Musical director of JMood Records, Kansas City - USA
International jazz pianist and composer Roberto Magris (b. 1959) from Trieste, Italy,
has over 32 recordings to his credit and has toured in over 42 different countries
in Europe, America, Asia, Africa and Australia, performing at top jazz clubs, theatres
and festivals around the world. Since 2006, Magris
has mainly focused his musical interests in the USA by becoming the leading recording
artist and musical director of JMood Records, the Kansas City jazz label, releasing
18 CDs under his name (Suite!, Sun Stone, World Gardens, Roberto Magris Sextet Live
in Miami @ The WDNA Jazz Gallery – which was
chosen by Down Beat magazine as one of the best recordings of
2018 - Enigmatix, Aliens in a bebop planet and Morgan
Rewind, among the others). In the USA, Magris has performed in Los Angeles (The
Jazz Bakery and Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood), Kansas City (The Blue Room), Miami
(WDNA Jazz Gallery, FIU Music Festival at Wertheim Performing Arts Center), Chicago
(The Jazz Showcase), Milwaukee (The Jazz Estate), St. Louis, Omaha, Des Moines and
Ft. Lauderdale. In 2007 he was honored by the City
Council of Kansas City for his contribution to jazz music and performance at the
American Jazz Museum. In Europe, Magris has been performing at festivals and jazz
clubs with the MUH Trio (Roberto Magris/Frantisek Uhlir/Jaromir Helesic Trio), which
has its base in Prague and has recorded the albums "Prague After Dark" and "A Step
Into Light". Throughout his career, Magris has performed and recorded with a who's
who list of jazz legends and outstanding musicians, including Art Davis (bassist
for John Coltrane
(Hamlet, 23 settembre 1926 – New York, 17 luglio 1967)),
Herb Geller, Albert Tootie Heath,
Idris Muhammad,
Ira Sullivan, Sam Reed, Brian Lynch, Tony Lakatos, Mark Colby, Eric Hochberg, Chuck
Bergeron, Paul Carr, Philip Catherine, Franco Ambrosetti, Bill Molenhof, Janusz
Muniak, Bosko Petrovic, Kai Winding, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Sal Nistico, and with
a bunch of rising stars such as Hermon Mehari, Logan Richardson, Kendall Moore,
Brandon Lee, Eric Jacobson, Shareef Clayton, Jim Mair, Matt Otto, Elisa Pruett,
Peter Schlamb, Dominique Sanders, Brian Steever, Alfredo Chacon, Rodolfo Zuniga,
Pablo Sanhueza a.o.. During his career, Magris has also directed the Europlane Orchestra
(a central-European jazz venture sponsored by INCE-Central European Initiative),
the Gruppo Jazz Marca, the acid-jazz bands Dma Urban Jazz Funk and Alfabeats Nu
Jazz, and his Italian quartet, also recording 3 CDs issued by the renowned Italian
jazz label Soulnote and one issued by Velut Luna, entitled "Big Band Ritmo-Sinfonica
Città di Verona plays the music of
Roberto Magris/Restless
Spirits". Over the years, Magris' interviews and CD reviews have been published
in the main international jazz magazines, books and websites such as Down Beat,
JazzTimes, Cadence, All About Jazz, New York City Jazz Record, Jazzwax, Rifftides,
Chicago Jazz Magazine, Jazz Inside, Jazziz, Jazz Journal UK, Jazz Podium, Concerto,
Jazz Hot, Jazzwise, Orkester Journalen, Jazzrytmit, Jazzflits, Jazzmozaiek, Jazz'Halo,
Doctor Jazz, World Music Report, Salt Peanuts, The Walker's, Jazz Magazine,
Musica Jazz, Jazzit, Music Magazine, The Jazz Stories Project and many others.
