adEIdJ – Associazione delle Etichette Indipendenti di Jazz

Press Release

• PRESSRELEASE
Prodotto da Dodicilune, distribuito in Italia e all’estero da IRD e nei principali store online da BELIEVE DIGITAL, mercoledì 22 ottobre 2025 esce “Tromsø Suite“, il nuovo CD/EP del chitarrista, compositore e arrangiatore Alessio Piro. Nato negli USA da una famiglia di origine napoletana e cresciuto in Emilia Romagna l’artista guida una formazione internazionale con Amanda Antonsen (sax alto e voce), Brage Sigerstad (sax tenore), Bendik Vaaja Aspaas (piano, tastiere, voce), Amund Bellika (basso), Torkil Vollstad-giæver (batteria) e un quartetto d’archi composto da Jakob Rørtveit e Martin Tan (violini), Emma Mørkved (viola), Johanna Von Bleichert (violoncello). Frutto di una lunga esperienza vissuta in Norvegia, il progetto contiene brani originali e un omaggio al pianista Bill Evans. 

“Nel 2024 ho vissuto un anno in Norvegia, a Tromsø, città in un fiordo a nord del circolo polare artico. È stata una esperienza che mi ha arricchito sotto ogni punto di vista: ogni persona incontrata, musicista con cui ho suonato, panorama contemplato e luogo che ho vissuto, mi ha dato più di quanto avessi mai potuto desiderare. Questo disco è quindi il tentativo di esprime tutta la mia gratitudine per aver ricevuto questo dono dalla vita. É una suite composta da tre brani eseguiti in sestetto: Time Remembered, un arrangiamento originale del celebre brano di Bill Evans; Crepuscolo/Incertezza, composizione originale ispirata dai colori del cielo durante il periodo di buio invernale a Tromsø; A Mari, una composizione originale ispirata alla musica brasiliana, dedicato ad una cara amica incontrata in Norvegia. Infine, l’ultimo brano è un quartetto d’archi composto in omaggio alla natura che circonda la montagna Tromsdalstinden, chiamata in lingua Sami: "Sálašoaivi". Durante delle lunghe passeggiate solitarie in questo luogo ho trovato l’ispirazione che mi ha spinto a comporre questo quartetto.” Alessio Piro

• COMMENTO AI BRANI
Time Remembered. Ho scritto questo arrangiamento quasi per gioco, prendendo la chitarra in mano mi sono ritrovato a suonare la progressione armonica di questo brano, usando però una figura ritmica ispirata a “Zyryab” di Paco de Lucia. In seguito ho scritto l’arrangiamento completo, assegnando la melodia principale alla chitarra ed un contrappunto ai due sassofoni.
Crepuscolo/Incertezza è una composizione originale che ho scritto quasi di getto. L’ispirazione viene dai colori surreali che ha il cielo al momento del crepuscolo, e su di una riflessione che mi ha suscitato riguardo a vivere nell’era della società liquida. Da qui il titolo crepuscolo/incertezza.
A Mari (Dedicado a uma menina de Floripa, que viajou para Kautokeino) è un brano ispirato alle sonorità della musica brasiliana. É una dedica ad una cara amica che ho conosciuto a Kautokeino, un villaggio Sami (la popolazione indigena del nord della Scandinavia). È l’unico brano in cui abbiamo deciso di usare sovra incisioni, aggiungendo percussioni, voce e tastiere.
Tromsø Quartet è un quartetto d’archi che ho composto come omaggio alla bellezza della natura della montagna Tromsdalstinden, chiamata in lingua Sami: “Sálašoaivi”. È un luogo immerso nel bosco ed estremamente silenzioso. La scrittura musicale di questo brano è ispirata a compositori minimalisti come Arvo Pärt e Steve Reich, ed ai colori armonici del celebre quartetto di Ravel.

• PRESSRELEASE (English)
Produced by Dodicilune, distributed in Italy and abroad by IRD and in major online stores by BELIEVE DIGITAL, Wednesday, 22 October 2025 sees the release of “Tromsø Suite”, the new CD/EP by guitarist, composer and arranger Alessio Piro. Born in the USA to a family of Neapolitan origin and raised in Emilia Romagna (Italy), the artist leads an international ensemble with Amanda Antonsen (alto sax and vocals), Brage Sigerstad (tenor sax), Bendik Vaaja Aspaas (piano, keyboards, vocals), Amund Bellika (bass), Torkil Vollstad-Giæver (drums) and a string quartet composed of Jakob Rørtveit and Martin Tan (violins), Emma Mørkved (viola) and Johanna Von Bleichert (cello). The result of a long experience in Norway, the project contains original songs and a tribute to pianist Bill Evans.

