Paolo RADONI : biography

PAOLO RADONI

Guitar

Paolo RADONI is originally from Italy. He was born, 1949, in Cairo Montenotte but arrived at an early age to Belgium, where he was educated and living ever since. Having been exposed to various cultures and having studied at the European School, Paolo is in the first place a highly educated European, multi-lingual of vast culture and a very open mind. Being a fine musician who writes a very refined music just falls in to complete the image of man of equilibrium in culture and art.

His initial encounter with Jazz was through the family collection of 78 rpm's which included the great fame of the era, Louis Armstrong, Errol Garner, Lena Horne, George Gershwin.

He made it to the scene already at an early age, being part of the boys' choir in primary school and followed, at age 12, as a self taught guitar player and singer with a popular group at that time.
At age 15 he tries his hand at the electric guitar with jazz tunes and hits of the leading groups of that time: Shadows, Beatles, Rolling Stones. However, jazz continued to prevail. Having attended concerts by Thelonious Monk, The Modern Jazz Quartet, Jimmy Smith, Dizzy Gillespie had great influence, Miles Davis & John Coltrane became a passion.
At 17 he discovered the Bossa Nova which influence can be detected in his development toward a mature jazz musician.

There was, however, a deviation toward Rock music, before steering back towards main stream and modern jazz.
Blues-Rock had an attraction for him and his eagerness for expression during that intensive and creative atmosphere that swept the late 60ties.
And so, by the end of 1968, Paolo Radoni made his professional debut as musician with a Jazz-Rock group, "Here and Now" combining free improvisation with Rock rhythms and sounds.
Follow 3 years of intense activity with his own group and as a member of two other top Belgian groups "Kleptomania" and "Arkam".
His 'romance' with Rock lasted for few years but after some apprenticeship and 'wood shading', in 1975 Paolo was back into jazz, performing and recording with Belgian pianist and percussionist Chris JORIS and South African bass player Johnny DYANI.

Paolo RADONI devotes himself exclusively to jazz since more than 20 years, now. He toured most European countries as well as Canada, Japan and Africa. His musical career gave him the opportunity to play with the most known soloists like a.o. Lee KONITZ, Joe Lee WILSON, Johnny DYANI, Joe LOVANO, Rachel GOULD, Perry ROBINSON, Riccardo DEL FRA, Francis VARIS, Paolo FRESU,...

Paolo is now a household name of Belgian Jazz, an accomplished musician, an educator who formed many of today's excellent guitar players in Belgium, active member and former president of the association of jazz musicians.

Since few years he leads his own trio with Jean- Louis RASSINFOSSE (bass), Bruno CASTELLUCCI (drs), and a quartet, same as above plus Ron VAN ROSSUM (piano) or more recently, Ben SLUIJS (alto sax), bands for which he also composes.

End 2000, Paolo RADONI presented a special band with his arrangements on the music of Kurt WEILL.

He also records an album with Majid BEKKAS : "AFRICAN GNAOUA BLUES".

Paolo teaches guitar at the Conservatoire de Bruxelles.

Paolo RADONI recorded many albums and composes music for the theatre.

SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY

Paolo RADONI "VENTO" (LP KBL 0778) CH 1978
Paolo RADONI Trio "STORIE VERE" (IGLOO IGL 057) B
Paolo RADONI Trio "A DAY OR TWO" (CD B. SHARP CDS 095) B
Paolo RADONI 4^tet Live "COAST TO COAST" (CD LYRAE LY 98015-C), released November 1999
Majid BEKKAS "AFRICAN GNAOUA BLUES" IGLOO IGL 163)

PAOLO RADONI TRIO & QUARTET

Home NewsFlash Musicians Live Jazz Bands CDs In Print Education LDH Radio|TV Links WIM