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Lello Molinari
double bass
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 I was born and raised in
Naples, Italy in
1962.
There wasn't much music in my life growing up...I was very involved with
soccer... still my father was a Glen Miller fan and my mother had studied
classical piano early on.
My brother was the first to pick-up an instrument (drums) and form a
band. That's when I decided to do the same. I played a
little piano, and I had a drummer friend...so we started looking for a bass
player. We found a piano player with more experience...and they decided I should
play bass.
My first bass was a Hofner like Paul's with the early Beatles. We
played by ear, the repertoire was Yes, Genesis, and various
English Pop. After a going through a few bands and a few bass lessons, the music
moved toward Funk, Earth Wind & Fire, The Average White Band,
etc.. The bass by then was a Fender Jazz.
 After more lessons I started to mingle more and more with a jazz crowd .
The fender jazz was traded for an Ibanez fretless, and I started playing
standards. In 1982
at the age of 20 I moved
with my family to Milano. There I decided to go back to school. I bought an
upright bass and enrolled in the Scuola Civica di Sesto San Giovanni.
I studied classical music
for 3 years, and then
joined my first professional jazz band.
That band was the Italian Vocal Ensemble: 2
vocalists, guitar, bass and drums.
We won third prize (out of a few hundred) in what was called Coppa del
Jazz 1995
(a competition much like a soccer
tournament). In the qualifying rounds we were performing on national radio and
television, as well as in jazz festivals. Such good placement led to more
concerts Pompei Jazz, Pescara Jazz, as well as to a recording
contract. We then recorded
Chiaroscuri for
Red Records with
Mike Melillo on piano as special guest. While recording the album I applied and
received a scholarship from the Berklee College of Music and moved to Boston in
1986.
High Society Jazz Band
was created to fulfill the need for a flexible band that can raise the
standard for any classy event. We perform with a wide variety of
instrumental combination, from a Piano & Bass duo, to a full size Big Band.
I know you will agree that the right music will set the right mood for any
party.
 Audio Samples
Take the A-Train
Desafinado
Beautiful Friendship
Tuxedo Junction
Ugly Beauty
The Picture you see above is our CD cover. You can request a
free
copy of our demo if you are considering hiring the band for a function, we
will send you the CD, a song list along with some references. If you need
more information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
(highsociety@lellomolinari.com) |
The basic group
we offer is a quartet with Saxes, Guitar, Bass & Drums, featuring: George
Garzone, Mick Goodrick, & Bob Gullotti. It is possible to
add another horn (Trombone featuring Jeff Galindo). For a smaller and
less expensive ensemble, we can offer a Piano trio featuring Frank
Carlberg & Marcello Pellitteri, to which we could add Chiara
Civello on vocals. In all cases we can guarantee the highest
professional & artistic level.
We can offer complete packages that include seminars & clinics.
If interested, please shoot me an e-mail and we’ll take it from
there. |
While at Berklee I founded a couple of bands. One was High Society, a
traditional jazz band mainly for working at private functions. The other was a
contemporary jazz band for clubs and festivals. In
1988
The International
Quartet toured Europe performing in Holland, France, and Italy, and
participating in festivals such as Umbria Jazz.
After graduating from Berklee I
applied and got a scholarship to attend the New England Conservatory.
In 1989 I began my masters degree program at
NEC. One of the most significant
musical experiences was my first ensemble there. It consisted of myself on bass,
a very good drummer, and our teacher George Garzone on sax. Playing with such
trio every week really opened-up my mind and ears. Also at the same time I was
studying bass with Dave Holland. Over the following 2 years
I was fortunate to learn a lot from both of these masters.
In 1990 I was the
recipient of the Boston Jazz Society's award for deserving young jazz talent.
That year I also briefly joined the Either Orchestra. It followed a brief tour
and performances at events such as the Du mounier Jazz Festival in Toronto and
the Boston Globe Jazz Festival.
In January 1991
George Garzone asked me to join him on an Italian tour. During
that tour we recorded "Do You Know A Cheap Hotel?".
Later that year I was fortunate
to invite and perform at my senior recital with George Garzone, Bob Gullotti,
and Luigi Tessarollo. That was the beginning of the Lello Molinari Band. In
September of that year I recorded my first CD "No More Mr. Nice Guy", released in
1992 for Accurate Records. That CD received a lot of nice
reviews and got some
nice work for the band for a couple of years.
 In 1994 we released
"On A Boston
Night" recorded live at the
Regattabar Jazz Festival in Cambridge, it featured
George Garzone, Bob Gullotti, and Rick Peckham. Since then the band has been
performing in New England, New York and Europe. We were invited to perform at
events such as Pori Jazz Festival in Finland and Verona Jazz in Italy. For the
first 4 editions 1995-96-97 & 98 I was invited to perform at the Valtellina Jazz
Festival in Italy performing with Jerry Bergonzi, Victor Lewis,
Joe Diorio, and
Dominic Eade.
Since 1994 I am the principal bassist with the
Melrose Symphony
Orchestra and recorded 2 CDs.
I also occasionally collaborate with the Quincy
Symphony Orchestra and the Cape Anne Symphony Orchestra.
Since 1997 I have been
an assistant professor
at Berklee College of Music, where I teach ensembles.
In March of 2000
I recorded my third CD
"Multiple Personalities" for
Splasc(h)
Records.
In June 2001, I toured Japan for 18 days with
Makoto Takenaka, Bob
Reynolds, & Jon Hazilla. In September
2001
"Multiple
Personalities"
was released.
Multiple Personalities
Lello Molinari
George Garzone -
Tenor & Soprano
sax
Mick Goodrick -
Guitar
Bob Gullotti & Marcello Pellitteri -
Drums
Frank Carlberg -
Piano
Jeff Galindo -
Trombone
Chiara Civello -
Voice
Lello Molinari -
Bass
1. Anthony Goes To The Mardy Gras
2. Ma Che Ffai?
3. Friday The 13th
4. The Peacocks
5. Beatrice
6. Tarantella
7. Malafemmina (BONUS! Full Track!)
8. Bemsha Swing
9. Boo Boo’s Birthday
10. Invitation
11. Quando |
No More Mr. Nice Guy
Lello Molinari
George Garzone -
Tenor & Soprano
sax
Luigi Tessarollo -
Guitar
Doug Yates -
Alto Sax & Bass Clarinet
Lello Molinari -
Bass
Matt Wilson -
Drums
1. C'era Chi?
2. Blues Anyone?
3. Stuntman
4. No More Mr. Nice Guy
5. Your Child
6. The Wall
7. Goodnight Sweetheart
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On A Boston Night
The Lello Molinari Quintet
Live At The Regattabar
Lello Molinari -
Bass
George Garzone -
Tenor & Soprano Sax
Bob Gulotti -
Drums & Percussion
Rick Peckham -
Guitar
Doug Yates -
Bass Clarinet & Alto Sax
1. There's Snow Place Like Home
2. First Dance
3. The Mingus I Knew
4. Echoes Of Rome
5. Hey, Open Up!
6. Nothing Cheap
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Contacts and information:
Lello Molinari
email:
lello@lellomolinari.com
web:
http://lellomolinari.com
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Last Modified Date: 18/12/2002
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