Discography

NINO (compilation)

2019

NINO (compilation)

2019

Simone Zanchini soloist with
HR FRANKFURT RADIO BIG BAND

Progetti 2 (compilation)

2017

Progetti 2 (compilation)

2017

Simone Zanchini with different bands

label : barvin records

Eclectic musicians, nimbly and properly moving from a genre to another are everyday more frequent. In Simone Zanchini case this capability is consolidated by studies and experiences about both classical music and jazz music and by a limitless curiosity able to consider many different ways of doing music. Progetti 2 shows some faces of this polyhedral musician. The most curious feature, which surprises because of the stylistic variety of the pieces, is the extraordinary solidity of this record. This collection is born to introduce different aspects of a musical production, where the research of coherence and of continuity should be ignored. “Progetti 2” emphasizes the unifying theme of the histrionic and extrovert personality of Zanchini: the different approaches fix together immediately, like they were magnetized, showing how, in the mind of the accordionist they intervene one modifying each other, tracing the synthesis between different experiences and forms of expression.
Fabio Ciminiera

Don't try this anywhere

2015

Don't try this anywhere

2015

Simone Zanchini international quartet (michael brecker tribute)
simone zanchini - accordion, electronics
john patitucci - bass
adam nussbaum - drums
stefano bedetti - sax
ratko zjaca - guitar

label: in and out records

WHY A TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL BRECKER WITH AN ACCORDION?

For two main reasons: first because I love contemporary refined jazz and I consider Brecker one of its greatest exponents, and then because, at least to my knowledge, no accordionist has ever done a tribute to him. This is the reason for the choice of a tribute to Michael Brecker, an artist who has made the modern language and the search for a harmonically complex phrasing his musical philosophy.

Simone Zanchini

My brother Mike thrived on originality, everything about him was different. He would have loved this project which oozes originality and interaction at the highest level. These great musicians know how to LISTEN…this is just a stupendous effort!
…. pretty wild shit, I really enjoyed it too!

Randy Brecker

CASADEI SECONDO me

2014

CASADEI SECONDO me

2014

Simone Zanchini jazz quartet
simone zanchini - accordion, elettronics
stefano bedetti - sax
stefano senni - bass
zeno de rossi - drums

label: stradivarius

In general, I have never been interested in tributes, homages, or revivals. I've always thought of them as old, a bit pathetic and tied to the past. However, when I was asked to pay tribute to Secondo Casadei, I could not refuse.
No, Casadei is another thing!
Casadei represents my past as well as that of all the inhabitants of Romagna, and not just a musical past but of life in a general sense. If you were born in Romagna and decided, at the age of seven, to play the accordion, Casadei's music automatically becomes an obligatory phase that invades your life happily. Yes, I started and grew up with those sounds. And today I find myself honoured to be able to put my hand on the melodies composed by this great musician, in an attempt to give them a new twist and a more modern musical freshness, imbued with all the contaminations that have formed me through the long course of my studies, just like classical music and jazz.
Simone Zanchini

Now !

2014

Now !

2014

NIESCIER-ZANCHINI-SENNI TRIO
angelika niescier - saxophone
simone zanchini - accordion, electronics
stefano senni - bass

label: blue pearls music

The trio presents a repertoire of only original tracks (by Niescier and Zanchini), tracks written with the purpose of finding new sound paths both through the use of modern writing techniques as well as through the use of sounds and live electronics.
The eclecticism and the virtuosity of the three musicians permits them to wander, taking in various influences and improvising in an impromptu fashion with a high degree of communicative inter-play.

Beyond the lines

2013

Beyond the lines

2013

ZZ international quartet
simone zanchini - accordion
ratko zjaca - guitar
martin gjaconovski - bass
adam nussbaum - drum

label: in and out records

On Beyond The Lines, this foursome delivers music that's alternately breezy, brainy, brash or bold. They create beautiful aural tapestries ("Bale Con La Uno" and "Days Of Old"), use simple, evolving riffs and overlapping ostinatos as a leaping off point for something greater ("The Clockwork"), and delight in delivering a zany, left-of-center hoedown ("Celtico"). Understatement also has its place in the program ("River Spirit"), as does full-steam-ahead interplay ("The Judge Says You Are Innocent") and tuneful cheeriness ("The Easy Whistler"). These men truly manage to cover a lot of ground as they move beyond the lines and wherever else they please. Some of these pieces use textural elements as structural cornerstones while others tend to be built on and around rhythmic foundations, but all of the music speaks to the creative spirit of its makers. Zanchini seems to have the greatest range of all the men at play, serving as instigator one minute and creating sonic sedatives the next, but Zjaca is the solo voice of note. His solo spots simultaneously display deep thought and highlight an off-the-cuff creative streak that's ever-visible. Nussbaum and Gjakonovski prove to be an organic pair that's willing and able to do whatever the music demands, be it moving forward, receding into the shadows, or playing things straight. In ZZ Quartet, differences and likenesses both prove to be assets. These four men wear their individuality and togetherness like a badge of honor on Beyond The Lines.

