Roberto Magris

Born in Trieste, in Italy, in 1959, after a career of forty years with concerts all over the world, he is a renowned and appreciated musician on the international jazz scene today. He has 40 recordings to his credit, including 3 CDs for the Soulnote/Black Saint label and 24 CDs in the USA for the Kansas City's JMood label, together with musicians such as Art Davis (bassist for John Coltrane), Albert Tootie Heath, Ira Sullivan, Idris Muhammad, Herb Geller, Brian Lynch (2 Grammy Award Winner), Mark Colby, Tony Lakatos, Eric Jacobson, Sam Reed, Paul Carr, Jim Mair, Eric Hochberg, Hermon Mehari, Logan Richardson, Kendall Moore, Brandon Lee, Alfredo Chacon, Rodolfo Zuniga and others. In the USA, he has attended the jazz scenes of Kansas City, of which he is also an honorary citizen, Los Angeles, Miami and Chicago, and has directed numerous groups and played as a bandleader in famous jazz venues such as The Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles, Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood, The Blue Room in Kansas City, WDNA Jazz Gallery in Miami, The Jazz Showcase in Chicago, The Jazz Estate in Milwaukee, The Caspe Terrace in Des Moines, The Love Jazz Club in Omaha, The Schwartz’s Jazz Point in Cincinnati. His CDs Live in Miami, Shuffling Ivories, Match Point and Duo & Trio, were voted by several American critics among the Best Jazz Albums of 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, and his CD Suite! passed the first round of selection for the Jazz Grammy Award nomination in 2019. In Europe, he has directed the Europlane Orchestra (a central-European jazz venture sponsored by INCE-Central European Initiative), his Italian quartet, the Gruppo Jazz Marca, the Alfabeats Nu Jazz band and, in the period 2016-2020, he was active with the MUH Trio (Magris-Uhlir-Helesic Trio), with a hundred concerts and 2 CDs recorded in Prague, where the trio had its base. In 2024 he re-started after two decades his Roberto Magris Europlane group with some of the best musicians from Central Europe and recorded live the Cd Freedom is peace. In the same year he also recorded the Cd Lovely day(s), the first solo piano album in his career, the Cd Let’s change! in Chicago, and started a new collaboration with Croatian saxophonist Denis Razz, recording the album In Action. Numerous interviews and reviews of his CDs were published by the major jazz magazines and websites, including Down Beat, JazzTimes, Cadence, Jazziz, All About Jazz, New York City Jazz Record, Jazzwax, Riffides, Chicago Jazz Magazine, Jazz Inside, Jazzhot , Jazz Journal International, Jazzwise, Citizen Jazz, Jazzpodium, Concerto, Union Disk  Japan and many others. A profile of Magris is also included in the book The Jazz Stories Project, published in the USA by Cadence Media LLC in 2018.

Roberto Magris - Discography

As Leader

''Life in Israel'', with Ofer Israeli, Larry Smith a.o. (Jazzis, 1990)

''Music of Today'', with Achim Goettert, Joerg Drewing, Albrecht Riermeier, Martin Klingeberg, Rudi Engel a.o. (Splasch, 1992)

''Maliblues'' (Map, 1994)

''Check-In'', with Tony Lakatos, Michael Erian, Robert Balzar a.o. (Soul Note, 2005)

''Il bello del Jazz'', with Herb Geller (Soul Note, 2006)

''Current Views'', with Philip Catherine, Bill Molenhof, Roberto Ottaviano a.o. (Soul Note, 2009)

''Kansas City Outbound'' with Art Davis and Jimmy „Junebug“ Jackson (JMood, 2008)

''Mating Call'', with Paul Carr, Michael O'Neill, Elisa Pruett and Idris Muhammad (JMood, 2010)

''Canzoni Italiane in Jazz'', with Maria Dal Rovere a.o. (Pop-Eye, 2011)

''Morgan Rewind: A Tribute to Lee Morgan Vol. 1'', with Brandon Lee, Logan Richardson, Elisa Pruett and Albert Tootie Heath (JMood, 2012)

