Andrea Pagani - Pianist, keyboard player, composer, arranger.
Andrea Pagani was born in Rome on october 2, 1970. He begins to show keen interest in the keyboard at the age of fifteen and approaches music as autodidact. At the age of eighteen he decides to learn to play the piano, and finds so his great passion. He studies classical music but is fascinated by jazz and therefore chooses a teacher experienced in both genres, Aldo Iosue. He takes part in several courses and workshops hold by Enrico Pieranunzi, Ramberto Ciammarughi, Barry Harris and Nicola Stilo; he obtains a diploma in solfeggio at Campobasso's conservatory.In the early 90ies he starts to play with the rhythm & blues group “Seventies Soul Band” in several clubs in Rome.
Besides the piano he studies sax alto, taking part as saxophonist in a quartet at the “Villa Celimontana Jazz Festival” (1995) and at “Massenzio Estate” (1995), in Rome . From 1995 to 1997 he plays with the acid-jazz group “U.S.L.”, travelling around Italy and from 1997 to 1999 with the “K-Six”, a funky-black band.
In 1998 he composes the music for the movie “Una rosa prego”, movie by Vincenzo Marra, that competes at the International Bastia Festival (Corsica). He also plays at the “Ciampino Jazz Festival” with the funky group “U.S.Z.”.
In 1999 he plays in the album “NO GRAVITY” by guitar player Carlo Pasceri; in the same year he joins the bluesman Roberto Ciotti Band, taking part in several italian and international blues and jazz festivals, such as “Pistoia Blues”(2000), “San Severino Blues Festival”(2000), “Castel S.Pietro Blues”(2001), “Trasimeno Blues”(2002), “Jazz&Image” at Villa Celimontana ” Rome ” (4 editions 2000/2003), “Grey Cat Festival”(2000), “Umbria Jazz Winter”(2001/02), “Philips Dubai Jazz Festival” (Arab Emirates) (2003), “Jazz Tage Lichtensteig” (Switzerland) (2003), “Isola Liri Blues”(2004), “Ponza Jazz Festival” (2005), “Nokia Abu Dhabi Jazz Festival”(Arab Emirates) (2006), “Roma incontra il mondo-Villa Ada (Rome 2006/2007), “Out of the Blue's Festival” (Samedan, Svizzera - 2007), “Suonincava”, Apricena (2008), “Stadio della Pallacorda”, Rome (2008), “Fly Festival”, Bresso (2008).
He also takes part in several radio and tv programs (”Brasil” on Raistereouno, “Vivendo Parlando” on Sat 2000 and a live show on Canal Jimmy, recorded at the club Big Mama in Rome, 2000). In 2002 he arranges and makes the record “BEHIND THE DOOR” by Roberto Ciotti. In 2003 he composes, arranges and produces, together with Giggi Pezzi, the record “VITA INERS” , with the group “U.S.Z.”, and takes part at the “Dolce Vita Jazz Festival 2003” at the club “La palma” in Rome. Again with Giggi Pezzi he composes the soundtrack for Monica Zullo's movie “Gix”(2002). He is the pianist and composer of the music for the theatrical show “Necessito un drink”(2002/03), written and interpreted by Yari Gugliucci.
In 2005 Andrea produces his first soloist album called “FOR THE SEA” (see reviews) (available in 2007), with the contributions of several guests, among these also Massimo Moriconi, Claudia Marss, Roberto Ciotti, Blue Joshua Band. In 2006 he is the special guest in the show “Em” with the group “Acustimantico” at the “Auditorium Parco della Musica” in Rome. In the same year he arranges the music of Maestro Raffaele Paglione for the musical “MALEDETTI ARCHITETTI” by Carlangelo Scillamà, on stage in the roman theatre “Tor di Nona”.
In 2007 he cuts the record “BLUE JOSHUA SIDE” with the swing orchestra “Blue Joshua Band” of Al Joshua, in which also the vocalist Minnie Minoprio takes part. On October he plays on the show “EM e altre storie” at the theatre “L'orangerie” in Rome, with the Band “Acustimantico”, recording also the cd “EM, OVVERO EMANUEL CARNEVALI VA IN AMERICA ” Piccola opera di musica-teatro”.
In the same year he makes the record “LE STORIE D'AMORE”, soloist album for the japanese market, label Pony Canyon, produced by Makoto Kimata (producer already for Mccoy Tyner, Kenny Drew, Chet Baker, Benny Golson, Art Blakey, Freddie Hubbard, Hank Jones and many other world famous jazz artsits). With this record he wins the “GOLD DISC AWARD” , a prize given by the critics of the authoritative japanese magazine “Swing Journal”. (see reviews)
On December 2007 he makes the live Cd-Dvd “MY BLUES” with the “Roberto Ciotti Band”, at “Stazione Birra” in Rome.
On January 2008 his composition “A tear on my chest” is recorded by the Trio of the american pianist Cyrus Chestnut, on the cd “BLACK NILE” (M&I), produced by Makoto Kimata. Featuring Buster Williams at the Double Bass and Al Foster at the drums.
On February 2008 a track of “Le storie d'amore” (Medley: Playing love/Once upon a time in America) is contained on the cd “OTOKO NO KAGUREGA JAZZ COMPILATION:LOVE” ( Pony Canyon), featuring “Andrea Pagani Trio” and some important jazz masters, like Pharoah Sanders, Hank Jones, Lew Soloff, Fred Hersch, Horace Parlan, Mal Waldron, Harold Danko, European Jazz Trio.
On July 2008 he takes part with the “Andrea Pagani Trio” at the IV edition of “FestambienteSud”, in Monte S.Angelo (Foggia) and at the end of November plays at the Italian Embassy in Kampala, Uganda, for the “VIII Week of the Italian Language and Culture”. In the same week he makes a Jazz Workshop at the “University of Makerere”, Kampala, Uganda.
On December 2008 is available his third soloist record, “ANDREA PAGANI PLAYS PUCCINI”, produced by Makoto Kimata for the Japan Label “ MOJO RECORDS”. The album is a tribute in jazz to the Italian famous composer Giacomo Puccini, in the year of his 150° anniversary of birth.
Since 2002 he plays in the “Andrea Pagani Trio”, playing both his own compositions, and jazz standards rivisited in latin, soul and funky. He has been collaborating now for many years as sideman with several groups and musicians, among these Federica Baioni, (Federica Baioni Jazz Quartet), Cecilia Herrera, Joe De Vecchis, the swing orchestra “Blue Joshua Band” of Aldo Iosue, the brasilian singer and songwriter Ze Galia, the guitar player Josè Martillotta and many other artiist of the italian musical scene.
Since April 2008 his authographed photo is in the “International Museum of Peace and Solidarity” of Samarcanda, Uzbekistan, as a contribute for the project “International Peace Autograph Project Exhibit”.