"The most interesting bop/post-bop pianist on the current European scene"
(Brian Morton, Jazz Journal)
"One of the finest piano players on the planet" (Edward Blanco, All About
Jazz)
ROBERTO MAGRIS – DISCOGRAPHY
- The MUH Trio / Magris-Uhlir-Helesic Trio / A Step Into Light (JMood Cd
2020) con Frantisek Uhlir e Jaromir Helesic
- Roberto Magris / Suite! (JMood Cd 2019) with Mark
Colby, Eric Jacobson, Eric Hochberg, Greg Artry and PJ Aubree Collins
- Roberto Magris Sextet / Sun Stone (JMood Cd 2019)
with Ira Sullivan, Mark Colby, Shareef Clayton, Jamie Ousley and Rodolfo Zuniga
- Roberto Magris / World Gardens (JMood Cd 2018)
with Dominique Sanders, Brian Steever and Pablo Sanhueza
- Roberto Magris Sextet / Live in Miami @ the WDNA Jazz Gallery (JMood Cd
2017) with Brian Lynch, Jonathan Gomez, Chuck Bergeron,
John Yarling and Murph Aucamp
- The MUH Trio / Magris-Uhlir-Helesic Trio / Prague After Dark (JMood Cd
2017) with Frantisek Uhlir and Jaromir Helesic
- Roberto Magris / Need To Bring Out Love (JMood Cd 2016)
with Dominique Sanders, Brian Steever, Julia Haile and Monique Danielle
- Roberto Magris / Enigmatix (JMood Cd 2015) with
Dominique Sanders, Brian Steever, Pablo Sanhueza and Monique Danielle
- An Evening With Herb Geller & The Roberto Magris Trio / Live In Europe
2009 (JMood Cd 2014)
with Herb Geller, Nikola Matosic and Enzo Carpentieri
- Roberto Magris Septet / Morgan Rewind: A Tribute To Lee Morgan, Vol. 2 (JMood
Cd 2014) with Hermon Mehari, Jim Mair, Peter Schlamb,
Elisa Pruett, Brian Steever and Pablo Sanhueza
- Roberto Magris Trio / One Night In With Hope And More…, Vol. 2 (JMood Cd
2013) with Elisa Pruett, Brian Steever and Albert
"Tootie" Heath
- Roberto Magris Quintet / Cannonball Funk'n Friends (JMood Cd
2013) with Hermon Mehari, Jim Mair, Dominique Sanders
and Alonzo "Scooter" Powell
- Sam Reed Meets Roberto Magris / Ready For Reed (JMood Cd 2013)
with Sam Reed, Kendall Moore, Steve Lambert, Dominique Sanders, Brian Steever and
Pablo Sanhueza
- Roberto Magris Space Trek / Aliens In A Bebop Planet (JMood Cd
2012) with Matt Otto, Dominique Sanders, Brian Steever,
Pablo Sanhueza and Eddie Charles
- Roberto Magris Trio / One Night In With Hope And More…, Vol. 1 (JMood Cd
2012) with Elisa Pruett and Albert "Tootie" Heath
- Roberto Magris Quintet / Morgan Rewind: A Tribute To Lee Morgan, Vol. 1 (JMood
Cd 2011) with Brandon Lee, Logan Richardson, Elisa
Pruett and Albert "Tootie" Heath
- Roberto Magris Quartet with Voice / Canzoni Italiane In Jazz (Pop-eye Cd
2011) with Maria Dal Rovere, Mario Cogno and
Paolo Prizzon
- Roberto Magris Quintet / Mating Call (JMood Cd 2010)
with Paul Carr, Michael O'neill, Elisa Pruett and
Idris Muhammad
- Roberto Magris & The Europlane Orchestra / Current Views (Soulnote Cd
2009) with Philip Catherine, Bill Molenhof, Roberto
Ottaviano, Christian Muenchinger, Krystof Bacso, Marko Lackner, Ferenc Schreck,
Rado Tariska, Ondrej Jurasi,
Marco Castelli,
Lojze Krajncan, Vitold Rek, Frantisek Uhlir, Darko Jurkovic, Julius Baros and Gabriele
Centis
- Big Band Ritmo-Sinfonica Città di Verona plays the music of Roberto Magris / Restless
Spirits (Velut Luna Cd 2009) with big band
- Roberto Magris Trio / Kansas City Outbound (JMood/PCAMI Cd
2008) with Art Davis, Jimmy "Junebug" Jackson and
Zack Albetta
- Roberto Magris Europlane a.o. / Jazz Magazine N. 55 (Cd compilation
2007)
- Roberto Magris Europlane feat. Herb Geller / Il Bello del Jazz (Soulnote Cd
2006) with Herb Geller, Darko Jurkovic, Rudi Engel
and Gabriele Centis
- Alfabeats Nu Jazz / Stones (Oasis Cd 2006) with
Max "MBassAdo" Marzio, Luca Boscagin, Paolo Andriolo and
Paolo Prizzon
- Roberto Magris Europlane feat. Tony Lakatos / Check In (Soulnote Cd
