Alessio Menconi

Alessio Menconi was born in Genoa – Italy . He approached music when he was 8, learning drums. After two years he quit drums for guitar as self-taught. In 1985 he started studying classical guitar, taking, as an external student, the examinations to Music Academy. After that he began his professional career with some of the best musicians. He entered Big Fat Mama, one of the most important Italian blues band. With them he participated in several European Blues Festivals with American musicians. He also recorded two CD’s with this group.Then, he dedicated completely to jazz music music. In 1990 he joins the Giampaolo Casati (trumpet) trio, and they recorded an album during the same year. In 1992 he became official guitarist of “Bansigu Big Band” recording three albums with guests like Enrico Rava and Paolo Fresu . During the same year he won the award as “Best Soloist” in “Gran Prix du Jazz” (Aosta – Italy). In 1993 he participated, in Monteroduni – Italy in “Eddie Lang” contest (the most important competitions for guitarists in Italy), winning the first prize as best italian jazz guitar player. During the years 1994-1997 he’s been playing with pianist Dado Moroni and singer Adrienne West in a tour dedicated to Nat King Cole. They also recorded an album: “Tribute to Nat King Cole”. During 1995-1996 he played all around Italy with “Acoustic Performance” a jazz group led by drummer Billy Cobham.In 1995 , until 2002, he entered Paolo Conte orchestra. In this role he played in several world tours and recorded four CD’s.In 2000, the drummer Billy Cobham invited Alessio again, to play with him. With Cobham he still plays sometimes.In the same year, he have been selected in Paris to play with “ONJ” (orchestre national du jazz) In 2003, He partecipated as only italian to the cd “Voodoo crossing-a tribute to Jimi Hendrix” with Robben Ford, Steve Lukather, Hiram Bullock ,Larry Coryell and many others. Lately he recorded three cds: “Faso – Menconi – Meyer”, “Live in India” and “standard trio”.He partecipated in several TV show. Now he is guitar teacher in the “conservatory” of music in Cuneo.

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