Thursday Jun 01, 2023

Ep 23 - Stefano Bollani

Hello everyone,

This is Mirko Guerrini, and I welcome you to the Jazz Transcription Clinic, a monthly interviews podcast where we talk with accomplished jazz doctors about their lives, careers and personal transcription secrets.

On this episode of the Jazz Transcription Clinic Podcast, Mirko Guerrini interviews the guest jazz doctor: STEFANO BOLLANI.

Stefano is not only one of my best friends, he was also my best man at my wedding and my deskmate at high school. We have gone through uncountable adventures, with some highlights like the recording of the album Carioca in Brazil (followed by several tours) and his jazz quintet I Visionari.

Leave a comment if you like.

Listen to Stefano''s answers to the questions below:
00:00 Introduction
02:50 Why do you transcribe?
27:34 How do you choose the solos you transcribe?
30:30 What is your methodology?
40:53 Do you write it down?
45:25 How do you practice your transcriptions?
46:00 How do you incorporate ideas into your solos?
48:26 Who was the most difficult player you transcribed?
57:47 Which transcription you've done is your favourite?

Stefano Bollani (born 5 December 1972) is an Italian composer, pianist, and singer, also active as a writer and television presenter.

Stefano has worked with such musicians as Gato Barbieri, Chick Corea, Bill Frisell, Sol Gabetta, Richard Galliano, Egberto Gismonti, Lee Konitz, Bobby McFerrin, Pat Metheny, Caetano Veloso, Phil Woods, Hector Zazou and has recorded more than 15 albums with trumpeter Enrico Rava. Bollani has performed with several symphonic orchestras (Filarmonica della Scala, Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, among others) and with directors such as Riccardo Chailly, Daniel Harding, Kristjan Järvi, Zubin Mehta, Gianandrea Noseda and Antonio Pappano. He has also played with Italian pop-rock artists and has participated in and hosted TV and radio shows. Currently, he has published 49 albums alone (31 studio).

Stefano, as usual, approaches transcription from a different angle and perspective. Knowing him for more than 40 years, I never had a chance to have a long, deep conversation on jazz transcriptions. I learned unexpected things and understood (finally) a few things that were always a mystery to me.

Click on the link and listen to the beautiful answer that Stefano gave me.

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