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Emiliano Vernizzi

Saxophonist, composer, touring musician, modern music educator, best characterized as a versatile and reliable sideman; Emiliano “Emi” Vernizzi is one of the most seasoned saxophonists on the Italian music scene, whose resume reads as a “who’s who” of jazz and pop legends. He also leads and co-leads several original projects marked by a blend of influences that range from jazz, rock to funk, hip-hop, American roots, electronic and pop.

During his career, Emi is credited on more than 50 recordings and toured the US, Asia and Europe dozens of times, performing at hundreds of prestigious venues, including Blue Note (Milan, IT), Sunset Sunside (Paris, FR), Unterfahrt (Munich, DE), A-Trane (Berlin, DE), The Blue Lamp (Aberdeen, UK), ShapeShifter (NYC), Chris’ Jazz Club (Philadelphia, USA), The Maison (New Orleans, USA), Jazz Dock (Prague, CZ) and Opus Jazz (Budapest, HU). He has also graced the stage of many festivals, including the JIM Festival (China), Gateshead International Jazz Festival (UK), Jazz on5 Festival (CZ), UNESCO International Jazz Day (FR), Graz Jazz Nacht (AU), Burg Jazz (DE), Summer Fest (San Francisco, USA), Umbria Jazz (IT), Jamboree (IT) to name a few. Emiliano has collaborated with the Civica Jazz Band, which presented legendary guest artists Eddie Daniels, David Raksin, Dave Liebman, Max Roach, Bobby Watson, David Murray, Evan Parker, Paolo Fresu, Enrico Rava) and Bobby Durham, Anthony Wellington, Tommy Campbell, Fabrizio Bosso, Gianni Cazzola, Roberto Gatto.

He is a founding member of the multi-award-winning group Pericopes, formed in 2007 and won first prize of both the Umbria Jazz Contest and Padova Carrarese (presided by Paolo Fresu), and was listed by Italian TopJazz. The project has produced several tours across Europe, the UK, US and China, and left a strong impression to audiences and magazines on both sides of the Atlantic (DownBeat, Jazzthetik, Jazz ‘n’ More, MusicaJazz...). Emi was recently mentioned in the Italian jazz history book, “La Storia del Jazz”, which called Pericopes one of the most important/unique new-generation productions of the last few years.

While living temporarily in New York City in 2010, Emiliano began to collaborate with an American band led by guitarist Izzy Zaidman. They’ve recorded four studio albums, have toured extensively in nearly every US state, and extensively throughout Europe. He balances touring with presenting masterclasses (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow-UK, RNCM of Manchester, University of Aberdeen-UK); and teaching roles as Professor of Jazz Saxophone at both music conservatories in Parma and Cesena (Italy). His composing and production commissions/credits include soundtracks for short movies (Civica Cinema, Milan), commercial television (Pagani Zonda for Motor&Life magazine and Japanese Rosso), and radio programs (RaiTrade, Rai Radio Uno).  He still stays busy as a freelance sideman, from jazz, to theater performances (American poet Jack Hirschman), to pop and entertainment productions such as his collaboration with the international Italian rockstar, Ligabue, who set a 150,000 person audience attendance record (at Campovolo) on one of Emi’s tours with the band. 

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6
Album Review

Blue Moka: Enjoy!

Read "Enjoy!" reviewed by Neil Duggan


Enjoy your jazz with a jazz-funk groove and perhaps looking for something a little different? Then Blue Moka may have just the thing with their second album and first international release, Enjoy!. This hard-working Italian quartet formed in 2009 blends a variety of influences, both traditional and modern on this album. There's contemporary jazz, a good helping of funk, some rock and a pinch of electronica. Their instrument mix is interesting too, utilizing sax, Hammond, keyboards, electronics, guitar and drums. ...

14
Album Review

Pericopes+1: Up

Read "Up" reviewed by Geno Thackara


For a recording titled Up, this one sure spends a lot of time going sideways. Cue the opening track and you're carried away on waves of briskly-flowing piano and saxophone as if there isn't a thing in the world to worry about. The feel becomes a bit more angular with the next, the drums leaning somewhat jittery as the sax breaks up the smoothness with a few heavier wails. It turns out they're only getting started; the players soon takes ...

6
Album Review

Pericopes + 1: These Human Beings

Read "These Human Beings" reviewed by Neri Pollastri


Prosegue con successo il percorso di Pericopes+1, qui al secondo album dopo l'allargamento a trio del duo del pianista Alessandro Sgobbio e del tenorsassofonista Emiliano Vernizzi, trio che già aveva realizzato nel 2015 l'eccellente These Human Beings. Stavolta i tre approdano all'etichetta Auand per pubblicare un disco registrato presso l'Artesuono di Stefano Amerio, frutto di un intensissimo lavoro dal vivo (oltre cento concerti tra USA ed Europa in due anni) che li ha visti anche perfezionare intesa e ...

169
Album Review

Pericopes + 1: These Human Beings

Read "These Human Beings" reviewed by Karl Ackermann


Having captured the favorable attention of saxophonist Dave Liebman and fellow Italian trumpeter Enrico Rava, Pericopes + 1 enters the American market with These Human Beings with the “+1" representing the addition of New York based drummer Nick Wight. The varied program, musical interactions and progressive thinking behind it are likely to generate interest on this side of the Atlantic. In 2013, saxophonist Emillano Vernizzi, a Professor of jazz saxophone at the Conservatory of Music of Parma, Italy ...

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“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

"The bass-less trio of Pericopes+1 brings a 21st-century influence to their album These Human Beings. It’s modern jazz that’s heavy on intelligent melody and spirited improvisation. All the songs exhibit power and intention. Pericopes+1 also demonstrates a mastery of dynamics, creating steady climaxes that climb logically forward" David Kunian (Downbeat magazine – USA)

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Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Enjoy!

RNC Music
2023

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Sound Landscapes

Trifonica Edizioni
2022

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Up

Losen Records
2020

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Frames

Parmafrontiere
2014

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Sound Landscapes

From: Sound Landscapes
By Emiliano Vernizzi

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