''One Night in With Hope and More, Vol. 1'', with Elisa Pruett and Albert Tootie Heath (JMood, 2012)

''Aliens In A Bebop Planet'', with Matt Otto, Dominique Sanders, Brian Steever, Pablo Sanhueza and Eddie Charles (JMood, 2012)

''Ready for Reed - Sam Reed Meets Roberto Magris'', with Sam Reed, Kendall Moore, Steve Lambert, Dominique Sanders, Brian Steever and Pablo Sanhueza (JMood, 2013)

''Cannonball Funk'n Friends'', with Hermon Mehari, Jim Mair, Dominique Sanders and Alonzo Scooter Powell (JMood, 2013)

''One Night In With Hope And More, Vol. 2'', with Elisa Pruett, Brian Steever and Albert Tootie Heath (JMood, 2013)

''Morgan Rewind: A Tribute to Lee Morgan Vol. 2'', with Hermon Mehari, Jim Mair, Peter Schlamb, Elisa Pruett, Brian Steever and Pablo Sanhueza (JMood, 2013)

''An Evening with Herb Geller & The Roberto Magris Trio – Live in Europe 2009'', with Herb Geller a.o. (JMood, 2014)

''Enigmatix'', with Dominique Sanders, Brian Steever, Pablo Sanhueza and Monique Danielle (JMood, 2015)

''Need To Bring Out Love'', with Dominique Sanders, Brian Steever, Julia Haile and Monique Danielle (JMood, 2016)

''Live in Miami @ The WDNA Jazz Gallery - Roberto Magris Sextet'' with Brian Lynch, Jonathan Gomez, Chuck Bergeron, John Yarling and Murph Aucamp (JMood, 2017)

''World Gardens'', with Dominique Sanders, Brian Steever and Pablo Sanhueza (JMood, 2018)

''Sun Stone'', with Ira Sullivan, Mark Colby, Shareef Clayton, Jamie Ousley, Rodolfo Zuniga (JMood, 2019)

''Suite!'', with Mark Colby, Eric Jacobson, Eric Hochberg, Greg Artry, PJ Aubree Collins (JMood, 2019)

''Live in Melbourne'', with Ettore Martin, Rob Severini, Enzo Carpentier (RSP, 2020)

''Shuffling Ivories'', duo with Eric Hochberg (JMood, 2021)

''Match Point'', with Alfredo Chacon, Dion Kerr, Rodolfo Zuniga (JMood, 2021)

''Duo & Trio'', with Mark Colby a.o. (JMood, 2022)

''High Quote'', with Matt Otto, Monique Danielle, Jim Mair a.o. (JMood, 2023)

''Love is passing thru'', with Ettore Martin, Danilo Gallo, Enzo Carpentier (JMood, 2024)

''Freedom Is Peace'', with Tony Lakatos, Florian Brambock, Lukas oravec, Rudi Engel, Gasper Bertoncelj (JMood, 2024)

with the MUH Trio (Magris/Uhlir/Helesic Trio)

''Prague After Dark'', with František Uhlíř and Jaromir Helešic (JMood, 2017)

''A Step Into Light'', with František Uhlíř and Jaromir Helešic (JMood, 2020)

with the Gruppo Jazz Marca

''Gruppo Jazz Marca - Comunicazione Sonora'' (IAF, 1982 - re-issued by Arision, 2005)

''Gruppo Jazz Marca - Aria di Città'' (IAF, 1983 - re-issued by Arision, 2009)

''Gruppo Jazz Marca - Mitteleuropa'' (Gulliver, 1986 - re-issued by Arision, 2006)

with the Europlane Orchestra

'' Live at Zooest'', with František Uhlíř, Darko Jurkovic, Marko Lackner, Lojze Krajncan, Julius Baros a.o. (Zooest, 1998)

