Dear friends,
What a busy summer so far! I've been blessed with lots of quality work in three different continents, and I thought I'd fill you in on what's been happening over the past couple of months.

In mid July, I have performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland with the Zulfugar Baghirov Quartet, featuring Washington DC pianist Harry Appelman, and French drummer (and fellow New Yorker) Julien Augier. The music was great and we got the star treatment, which never hurts once in a while, does it? With featured artists such as Seal, Jeff Beck, Lang Lang, Prince, Status Quo, Kool and the Gang and Antony and the Johnsons, I am not sure if Montreux can still be called a jazz festival these days, buy hey, the crowds were great, and fun was had by all!

After Montreux, I flew down to Italy to record some tracks and play a gig with drummer and composer extraordinaire Giovanni Scasciamacchia, and to teach a three day clinic in Piazza Armerina, Sicily, joining an international faculty which included Adam Nussbaum, Giovanni Mazzarino, Huw Warren, Maria Pia De Vito and several other great musicians/educators. The schedule in Piazza Armerina was grueling, since I would have to be up by 8am to teach my first class for the day, at 9:30am. After six hours of teaching bass students and ensembles, I would either play an evening concert with Adam and Giovanni, or attend one by other faculty members, and then off to a long jam session, lasting until 4am or so. By the end of the third day, I was dead tired, but it was a great experience and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. Teaching is something I find extremely rewarding, and I was very pleased about the progress that the students made within the three days (and hopefully, so were they!). 

The night before I flew back to New York, I played a gig with the uber-talented harmonica player Giuseppe Milici, who lives in Palermo, but regularly tours worldwide. As a matter of fact, I have performed with him in New York, more often than in Italy! We may have a few more dates coming up in New York in October, around the Columbus Day celebrations, and I am very much looking forward to them. On yesterday’s gig, the line up included two more Giuseppe’s: drummer Giuseppe Madonia, and pianist Giuseppe Vasapolli, who is an incredibly gifted instrumentalist and composer, working on heading out to the University of Southern Califonia in Los Angeles at the end of this year, to study film scoring. The quality of his writing is top notch already, and I am positive that his talent will be valued and appreciated once he gets to USC. He truly has a great career ahead as a pianist and composer, no doubt!

I've been in New York for just one week, and in a few hours I will be heading to JFK airport, yet once again! During this week I've spent here in the city, I had enough time to do some gigs and studio sessions, do my laundry, and start putting my stuff in boxes for my upcoming move to Manhattan Plaza (more about that later on this blog!). After a long 14 hour flight, I will find myself in Japan tomorrow, playing 12 concerts with the Hironobu Saito New York Quartet, featuring John Davis on drums and Toshiya Shibata on keys. This is my third year in a row touring Japan with Hiro’s band, and I am sure that the upcoming tour will be no less fun than the previous two ones!

Until next time,
Marco

(Soundcheck at the Montreux Jazz Festival)

Playing trio with Dado Moroni and Alvin Queen this past weekend here in New York City was really something else! Dado and Alvin are true living masters of this art form we call Jazz, and their ability to communicate with each other on stage is unbelievable. Rightfully so, I would say, they've played music together for the past 30 years!

The house was packed at each one of the four shows we played, and the following world-famous musicians could be spotted in the audience: Cedar Walton, Bill Goodwin, Lew Tabackin, Russell Malone, Lewis Nash, Peter Washington, Don Friedman, Jed Levy, Duduka da Fonseca, Maucha Audnet, Helio Alves, Hendrick Meurkens, Mark Taylor, Elias Bailey, Rossano Sportiello, Joris Roelofs, Fabio Morgera, and the list goes on and on. Can you imagine the pressure! But it was the greatest hang ever, before and after the shows.

I'll definitely be looking forward to the next performing opportunity with Dado and Alvin. It's gonna be a treat, these guys are the real deal!

-Marco

(pictured below: Dado, Alvin and Marco at the end of the last show)

Just found this online- couldn't be happier to read about it!