2005) with Tony Lakatos, Michael Erian, Robert Balzar
and Gabriele Centis
- Europlane Orchestra / Plays Kurt Weill (Pull Cd 2000)
with Ines Reiger, Lojze Krajncan,
Marco Castelli,
Darko Jurkovic, Frantisek Uhlir and Gabriele Centis
- Europlane Orchestra / Live at Zooest (Zooest Cd 1998)
with Julius Baros, Marko Lackner, Lojze Krajncan,
Marco Castelli,
Darko Jurkovic, Frantisek Uhlir and Gabriele Centis
- Dma Urban Jazz Funk (Map Cd 1998) reissued as "Up
to the beat!" (Map Cd 2003) with Max "MbassAdo"
Marzio, Marco Castelli,
Edu Hebling and Mark Smith
- Dma Urban Jazz Funk a.o. / Acid Jazz Magazine N. 77 (Cd compilation
2003)
- Dma Urban Jazz Funk a.o. / New Age & New Sounds Magazine N. 126 (Cd compilation
2003)
- Dma Urban Jazz Funk a.o. / Vocal Groove & Jazz Dance (Srazz Cd compilation
1996)
- Roberto Magris Quartet a.o. / Trieste e il Jazz (Ed. Fenice – book/Cd compilation
2002)
- Roberto Magris Quintet a.o. / Live al Vapore (Srazz Cd compilation
1995) with Florian Brambock,
Marco Castelli,
Luigi Rossi and Davide Ragazzoni
- Roberto Magris Quartet / Maliblues (Map Cd 1994)
with Marco Castelli,
Luigi Rossi and Davide Ragazzoni
- Roberto Magris & The D.I. Project / Music of Today (Splasch Cd
1992) with Achim Goettert, Joerg Drewing, Albrecht
Riermeyer, Martin Klingeberg,
Marco Castelli,
Rudi Engel and Davide Ragazzoni
- Roberto Magris Israsextet / Life in Israel (Jazzis Cd 1990)
with Ofer Israeli, Larry Smith,
Marco Castelli,
Luigi Rossi and Davide Ragazzoni
- Gruppo Jazz Marca / Mitteleuropa (Gulliver Lp 1986)
reissued by Arision (Cd 2006) with Franco Polisseni,
Lilli Furlan and ensemble
- Gruppo Jazz Marca / Aria di Città (IAF Lp 1983) reissued
by Arision (Cd 2009) with Franco Polisseni and Massimo
Moriconi
- Gruppo Jazz Marca / Comunicazione Sonora (IAF Lp 1982)
reissued by Arision (Cd 2005) with Franco Polisseni
and Franco Testa
REVIEWS – Articles and reviews of Magris' concerts and Cd's have been published
along the years in Down Beat, JazzTimes, Cadence, All About Jazz, New York City
Jazz Record, Jazzwax, Rifftides, Chicago Jazz Magazine, Jazz Inside, Jazziz, Jazz
Journal UK, Jazz Podium, Concerto, Jazz Hot, Jazzwise, Orkester Journalen, Jazzrytmit,
Jazzflits, Jazzmozaiek, Jazz'Halo, Doctor Jazz, World Music Report, Salt Peanuts,
The Walker's, Jazz Magazine, Musica Jazz, Jazzit, Music Magazine, Jazzthetik, Goldmine,
Allmusic, Jazzman, Jazz Notes, The Wire, Cuadernos de Jazz, Jazz Review, Blu Jazz,
Jazzitalia, Acid Jazz, New Age & New Sounds, The Los Angeles Times, Herald Tribune,
Capital Times, Pittsburgh Tribune, News & Observer, Herald Sun, La Nacion, Clarin,
ABC, El Pais, Toronto Star, El Nacional, The Gleaner, Irish Times, Canberra Times,
Jakarta Post, South China Morning Post, El Universal, Jerusalem Post, Nuernberger
Zeitung, Mitteldeutsch Zeitung, Basler Zeitung, Tiroler Zeitung, Vjesnik, Novi List,
La Repubblica, Corriere della Sera Magazine, Libero, Il Fatto Quotidiano, La Discussione,
Liberazione, Il Secolo d'Italia, Meridiani and in many other newspapers and magazines.
INTERVIEWS – Magris' main interviews were published by Music Magazine (Italy
2019), Cadence (USA 2016),
Chicago Jazz Magazine (USA 2016), Jazzit (Italy
2016), JazzTimes (USA 2015),
Jazz Journal (UK 2015), Concerto (Austria
2015), Musica (Italy 2015),
"Artist of the month" at JazzdaGama.com (Canada 2015),
"Musician of the day" at All About Jazz (USA 2009,
2010, 2011,
2012), Jazzconvention (Italy
2015), JazzWax (USA 2008), Jazz World Quest
(Canada 2007), Jazzit (Italy
2006), Musica Jazz (Italy 2005), All About Jazz
(USA 2004). Magris's profile and recordings were quoted
in several books about jazz music.