''Plays Kurt Weill'', with Ines Reiger a.o. (Pull, 2000)

with the Big Band Ritmo-Sinfonica Città di Verona

''Restless Spirits - Big Band Ritmo-Sinfonica Città di Verona plays the music of Roberto Magris'' (Velut Luna, 2009)

with the DMA Urban Jazz Funk

''DMA Urban Jazz Funk - Up to the Beat'' (Map, 2003)

with the Alfabeats Nu Jazz

''Alfabeats Nu Jazz - Stones'' (Oasis, 2006)

Magris has performed at top jazz clubs, theatres and festivals around the world, including Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood, The Blue Room in Kansas City, The Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles, The WDNA Jazz Gallery in Miami and The FIU Music Festival at Wertheim Performing Arts Center, The Jazz Showcase in Chicago, The Jazz Estate in Milwaukee, The Schwartz’s Jazz Point in Cincinnati, Porgy & Bess in Vienna, Reduta, Agharta and Jazz Dock in Prague, Muniak Jazz Club in Krakow, Jazz Club Gajo in Ljubljana, B.P.  Jazz Club in Zagreb, Unterfahrt in Munich, Royal Garden Jazz Club in Graz, Half Note in Athens, Nardis in Istanbul, Atlantis in Basel, Bennett’s Lane in Melbourne, Thelonious and Notorious in Buenos Aires, Ruta Maya in Managua, Juan Sebastian Bar in Caracas, The Saddle in Haifa, Festival Cervantino in Mexico, Montreal Jazz Festival, San Sebastian Jazz Festival, Ocho Rios Jamaica Jazz Festival, Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival, Summer Jazz Festival Krakow, Novi Sad Jazz Festival, Atlantic Jazz Festival Halifax, Mar del Plata Jazz Festival, Sofia Jazz Peak, Kaunas Jazz Festival, Galway Jazz Festival, Jazz at Hermitage Moskow, Jazzkaar Tallinn, Ecuador Jazz, Jazz en Lima, Jakarta Anniversary Festival, Hong Kong Performing Arts Center, Puppet Theatre in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Gulf Jazz Festival in Kuwait and Bahrein, in Manila, Philippines, in Uruguay, in Paraguay, in Curacao, in Libreville, Gabon, with the African traditional musicians, and at the world’s highest jazz club in Huaraz, Perù, over 3000 mt.

Interviews

Magris’ main interviews were published by Jazz Hot (France 2021), All About Jazz (Italy 2021), The Wall Street International (Italy 2021), Tennessee Jazz & Blues Society (USA 2020), Disk Union (Japan 2020), Music Magazine (Italy 2019), Cadence (USA 2016), Chicago Jazz Magazine (USA 2016), Jazzit (Italy 2016),  JazzTimes (USA 2015), Jazz Journal (UK 2015), Concerto (Austria 2015), Musica (Italy 2015), “Artist of the month” at JazzdaGama.com (Canada 2015), “Musician of the day” at All About Jazz (USA 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012), Jazzconvention (Italy 2015), JazzWax (USA 2008), Jazz World Quest (Canada 2007), Jazzit (Italy 2006), Musica Jazz (Italy 2005), All About Jazz (USA 2004). Magris’ profile and recordings are quoted in several International jazz books.

Reviews

Articles and reviews of Magris’ concerts and Cd’s have been published along the years in Down Beat, JazzTimes, Cadence, All About Jazz, New York City Jazz Record, Jazzwax, Rifftides, Chicago Jazz Magazine, Jazz Inside, Jazziz, Jazz Journal UK, Jazz Podium, Concerto, Jazz Hot, Jazzwise, Orkester Journalen, Jazzrytmit, Jazzflits, Jazzmozaiek, Jazz’Halo, Doctor Jazz, World Music Report, Salt Peanuts, The Walker’s, Jazz Life, Jazz Magazine, Musica Jazz, Jazzit, Music Magazine, Jazzthetik, Goldmine, Allmusic, Jazzman, Jazz Notes, The Wire, Cuadernos de Jazz, Jazz Review, Blu Jazz, Jazzitalia, Acid Jazz, New Age & New Sounds, The Los Angeles Times, Herald Tribune, Capital Times, Pittsburgh Tribune, Tennessee Tribune, News & Observer, Herald Sun, La Nacion, Clarin, ABC, El Pais, Toronto Star, El Nacional, The Gleaner, Irish Times, Canberra Times, Jakarta Post, South China Morning Post, El Universal, Jerusalem Post, Nuernberger Zeitung, Mitteldeutsch Zeitung, Basler Zeitung, Tiroler Zeitung, Vjesnik, Novi List, La Repubblica, Corriere della Sera Magazine, Libero, Il Fatto Quotidiano, La Discussione, Liberazione, Il Secolo d’Italia, Il Quotidiano del Sud, Meridiani and in many other newspapers and magazines.

