RECENTLY, WE CAME ACROSS A RELEASE BY ITALIAN GUITARIST DARIO CHIAZZOLINO AND WERE REALLY IMPRESSED BY HIS MIX OF MODERN, TRADITIONAL AND ITALIAN. JUST LIKE THE PANTHEON SITTING COMFORTABLY WITHIN A PIAZZA IN MODERN ROME, CHIAZZOLINO’S MUSIC DOESN’T FEEL LIMITED BY TIME OR STYLE. HIS RECENT RELEASE, PAINT YOUR LIFE, GOT LOTS OF IMPRESSIVE PRESS. WE CAUGHT UP WITH THE MEDITERRANEAN SIX STRINGER AND ASKED HIM SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHERE HE’S FROM AND WHERE HE’S GOING.
How were you first exposed to jazz?
I was 16, at the time I was a rock oriented guitarist. I was used to play the electric guitar and toured with fusion, latin and rock artists.
In the meantime I was intrigued by jazz phrasing and I was fascinated by all those weird notes jazz players were used to play.
Be bop was definitely the catalyst for my new music horizons.
– What did you like about it?
I loved the jazz phrasing, the approach to improvisation and the inner vision of the harmony.
But what hit me tho most was the liberty and domain Jazz musicians play with. I thought I absolutely had to figure out their “secrets”.
– What made you pick the guitar?
When I was a kid I was attracted by guitar sound. I spent most of my time listening to the greatest guitar Icons. Like most of young guys I loved the distorted guitar while doing very loud solos. I couldn’t stop listening.
– What were the albums that you really liked, and why?
There are lots of album which gave me great inspirations and joy. From the rock side to the jazz one.
I would say that Jazz at Massey Hall – featuring Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Max Roach and Charlie Mingus has been one of the most representative record I’ve ever heard. This is really a stunning ensemble.
In particular Charlie Parker has opened a big door in front of me.
– Which guitarists influenced you the most?
There are of course three great guitarists who influenced me the most. Three legends of the six strings: I am talking about Jimmy Hendrix, Wes Montgomery and Django Reinhardt.
Even after years they continue impressing me.
– How did you get your music education? School? Lessons? Just jump right in?
I started as a young, self-taught wire walker. I have always thought that the best education is “listening”. Every record includes a world of music informations, all you have to do is to grab and internalize them.
So I spent a long time playing the guitar trying to repeat all the guitar riffs, solos and songs I loved.
Just after the high school I joined the Conservatory Giuseppe Verdi, Turin, Italy and graduated in Jazz studies.
– What is the Italian jazz scene like? What are its strengths and weaknesses? Are they independent musically from America, or do they still get their influences from the US?
Well. This is a good question. I think Italy has a wonderful jazz scenery. There is a lot of outstanding musicians, from the old generation to the last one. The level of musicianship has really improved,not only in Italy but in the whole world. American jazz is always the main reference for jazz artists, even though the European stream has become important as well.
The point is that the traditional jazz language is part of American culture. I consider it like a bible every respectable jazz players must know perfectly.
However, having said this, we must not ignore the other side of the coin. We have a stunning classical and lyrical music background in Italy and Europe as well which has influenced jazz world for many years.
Thus, to answer to your question I would say, from one hand Italian Jazz continue keeping US one as a model, on the other hand it can be considered an independent current.
– Who did you first see live in concert? What jazz artists did you first meet?
I remember my first live concert which I had the privilege to hear…It was in Turin in 1990. I was just five years old, it was Miles Davis’ concert. What a better way to start hearing live shows?
I was completely unaware of the beauty and the prestige of that moment. I was just a kid still fasting of music but I remember that I really enjoyed!
– What were your first gigs? What did you learn?
I started playing professionally very soon. My first gigs consisted in rock, fusion, prog shows. I was very young when I was asked to play with several Italian artists.
I was very excited to play a lot and in diverse music situations. This let me be prepared to face the music job. Later jazz expanded my prospects.
– Tell us about your stints with Bob Mintzer, Russell Ferrante and Jimmy Haslip. What were the circumstances.
I met Bob Mintzer, Jimmy Haslip and Russell Ferrante in 2012. Along with them I recorded an album entitled Lost in the jungle – now available in all digital stores and in the Italian music shops.
It was a really exciting meeting. We played and recorded some of my compositions and created a new band – Principles Sound. The music here is a little bit more electric than Paint your life one. After that I was asked to join Yellow Jackets tour for the album Time Line. A big satisfaction!
– Did anyone give you guidance or advice on your career or playing?
First of all I have a very supportive family who let me free to make my life and to make my choices. I feel very grateful for that.
During my career I have been the privilege to play with many top players in several music environments and in general with very talented musicians from different part of the world. Everyday I can learn something from some of them.
– How did you develop your compositional skills?
I strongly believe that there is a deep connection between improvisation and composition. The more you are skilled at improvising the more creative you can be in composing. That’s what i think.
I started writing music as a game when I was 14. Now it is not so different. What is different today is my awareness as a musician, which of course is in changing, like everything in life.
– Is there a difference to the way Americans and Italians approach jazz?
Even though it’s hard to generalize and find an absolute truth – well I think that American musicians are more pragmatical and adopted than Italians. They are in a perfect balance when they play and they always know where they go. On the contrary Italians are more romantic and passionate.
That’s for me the main difference of the two approaches to jazz.
– Have you been to the US? What were your impressions about the music, musicians and jazz scene?
Yes I have been in NY and Los Angeles. The first time I went to NY I was really impressed by the music scenery. Like every musician from any part of the world when you have the chance to spend some timein New York City you can basically figure out what jazz really is. Great shows any time and everywhere and you can hear just world class musicians. That’s amazing! No question Ny is the best place for jazz players and the place with the highest level of musicianship.
– How did this album come about? Had you played with these men before? What were the circumstances? Why did you pick them?
The album Paint your life is a long story started a few years ago. It was winter of 2010 when I wrote the first tune of the album: Awake, a piece of which I am rather font. It is probably the most guidance song of my music over the pass 5 years.
The band who I recorded with is outstanding: Taylor Eigsti on the piano, Marco Panascia on the double bass and Willie Jones on the drums. With the help of Marco I called the musicians who could better interpret the music. Once defined – I send them the charts.
Before we recorded we had just a brief rehearsal but the music was fluent since the first notes. They are not just great musicians but beautiful human beings who I love performing with.
– What are your thoughts on the album, now that it’s out?
To be honest as a musician I tend to look ahead and focus on new projects or on new collaborations but I am pretty satisfied of the album and very happy of the feedbacks by international critic.
I feel very honored for that.
– What inspires you to play and perform? Any religious/philosophic books that motivate you?
Great questions. In a few words I can say that music is my religion and philosophy. I consider myself very lucky to have met the music. For me music is the best place to be – and it is always here. You don’t need necessary to to pick up your instruments and play. It’s a matter of having the music who in an imaginary way sounds in your ears, from when you wake up in the morning till night. It’s a medicine when you feel down or a best friend who you can share your joy with.
IT’S REFRESHING TO HEAR AMERICAN MUSIC PUREE’D THROUGH THE EARS AND FINGERS OF A MUSICIAN FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY. JAZZ IS TRULY A UNIVERSAL STYLE OF MUSIC NOWADAYS, AND LIKE THE GREAT LEADERS OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE, CHIAZZOLINO IS TRYING TO CONQUER NEW WORLDS WITH HIS GUITAR. CHECK HIM OUT AND LOOK FOR A TOUR COMING UP SOMETIME SOON.