Dan Bilawski. Jan. 2014

My Accordion's Concept

2012

My Accordion's Concept

2012

Simone Zanchini SOLO
simone zanchini - accordion, electronics, kazoo, toys.

label: silta records

"I have always been convinced that the hummings living in our brain are only our own, beautifully unique and they can only be perceived with a huge “availability” We live in a world full of codes, from the calendar onwards everything is codified. The time we live seems to have a peculiar need of recognized and recognizable languages and of what I call “style reproducers”. This getting away from the code is the brave, pretentious and sometime risky purpose of my musical research. A solo album played on the accordion, an instrument which is mostly identified with known music styles".

Simone Zanchini.

Basso Profilo

2011

Basso Profilo

2011

TOMMASO-MIRABASSI-ZANCHINI TRIO
giovanni tommaso - bass
gabriele mirabassi - clarinet
simone zanchini - accordion

label: cam jazz

BassoProfilo.. a skillful play on words, but especially a musical "attitude" which starts from the BASS, without any ties or stylistic constraints. Prodigious talent, creativity and spontaneity secure a prime result.

The way we talk

2010

The way we talk

2010

ZZ international quartet
simone zanchini - accordion
ratko zjaca - guitar
martin gjaconovski - bass
adam nussbaum - drum

label: in and out records

On this outstanding album, Croatian Ratko Zjaca and Italian Simone Zanchini manifest a level of creative compatibility that can genuinely be described as phenomenal. And they receive impeccable support from Macedonian Martin Gjakonovski and American Adam Nussbaum.

Mike Hennessey

Zanchini and Zjaca have created something very different in The Way We Talk. The temptation to resort to clichés, when incorporating an outlier such as the accordion is great!
All about jazz

Fuga per Art

2008

Fuga per Art

2008

Simone Zanchini jazz quintet (art van damme tribute)
simone zanchini - accordion
andrea dulbecco - vibes
giancarlo bianchetti - guitar
stefano senni - bass
massimo manzi - drums

label: dodici lune

Dear Simone , I’m very much impressed by your playing. My congrats to you for showing what the accordion can sound like in jazz.

Art Van Damme, April 2009

Better Alone..!

2008

Better Alone..!

2008

Simone Zanchini SOLO
simone zanchini - accordion, midi-accordion, electronics, kazoo, laptop.

label: silta records

“Better alone” is not an attitude of conceit , but, on the contrari, it’s a full consciousness that if we shatter some codes and some languages, the interplay and the musical dialogue become difficult and complicated. Therefore, to remedy at this insurmountable difficultly, I say to myself....better alone!"

Simone Zanchini

The purpose of the album is to create a blend where the acoustic and electronic parts melt together constructing a unique sound-mixture. All the possible timbres of the acoustic accordion, merge with the endless electronic's sound-world, also using a very special midi-accordion and the sound's manipulation in real time through computer.

Up & Down

2013

Up & Down

2013

Simone Zanchini - Mauro Ottolini - Daniele D'Agaro
label: artesuono

Be-bop Buffet

2006

Be-bop Buffet

2006

MAROCCO-ZANCHINI DUO
frank marocco - accordion
simone zanchini - accordion

label: wide sound

I first heard Simone Zanchini play at an Accordion festival in London a couple of years ago but we didn't actually meet at that time. I was there to do a solo concert. He played a very long Cadenza on the ending of "I got Rhythm" that was one of the most exciting and inventive solos I have ever heard. I remember going home to Los Angeles and telling everyone about this great Jazz Accordionist in Italy. About six months later Simone asked me if I would come to Italy at the end of my tour and do a Duo Jazz CD with him. I accepted and it turned out to be one of the best Musical experiences of my career. I didn't know what kind of Music he had in mind or if it would even work, 2 Accordions, no rhythm section. From the 1st notes we played it was as if we had been together both Musically and spiritually our whole lives. The Dynamics, Jazz phrasing and sense of time was totally together.

I am very happy to be half of this Bebop Buffet.
Frank Marocco, January 2006