Selected Performances

The Blue Room, Kansas City (USA 2024, 2007), Schwartz’s Jazz Point, Cincinnati (USA 2024), Westport Coffee House Theater, Kansas City (USA 2024), Summertime Tel Aviv Jazz Festival (Israel 2023), Jazz Club Birdland, Neuburg a.d. Donau (Germany 2020, 1993), Jazz Club Weiden (Germany 2020), Agharta, Prague (Czech Rep. 2023, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015, 2001), The Jazz Showcase, Chicago (USA 2019, 2018), Summer Jazz Festival Krakow and Muniak Jazz Club (Poland 2023, 2019, 2012, 2009, 2006), Reduta Jazz Club, Prague (Czech Rep. 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015), Jazzinec Festival, Trutnov (Czech Rep. 2019), Jazz Club Drosendorf (Austria 2019), IG Jazz Freiberg (Germany 2019), FIU Music Festival at Wertheim Performing Arts Center, Miami (USA 2018), The Jazz Estate, Milwaukee (USA 2018), Tonne Jazz Club, Dresden (Germany 2018), Jazz Festival Vsetin (Czech Rep. 2018), Jazz Festival Steyr (Austria 2018), Royal Garden Jazz Club, Graz (Austria 2018), Bird’s Eye, Basel (Switzerland 2018), Jazz ve meste, Frydek-Mystek (Czech Rep. 2018), Jazz Festival Bruntal (Czech Rep. 2018), Jazz Klub Satchmo, Hradec Kralove (Czech Rep. 2018, Jazz Studio, Nuernberg (Germany 2018), Jazz Club Bamberg (Germany 2018), Cafè Museum, Passau (Germany 2018), ESSE, Winterthur (Switzerland 2018, 2017), WDNA Jazz Gallery, Miami (USA 2017, 2016), Il jazz italiano per le terre del sisma, L’Aquila (Italy 2017), Jazz For Sale, Kosice (Slovakia, 2017), Horice Jazz Nights (Czech Rep. 2017), Jazz Festival Lanskroun (Czech Rep. 2017), Jazz & Blues Festival, Usti nad Labem (Czech Rep. 2017), Jazz Club Armer Konrad, Weinstadt (Germany 2019, 2017), Jazz Club Lindau (Germany 2019, 2017, 1995, 1990), Jazz Club Ludwigsburg (Germany 2019, 2017), Trieste Loves Jazz Festival (Italy 2024, 2023, 2017, 2015, 2013, 2009, 2007), Brookfield Jazz Society, Chicago (USA 2016), NOCE, Des Moines (USA 2016), All That Jazz Café, Fort Lauderdale (USA 2016), Jazz Festival Cheb (Czech Rep. 2016), Ozark Theatre, St. Louis (USA 2015), Love’s Jazz & Arts Center, Omaha (USA 2015), Caspe Terrace, Des Moines (USA 2015), Jazz by the lake, Kansas City (USA 2015, 2014), Alternativa, Zlin (Czech Rep. 2018, 2016), Jazz Dock, Prague (Czech Rep. 2018, 2015), Gulf Jazz Festival, Kuwait City and Manama (Kuwait and Bahrain 2013), IIC Los Angeles (USA 2010), White Field Jazz Festival, Bjielo Polje (Montenegro 2010), North City Jazz Fest, Mitrovica (Kosovo 2010), Phoenix Jazz Club, Kansas City (USA 2010,2009), Ecuador Jazz Festival, Quito (Ecuador 2009), Porgy & Bess Vienna (Austria 2009, 2008, 1994), Novi Sad Jazz Festival (Serbia 2009), Ancona Jazz (Italy 2009,1992), Jazz Time Rijeka (Croatia 