

– 1st prize Umbria Jazz Festival (Perugia) – 1st prize Padova Carrarese (Padova) – 2nd prize at Luca Flores Piano Competition (Florence) – Selected for the ‘Martial Solal Piano Competition’ (Paris) – MusicaJazz “TopJazz ’13” – Best Group of the year Toplist – MusicaJazz “TopJazz ’12” – Best New Italian Talents Toplist

Tags

Album Review

Transparence by Mike Jurkovic

Catching Up With

Alessandro Sgobbio: la musica come viaggio verso sé stessi

Album Review

Transparence by Emmanuel Di Tommaso
Up by Geno Thackara
Forests by Angelo Leonardi
Forests by John Eyles
These Human Beings by Neri Pollastri
These Human Beings by Karl Ackermann
Charm by Alberto Bazzurro

”Great record. Wonderful music with a very diverse repertoire, played flawlessly. You can hear the spirit and mutual respect the three musicians have for each other and the music. These guys have a history to be sure .”

Dave Liebman (”These Human Beings” liner notes - 2015)

“Melodies that hit all the angles, accentuating crispness over flow, which adds to the intrigue and a compulsion to see where they go, even if there isn’t a lot of melodic development in the process, much how a car chase can be thrilling even if it never leaves a small area of city blocks

Dave Liebman (”These Human Beings” liner notes - 2015)

Dave Sumner (All About Jazz / eMusic Jazz Picks) ”CHARM” album review ( Nov 27, 2013 )

“Parfaite cohésion du trio. Élegance et bon goût des compositions.” Julien Delli Fiori (Radio France, JAZZAFIP) - “CHARM” album ( Feb 09, 2014 )

“ The DVD Frames is a wonderful listening experience. If ours not familiar with this group, do yourself a favour and do so. You won't be sorry. “ Dom Minasi (New York City - 2014)

“ They began the search for their own narrative style something so distinct that one can identify it as Pericopes upon first hearing. “ ( Polis Magazine - 09/22/2012 ) “ A job well-done, a respectful interpretation of the classic duo piano- saxophone ensemble, but also personal and diverse, which arouses the listener's attention and interest. “ ( All About Jazz – 08/28/2013 ) “ The duo interacts with absolute confidence, catching the listener's attention immediately, thanks to the balance between writing, improvisation and commendable compositional vein. They carry an original blend of jazz, minimalism, and traditional folk music. Thrilling. ” ( Musica Jazz – April 2013 ) “ No doubt: The Italian duo PERICOPES deserves to be listened to. ” ( JazzFlits - November 2013 )

“ Pericopes highlights prestigious and formative influences from bothAmerica and Europe (especially Italy), and reveal an valuable and original compositional style. ”( Committee of Umbria Jazz Festival Contest - 2013 ) “ A Music that takes advantage of various reference points free of musical genre associations. “ ( Jazz Convention - 09/02/2013 ) “ Pericopes belong to that group of young musicians who have worked with forbearance. ” ( JazzItalia - 2012 )

“Eccellente pianista, giovane ma già in possesso di un suo stile e di notevole personalità. [...] Il trio [...] rappresenta al momento il contesto più adatto al suo percorso musicale. E questo interessantissimo Charm lo dimostra in maniera compiuta attraverso il dipanarsi di una trama musicale affascinante fin dall'apertura della prima traccia Crimeeide, che segnala una formazione pianistica non comune [...] la musica di Charm sfugge a qualunque etichetta e questa sembra la sua forza: [...] Una prova davvero notevole, un trio di musicisti di qualità non comune.”

Sergio Spada ( Jazz Convention - 08/03/2014 )

“The duo piano-soprano saxophone shows the highlight of improvised music: it reminds me of the rehearsals of Mal Waldron with Steve Lacy (without wanting to force a comparison). Sgobbio and Vernizzi do not compromise with blatant references, and they look for an original direction. What these two composers and musicians are offering is true music, not an imitation. Heart, and intelligence too”.

Franco Bergoglio (jazz journalist and writer)

”As a jazz record producer, live always been looking for maturity, innovation and creative freshness. When I first heard the Pericopes project I immediately found all these elements in the music, which is not as obvious as it may sound, especially when dealing with young lions. They fresh and powerful music brought my mind back to the Dave Liebman and Richie Beirach duo excursions, but only as a reference. In fact their music totally reflects the times we live in, along with the influences of the masters, and it projects to the future; past, present and future. The music is all original and is strongly characterised by harmonic implications coming from contemporary classical music of the 20th century but also contains traces of world music, free jazz, fusion and mediterranean lyricism, all integrated into improvised jazz context.

Emiliano and Alessandro can be easily considered the musical excellence of our hometown Parma but, more likely, well represent the new wave of young european jazz musicians well rooted in the past but fully projected into the future”.

Raimondo Meli Lupi (RAM Records)

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