Magris has performed at top jazz clubs, theatres and festivals around the world,
including Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood, The Blue Room in Kansas City, The Jazz
Bakery in Los Angeles, The WDNA Jazz Gallery in Miami and The FIU Music Festival
at Wertheim Performing Arts Center, The Jazz Showcase in Chicago, The Jazz Estate
in Milwaukee, Porgy & Bess in Vienna, Reduta, Agharta and Jazz Dock in Prague, Muniak
Jazz Club in Krakow, Jazz Club Gajo in Ljubljana, B.P. Jazz Club in Zagreb, Unterfahrt
in Munich, Royal Garden Jazz Club in Graz, Half Note in Athens, Nardis in Istanbul,
Atlantis in Basel, Bennett's Lane in Melbourne, Thelonious and Notorious in Buenos
Aires, Ruta Maya in Managua, Juan Sebastian Bar in Caracas, The Saddle in Haifa,
Festival Cervantino in Mexico, Montreal Jazz Festival, San Sebastian Jazz Festival,
Ocho Rios Jamaica Jazz Festival, Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival, Summer Jazz Festival
Krakow, Novi Sad Jazz Festival, Atlantic Jazz Festival Halifax, Mar del Plata Jazz
Festival, Sofia Jazz Peak, Kaunas Jazz Festival, Galway Jazz Festival, Jazz at Hermitage
Moskow, Jazzkaar Tallinn, Ecuador Jazz, Jazz en Lima, Jakarta Anniversary Festival,
Hong Kong Performing Arts Center, Puppet Theatre in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Gulf
Jazz Festival in Kuwait and Bahrein, in Manila, Philippines, in Uruguay, in Paraguay,
in Curacao, in Libreville, Gabon, with the African traditional musicians, and at
the world's highest jazz club in Huaraz, Perù, over 3000 mt.
SELECTED PERFORMANCES – Jazz Club Birdland, Neuburg a.d. Donau (Germany,
2020, 1993), Jazz Club
Weiden (Germany 2020), Agharta, Prague (Czech Rep.
2020, 2019,
2018, 2017,
2015, 2001), The Jazz
Showcase, Chicago (USA 2019,
2018), Summer Jazz Festival Krakow and Muniak Jazz Club (Poland
2019, 2012,
2009, 2006), Jazzinec
Festival, Trutnov (Czech Rep. 2019), Jazz Club Drosendorf
(Austria 2019), IG Jazz Freiberg (Germany
2019), FIU Music Festival at Wertheim Performing Arts
Center, Miami (USA 2018), The Jazz Estate, Milwaukee
(USA 2018), Tonne Jazz Club, Dresden (Germany
2018), Jazz Festival Vsetin (Czech Rep.
2018), Jazz Festival Steyr (Austria
2018), Royal Garden Jazz Club, Graz (Austria
2018), Bird's Eye, Basel (Switzerland
2018), Reduta Jazz Club, Prague (Czech Rep.
2018, 2017,
2016, 2015), Jazz ve meste,
Frydek-Mystek (Czech Rep. 2018), Jazz Festival Bruntal
(Czech Rep. 2018), Jazz Klub Satchmo, Hradec Kralove
(Czech Rep. 2018, Jazz Studio, Nuernberg (Germany
2018), Jazz Club Bamberg (Germany
2018), Cafè Museum, Passau (Germany
2018), ESSE, Winterthur (Switzerland
2018, 2017), WDNA Jazz
Gallery, Miami (USA 2017, 2016),
Il jazz italiano per le terre del sisma, L'Aquila (Italy 2017),
Jazz For Sale, Kosice (Slovakia, 2017), Horice Jazz
Nights (Czech Rep. 2017), Jazz Festival Lanskroun (Czech
Rep. 2017), Jazz & Blues Festival, Usti nad Labem (Czech
Rep. 2017), Jazz Club Armer Konrad, Weinstadt (Germany
2019, 2017), Jazz Club
Lindau (Germany 2019, 2017,
1995, 1990), Jazz Club
Ludwigsburg (Germany 2019, 2017),
Trieste Loves Jazz Festival (Italy 2017,
2015, 2013,
2009, 2007), Brookfield
Jazz Society, Chicago (USA 2016), NOCE, Des Moines
(USA 2016), All That Jazz Café, Fort Lauderdale (USA
2016), Jazz Festival Cheb (Czech Rep.