2009,1998,1997,1994), The Jazz Bakery, Los Angeles (USA 2008, 2006), Distrito Jazz Bilbao (Spain 2008),  Europa Jazz Fest Bucharest (Romania 2008), Manila Piazza Italia Expo (Philippines 2008), Galway Jazz Festival (Ireland 2007), Nomme Jazz Festival, Tallinn (Estonia 2007), Nardis Jazz Club, Istanbul (Turkey 2007), Downtown Sambosi Jazz Festival, Budapest (Hungary 2007), Catalina’s Jazz Club, Los Angeles (USA 2006), Jazz at the Hermitage Garden, Moscow (Russia 2006), Umbria Jazz (Italy 2006), Notorious and Thelonious, Buenos Aires (Argentina 2006), Centre Culturel Francais, Libreville (Gabon 2006), Centro Cultural Ruta Maya, Managua (Nicaragua 2006), Granados Hall Asuncion and Encarnacion (Paraguay 2006), Aarau and Olten jazzclubs (Switzerland 2005), Hong Kong Performing Arts Festival and Guangzhou Xhinghai Festival (China 2004), Jakarta Festival (Indonesia 2004), Sofia Jazz Peak (Bulgaria 2004), Tashkent Jazz Festival and Samarcanda (Uzbekistan 2003), Melbourne Italian Jazz Festival and Bennett’s Lane Jazzclub (Australia 2003), Jazz en Lima (Perù 2003), Mar del Plata Jazz Festival (Argentina 2003), Jazz Tour Montevideo (Uruguay 2003), No Borders Music (Italy 2003), Kaunas Jazz and Vilnius (Lithuania 2002), Locarno Jazz (Switzerland 2002), Montreal Jazz Festival, Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival and Atlantic Jazz Festival Halifax (Canada 2001), Gostenhofer Jazztage Nuernberg (Germany 2001), Udine Jazz (Italy 2001), Half Note Athens (Greece 2001), San Sebastian Jazz Festival (Spain 2000), Newport Jazz Festival Torino (Italy 2000), Ocho Rios Jazz Festival (Jamaica 2000), Curacao Jazz Festival (Dutch Antilles 1999), Juan Sebastian Bar Caracas (Venezuela 1999), Jazzkaar Tallin (Estonia 1999), Festival Guanajuato and Festival Olimpio Merìda (Mexico 1999), Festival Jazz Corinthos and Athens Music Festival (Greece 1998), Festival Cervantino, Festival Metepec and Festival Guanajuato (Mexico 1997), Moritzburg Jazz Festival Halle (Germany 1996), Atlantis Basler Jazz Woche (Switzerland 1995), Jazz in Raab (Austria 1994), Int.l Jazz Days Zagreb (Croatia 1993), Jazz Days Liberec (Czech Rep. 1992), Jazz Festival Wuerzburg (Germany 1992), Lange Jazz Nacht Lindau (Germany 1991), Festival Jazz Sant Cugat (Spain 1990), Jazz Ost-West Nuernberg (Germany 1990), Messina Jazz Meeting (Italy 1989), Pannonton Jazz Napok Budapest (Hungary 1989), Prerov Jazz Days (Czech Rep. 1988), Euro Jazz Ivrea (Italy 1988), Sibiu Jazz (Romania 1986), Jazz Festival Gottwaldov and Blansko Jazz Days (Czech Rep. 1986), Cegled Jazz Show (Hungary 1986), Int.l Jazz Festival Prague (Czech Rep. 1984).

Awards

Kansas City, U.S.A., honorary citizenship in 2007

Mar del Plata, Argentina, honorary citizenship in 2003