Enrico Fazio Ensemble


The idea of creating the project Girotondo remained in the drawer of desires for many years, born from the youthful reading of the homonymous theatrical text written at the end of the 19th century by Arthur Schnitzler.
Girotondo is a story about love and relationships between the sexes, about communication and solitude: the characters, five male and five female, dialogue in pairs forming a chain, a round (A with B, B with C, etc., until the last one that connects back to the first, closing the circle).


I thought of creating a game within the game and translating this scheme into music, assigning the roles of the theatrical characters to five “male” instruments and five “female” instruments, chosen according to their extension range. The musicians who lent themselves to the game with their art and imagination were randomly paired with a theatrical character, so that the duets are the random result.

I carved out the role of host/narrator external to the couples. To give unity to the project, I chose to assign two dodecaphonic series to the musicians (ideally representing the male and female universe) to be used as a common thread, in a very free way and not necessarily as a rigid division of the sexes.

E.F.

Art Studio

Irene Robbins – voice & piano
Francesco Aroni Vigone – alto & soprano saxes
Claudio Lodati – guitars
Enrico Fazio – bass
Fiorenzo Sordini – drums/percussion


Born in ’74, Art Studio is one of the oldest combo actually on stage in Italy, several times recognised as among the best national bands on “Musica Jazz” referendum. Art Studio realized 8 CDs (one more on print). Often a guest singer is added to the basic band, as Irene Robbins, Ellen Christi, Tiziana Ghiglioni, Tiziana Simona. Music strongly based on modern and creative jazz.

Enrico Fazio – Sergey Letov Duo

Sergey Letov – saxes/clarinets/flutes
Enrico Fazio – bass




Two musicians with different culture and musical worlds, with an old friendship and a common love for performance music (theatre, dance, movie, etc…). The music is quite improvised,tuneful and rich of different atmospheres. One CD realized.

Enrico Fazio U.F.O.

Formazione base:
Andrea Chenna – oboe/english horn/saxes
Rino Vernizzi – bassoon
Sergey Letov – saxes/clarinets/flutes
Piero Ponzo – clarinets/alto sax
Francesco Aroni Vigone – alto & soprano saxes
Alberto Mandarini – trumpet/flugelhorn
Gianpiero Malfatto – trombone/tuba/flute
Giuliano Palmieri – live electronics
Enrico Fazio – bass/composition/arrangements
Fiorenzo Sordini – drums/percussion


Big ensemble (10 to 20 musicians, according to the projects: K. Weill, C. Mingus, sounds of tales…) born in ’87, with 2 CDs realized and one on print. The band includes top artist on stage, coming from different musical areas (jazz, electronic, classic, ethnic, rock music…). “…a beautiful
spectacle of a fairy tale with romantic, elevating music of E. F. and wonderful soloing… a real fairy tale! (A. Kahn, Jazz forum, Poland). “E. F. ingratiating Favola is loaded with all the mistery, life and pure joy of a good fable nence the aptness of the title… His grasp of orchestration is firm… Employing a large brassy ensemble, Fazio wrings the maximum from his quaint…” (C. Baugher, Cadence, USA). “This is a surprising and excellent re-arrangement of some great music (K. Weill). Fazio has taken material that has been done to death lately, put his own imprint on it and created
worthwhile music..” (R. Iannapollo, Cadence, USA).

Enrico Fazio Critical Mass


Enrico Fazio Critical Mass, 2023 recording session in (52+1) Recording Studio, Agliano Terme (AT)

Luca Campioni | violin
Anais Drago | violin • 5strings electric violin
Alberto Mandarini | trumpet • flugelhorn
Gianpiero Malfatto | trombone • euphonium • flute
Adalberto Ferrari | clarinet • bass, contrabass & turkish clarinets
Francesco Aroni Vigone | soprano & alto saxes
Gianni Virone | tenor & baritone saxes • lead flute (“Wabi Sabi”)
Jacopo Gabutto | tenor & baritone saxes (“Kintsugi” on print…)
Enrico Fazio | composition • double bass • electronics • handpan
Fiorenzo Sordini | drums • percussion

CRITICAL MASS

Born in ’86 as quintet, the band is actually a nonet named “Critical Mass”, with a few CDs realized.

…some of the most innovative and assured group playing I’ve heard… a delight from start to finish.” (P. Donnelly, Ejazznewws).
This is a fizzing band, full of carnival colours and offbeat energies…: long pieces impressively written, developed and sustained…” (The Penguin Guide to Jazz…, U.K.).
A happy big band sound… loud, fun, accessible stuff, tuneful… lots of european touches too…” (C. Matsumoto, Zookeeper online).
Fazio is one reason why, for this american listener, Italy has one of the world’s must consistently stimulating jazz scenes.” (K. Whitehead, Cadence, USA).
(this CD) is istantly on my best of the list not just for the year but the youthful decade. It has the seminal quality of… recordings that marked their own year and decade with individual imprint in your face.” (L. Van Trikt, Cadence, USA).