Good to know: !!!
– Each photo in the gallery is linked to a video clip at the top right!
– Information about the video clip is located in the bottom right corner!
Miscellaneous
Under the heading “miscellaneous,” we would like to introduce mixed content.
First, two ensembles: the Renato Chicco Quintet and the Renato Chicco Trio.
The Renato Chicco Quintet
The Renato Chicco Quintet was formed primarily as an international all-star ensemble to pay tribute to the legendary U.S. jazz pianist and composer Mulgrew Miller, who passed away in 2013. Miller was considered one of the most influential stylists of modern hard bop. The quintet adopts the classic, high-caliber instrumentation—featuring vibraphone and saxophone—that defined Miller’s own renowned “Wingspan” project.
Background Information on the Band Members
Renato Chicco (Piano / Bandleader)
Flip Philipp (Vibraphone)
The Austrian percussionist and vibraphonist bridges a rare gap between classical music and jazz. He is a long-standing member of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra in the classical department.
Jaka Kopač (Alto Saxophone)
Exceptional Talent: The Slovenian saxophonist is regarded in the European jazz scene as an absolute heavyweight for the modern hard-bop sound.
Milan Nikolić (Double Bass)
The Serbian bassist is the rhythmic and harmonic backbone of numerous international formations in the Alpe-Adria region.
Joris Dudli (Drums)
The Swiss drummer has been a mainstay in the international jazz scene for decades and lived in New York for a long time.
The Renato Chicco Trio
The Renato Chicco Trio is the classic piano trio project led by the Italo-Slovenian jazz pianist, organist, and professor Renato Chicco. The formation performs in rotating, top-tier lineups where Chicco is accompanied on the grand piano by leading figures of the European and American jazz scenes (including bassists like Miloš Čolović, Philipp Zarfl, or Danny Ziemann, and drumers like Luka Matić, Drago Gajo, or Chris Smith). Musically, the trio is distinguished by deeply rooted hard bop, sophisticated arrangements, and seamless communication on stage. Alongside jazz standards, the ensemble regularly showcases Chicco’s original compositions as well as innovative jazz adaptations of traditional folk songs.
Concerts & Performances of the Trio with Video Clips (in the gallery)
– A live performance by the Renato Chicco Trio in June 2018.
The video is the “O6 2018 Aftermovie”, which serves as an official concert recording showing the trio performing the jazz standard “The End of a Beautiful Friendship”.
The key details for this specific video:
– Lineup: Renato Chicco (piano), Miloš Čolović (double bass), and Luka Matić (drums).
– Background: The performance took place as part of the Oslobođenje festival/project (supported by the Austrian Cultural Forum Belgrade and the Cultural Student Center DKSG in Serbia).
– Bazzum Jazz Festival 2023 (Full Concert): The complete, roughly one-hour concert recording of the trio on the second night of the Serbian festival. The performance captures the full musical spectrum of the ensemble, featuring spoken introductions by Renato Chicco and renditions of pieces like You Taught My Heart to Sing (19:35) and I Want to Talk About You (35:34).
Lineup: Renato Chicco (piano), Miloš Čolović (double bass), Luka Matić (drums).
– Live in the Studio feat. Francesca Leone: An intimate live video recording expanding the trio into a quartet format to back vocalist Francesca Leone on New York State of Mind.
Lineup: Renato Chicco (piano), Giampaolo Laurentaci (double bass), Andy Watson (drums), Francesca Leone (vocals).
– San Bernardo Jazz Fest: A live open-air recording of the trio performing during an international festival tour in South America.