-Marco

Belgian city of Ghent first to introduce meatless days

Weekly meatless day official in Belgium

Press release from EVA (Ethical Vegetarian Alternative), Belgium

Starting May 13, the Belgian city of Ghent, one of the 370 European climate cities, may very well become the first worldwide to officially promote a weekly meatless day.

According to FAO, livestock is responsible for eighteen percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. That’s why city officials, in cooperation with the vegetarian organisation EVA, are determined to go the extra mile in our common battle against climate change. Other Belgian cities have already shown interest to follow Ghent’s example.

The first Thursday Veggie Day will kick off on Wednesday May 13th with a festive ceremony for the public. Tom Balthazar, councilman for the city’s health and environmental committee, will officially proclaim Thursdays to be vegetarian days.

As an appetizer for the campaign, the city council already had the opportunity to enjoy a gourmet vegetarian lunch at the city hall last week. At the official inauguration everyone will be invited to take part in the Meatless Thursday campaign, and vegetarian goodiebags will be handed out to citizens participating in the campaign. As of September, city schools will serve vegetarian lunches by default on Thursdays. All 5.000 city personnel will receive a free veggie city street map and a free vegetarian cooking brochure for professionals will be sent to all 1.500 restaurants. There will be cooking classes for both professionals and individuals. City run restaurants for Ghent staff have extended their vegetarian menu.

Ghent’s motivation to introduce the ‘Meatless Thursday is twofold:

- Any reduction of meat production and consumption, which leads to greenhouse gas emissions and the degradation of soil, water and air, desertification and deforestation, will bring enormous benefits for the environment.

- Ghent also wants to be a healthy city. A well balanced vegetarian meal is not only sustainable but also healthy. Belgians, and Europeans in general, eat too much meat and not enough vegetables, which has serious consequences for their health. Too much meat heightens cholesterol levels as well as the risk of some cancers, diabetes and obesity.

By participating in Meatless Thursday, we choose health: ours and our planet’s.



Contact
EVA (Ethical Vegetarian Alternative) - Belgium
Tobias Leenaert, EVA vzw,
++32 (0) 494 64.69.38 or ++ 32 (0) 9 329 68 51.
tobias@vegetarisme.be

Source: EVA (Ethical Vegetarian Alternative)

Date: 2009-05-12

 

Dear friends,
It gives me great pleasure to let you know that, as of last week, I have officially become a permanent US resident. My Green Card looks more beige than green, but I don't mind that one bit.

A heartfelt "thank you" goes to all of you who have supported me in one way or another during my application process, you know who you are!

take care,
Marco

Dear friends,
thank you all for your birthday wishes, I appreciate them. Unfortunately, my birthday is on November 8th, not on January 1st... MySpace must have messed up and I have no idea how to edit my birthday info. Any leads?

-Marco

MTA New York City Transit Service Alert

Posted on:8/16/2007

Due to a single droplet of water falling from the sky mistaken for rain that was actually condensation from an air conditioner in a 17th floor apartment, there are delays on the following subway lines:

1 trains are running between 14th Street and 18th Street in both directions.

2 and 3 uptown trains will terminate at 96th Street, as the conductors don't feel like going to Harlem.

4, 5, and 6 trains will be making two loops around Central Park before getting you to your destination, because they need some fresh air.

7 trains are enjoying a hot dog and beer at Willets Point-Shea Stadium and will resume normal operation once the game is over.

A, B, C and D trains are not running at all, because they really just don't have time for your crap today.

E trains are running express in Manhattan, enjoying the nice cool breeze they get from going 30 miles an hour.

F and V trains are stuck in some neighborhood in Queens that you've never heard of.

G trains are currently experiencing an inferiority complex and will not run until further notice/counseling.

J , M, and Z trains are running normally, of course, since nobody ever uses these trains.

L trains are running between Princeton Junction and Hoboken. We really can't explain how they ended up there.

N and Q trains are currently running on the Cyclone track at Coney Island-Stillwell Ave.

R and W trains are feeling nostalgic right now, and are currently running over the Brooklyn Bridge.

S service is suspended between Times Square-42nd Street and Grand Central-42nd Street. You can just walk. You do have legs, don't you?

We would apologize for the inconvience, but we like to watch you suffer.

Thank you for riding with MTA New York City Transit!