2016), Ozark Theatre, St. Louis (USA
2015), Love's Jazz & Arts Center, Omaha (USA
2015), Caspe Terrace, Des Moines (USA
2015), Jazz by the lake, Kansas City (USA
2015, 2014), Alternativa,
Zlin (Czech Rep. 2018, 2016),
Jazz Dock, Prague (Czech Rep. 2018,
2015), Gulf Jazz Festival, Kuwait City and Manama (Kuwait
and Bahrain 2013), IIC Los Angeles (USA
2010), White Field Jazz Festival, Bjielo Polje (Montenegro
2010), North City Jazz Fest, Mitrovica (Kosovo
2010), Phoenix Jazz Club, Kansas City (USA
2010,2009), Ecuador Jazz
Festival, Quito (Ecuador 2009), Porgy & Bess Vienna
(Austria 2009, 2008,
1994), Novi Sad Jazz Festival (Serbia
2009), Ancona Jazz (Italy 2009,1992),
Jazz Time Rijeka (Croatia 2009,1998,1997,1994),
The Jazz Bakery, Los Angeles (USA 2008,
2006), Distrito Jazz Bilbao (Spain
2008), Europa Jazz Fest Bucharest (Romania
2008), Manila Piazza Italia Expo (Philippines
2008), The Blue Room, Kansas City (USA
2007), Galway Jazz Festival (Ireland
2007), Nomme Jazz Festival, Tallinn (Estonia
2007), Nardis Jazz Club, Istanbul (Turkey
2007), Downtown Sambosi Jazz Festival, Budapest (Hungary
2007), Catalina's Jazz Club, Los Angeles (USA
2006), Jazz at the Hermitage Garden, Moscow (Russia
2006), Umbria Jazz (Italy 2006),
Notorious and Thelonious, Buenos Aires (Argentina 2006),
Centre Culturel Francais, Libreville (Gabon 2006),
Centro Cultural Ruta Maya, Managua (Nicaragua 2006),
Granados Hall Asuncion and Encarnacion (Paraguay 2006),
Aarau and Olten jazzclubs (Switzerland 2005), Hong
Kong Performing Arts Festival and Guangzhou Xhinghai Festival (China
2004), Jakarta Festival (Indonesia
2004), Sofia Jazz Peak (Bulgaria
2004), Tashkent Jazz Festival and Samarcanda (Uzbekistan
2003), Melbourne Italian Jazz Festival and Bennett's
Lane Jazzclub (Australia 2003), Jazz en Lima (Perù
2003), Mar del Plata Jazz Festival (Argentina
2003), Jazz Tour Montevideo (Uruguay
2003), No Borders Music (Italy
2003), Kaunas Jazz and Vilnius (Lithuania
2002), Locarno Jazz (Switzerland
2002), Montreal Jazz Festival, Toronto Downtown Jazz
Festival and Atlantic Jazz Festival Halifax (Canada 2001),
Gostenhofer Jazztage Nuernberg (Germany 2001), Udine
Jazz (Italy 2001), Half Note Athens (Greece
2001), San Sebastian Jazz Festival (Spain
2000), Newport Jazz Festival Torino (Italy
2000), Ocho Rios Jazz Festival (Jamaica
2000), Curacao Jazz Festival (Dutch Antilles
1999), Juan Sebastian Bar Caracas (Venezuela
1999), Jazzkaar Tallin (Estonia
1999), Festival Guanajuato and Festival Olimpio Merìda
(Mexico 1999), Festival Jazz Corinthos and Athens Music
Festival (Greece 1998), Festival Cervantino, Festival
Metepec and Festival Guanajuato (Mexico 1997), Moritzburg
Jazz Festival Halle (Germany 1996), Atlantis Basler
Jazz Woche (Switzerland 1995), Jazz in Raab (Austria
1994), Int.l Jazz Days Zagreb (Croatia
1993), Jazz Days Liberec (Czech Rep.
1992), Jazz Festival Wuerzburg (Germany
1992), Lange Jazz Nacht Lindau (Germany
1991), Festival Jazz Sant Cugat (Spain
1990), Jazz Ost-West Nuernberg (Germany
1990), Messina Jazz Meeting (Italy
1989), Pannonton Jazz Napok Budapest (Hungary
1989), Prerov Jazz Days (Czech Rep.
1988), Euro Jazz Ivrea (Italy
1988), Sibiu Jazz (Romania 1986), Jazz Festival
Gottwaldov and Blansko Jazz Days (Czech Rep. 1986),
Cegled Jazz Show (Hungary 1986), Int.l Jazz Festival
Prague (Czech Rep. 1984).
Max "MBassadoo" Marzio - rap vocals
Luca Boscagin - electric guitar
Roberto Magris - acoustic piano, fender rhodes, hammond organ
Paolo Andriolo - electric bass
Paolo Prizzon - drums and percussions