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Lello Molinari

Bassist, Band Leader, Educator Lello Molinari was born and raised in Naples, Italy. Lello Molinari studied Contrabass at the Scuola Civica in Sesto San Giovanni (MI). In 1985 Lello joined the Italian Vocal Ensemble. With the IVE Lello performed on national Radio and Television, as well as in jazz festivals such as: Pescara Jazz and Pompei Jazz. In ’86 the IVE recorded “Chiaroscuro” for the label “Red Records”, featuring Mike Melillo on Piano. That year Lello moved to Boston thanks to a scholarship from Berklee College of Music. In 1988 Lello lead the International Quartet through an European tour performing in Italy, Holland, and France, in festivals such as Umbria Jazz. In ’89 Lello received his Bachelors’ Degree from Berklee College of Music in Jazz Performance. In 1990 Lello was awarded a scholarship from the Boston Jazz Society, as deserving young Jazz talent. In ’91 Lello joined the Either Orchestra and toured the US and Canada, performing at events such as Toronto Jazz Festival and the Boston Globe Jazz Festival. That same year Lello also toured Italy with the George Garzone Quartet, and received his Master’s Degree from the New England Conservatory in Jazz Studies. While at NEC Lello studied for two years with Master Bassist Dave Holland. In ’92 the Lello Molinari Quintet was a winner in the Hennessy Cognac Best of Boston Jazz Search, and released its first Cd “No More Mr. Nice Guy” for “Accurate Records”. In ’93 Lello joined the Melrose Symphony Orchestra as their principal bassist and recorded several CDs. In ’94 Lello and his Quintet recorded their second Cd live at the RegattaBar Jazz Festival, titled “On A Boston Night” and released by “Accurate Records”. For the first 4 years starting in ’95, Lello participated in the Valtellina Jazz Festival performing with Jerry Bergonzi, Joe Diorio, Victor Lewis, and Dominique Eade. In ’96 Lello’s Quartet performed at the Pori Jazz Festival in Finland, in ’97 the Quartet performed at the Verona Jazz Festival. In 2000 Lello recorded his third Cd as a leader titled “Multiple Personalities” and released in 2001 by “Splas(h) Records”. It features George Garzone, Mick Goodrick, Frank Carlberg, Marcello Pellitteri, Bob Gullotti, Jeff Galindo, and Chiara Civello. In 2001 Lello toured Japan for 18 days with Makoto Takenaka, John Hazilla, and Bob Reynolds. In 2002 Lello performed at the Sant’Elpidio Jazz Festival with Kenny Wheeler, Greg Burke, John Hazilla, Rick DiMuzio, Garrison Fewell, and Lisa Thorson.

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8
Live Review

Lello Molinari Quartet at Regatta Bar

Read "Lello Molinari Quartet at Regatta Bar" reviewed by Doug Hall


Lello Molinari Quartet Regatta BarCambridge, Massachusetts May 1, 2018 During the creation of Lello Molinari's current release Lello's Italian Job, Vol. 2(March, 2018) the renown jazz bassist was intentionally stepping back to his roots of southern Italy, specifically Naples--which he left in 1986 to study at the Berklee College of Music, in Boston. In Lello's own words he empathized, “If you think about Italian music, it's like saying 'Jazz'--there's so much and it's so ...

2
Album Review

Lello Molinari: Lello's Italian Job Volume 2

Read "Lello's Italian Job Volume 2" reviewed by Jerome Wilson


Italian-born bassist Lello Molinari emigrated to the US in the 1980s and is an established part of the Boston jazz scene and a member of the faculty at the Berklee School of Music. In 2016 he released an album reworking the various musics of his homeland into modern jazz and he continues that on this CD. Molinari draws from Italian folk melodies and pop songs as well as opera here, putting them in new settings ranging from lush ...

3
Album Review

Lello Molinari: Lello's Italian Job, Vol. 1

Read "Lello's Italian Job, Vol. 1" reviewed by Jim Olin


Stellar bassist Lello Molinari has put together an ensemble of captivating instrumentals on his album Lello's Italian Job. Molinari exceeds expectations on a record with pleasant surprises; however, this collection is more than just ear candy. It's an imagination springboard that will take listeners to oases they've never been before.Mysterious and intriguing, “Speranze Perdute" can very well fit onto the soundtrack of Sherlock. Listening to this track is like participating in a cat and mouse chase set in ...

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Molinari’s music: in your face, a little raw, fiercely alive. DownBeat****1/2

Refreshing avant bop where compositional ingenuity yields well- constructured tunes tinged with wit. JazzTimes

In his writing Molinari musters his inspirations - Thelonious Monk, the blues, Ornette Coleman - into an original identity with a touch of humor. The Phoenix

“Just about every track on this CD is a gem. The writing is just phenomenal”. Performer Magazine

The Boston scene is sometimes described as insular. "On a Boston Night" will startle outsiders. Molinari is a bassist/leader with a concept. Option Magazine

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Primary Instrument

Bass, acoustic

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

American Waltz

Ziggle Zaggle Music
2009

buy

Multiple Personalities

Accurate Records
2003

buy

O Sarracino

From: Lello's Italian Job Volume 2
By Lello Molinari

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