“In 2024, I spent a year in Norway, in Tromsø, a city in a fjord north of the Arctic Circle. It was an experience that enriched me in every way: every person I met, every musician I played with, every view I contemplated and every place I lived gave me more than I could ever have wished for. This album is therefore an attempt to express my gratitude for having received this gift from life. It is a suite composed of three pieces performed by a sextet: Time Remembered, an original arrangement of the famous piece by Bill Evans; Crepuscolo/Incertezza, an original composition inspired by the colours of the sky during the dark winter months in Tromsø; A Mari, an original composition inspired by Brazilian music, dedicated to a dear friend I met in Norway. Finally, the last piece is a string quartet composed in homage to the nature surrounding the Tromsdalstinden mountain, called “Sálašoaivi” in the Sami language. During long solitary walks in this place, I found the inspiration that led me to compose this quartet.” Alessio Piro

• COMMENTS ON COMPOSITIONS
Time Remembered. I wrote this arrangement almost for fun. I picked up my guitar and found myself playing the harmonic progression of this piece, but using a rhythmic figure inspired by Paco de Lucia's “Zyryab”. I then wrote the complete arrangement, assigning the main melody to the guitar and a counterpoint to the two saxophones.
Crepuscolo/Incertezza is an original composition that I wrote almost in one go. The inspiration comes from the surreal colours of the sky at dusk and a reflection it sparked in me about living in the era of liquid society. Hence the title crepuscolo/incertezza (twilight/uncertainty).
A Mari (Dedicado a uma menina de Floripa, que viajou para Kautokeino) is a piece inspired by the sounds of Brazilian music. It is dedicated to a dear friend I met in Kautokeino, a Sami village (the indigenous people of northern Scandinavia). It is the only piece in which we decided to use overdubs, adding percussion, vocals and keyboards.
Tromsø Quartet is a string quartet that I composed as a tribute to the beauty of the Tromsdalstinden mountain, called “Sálašoaivi” in the Sami language. It is a place surrounded by woods and extremely quiet. The musical composition of this piece is inspired by minimalist composers such as Arvo Pärt and Steve Reich, and by the harmonic colours of Ravel's famous quartet.

• BIO
Alessio Piro è un chitarrista, arrangiatore e compositore, nato a Houston nel 1999, da una famiglia originaria di Napoli, ma cresciuto in Romagna, nella provincia di Ravenna. Ha iniziato a studiare chitarra all’età di 13 anni, con numerosi maestri dello strumento, tra i quali Rolando Guerrini, Francesco de Vita, Giancarlo Bianchetti, Daniele Santimone. Dal 2022 è membro della Big Band “Sarti Jazz Art Ensemble” di Faenza diretta da Daniele Santimone, sia come chitarrista che arrangiatore, con il quale ha avuto modo di suonare in importanti festival come “Fiato al Brasile”. Nel 2023 si diploma al triennio di chitarra jazz presso il conservatorio Antonio Buzzola di Adria con voto 110/110. Nel 2024 passa un anno in Norvegia, studiando presso il conservatorio di Tromsø, dove ha la possibilità di suonare in festival di rilievo internazionale come il “Nordlys festivalen” e di suonare con importanti esponenti del jazz scandinavo come il contrabbassista svedese Anders Jormin. Durante la residenza in Norvegia realizza la colonna sonora per corto metraggio “Yesterday was such a sunny night”, selezionato come film ospite al festival di cortometraggi NUFF, svoltosi a fine ottobre 2024 a Tromsø.
(English). Alessio Piro is a guitarist, arranger and composer, born in Houston in 1999, to a family originally from Naples, but raised in Romagna, in the province of Ravenna. He began studying guitar at the age of 13, with numerous masters of the instrument, including Rolando Guerrini, Francesco de Vita, Giancarlo Bianchetti and Daniele Santimone. Since 2022, he has been a member of the Big Band ‘Sarti Jazz Art Ensemble’ in Faenza directed by Daniele Santimone, both as a guitarist and as an arranger, with whom he has played in important festivals such as ‘Fiato al Brasile’. In 2023, he graduated from the three-year jazz guitar course at the Antonio Buzzola Conservatory in Adria with a score of 110/110. In 2024, he spent a year in Norway, studying at the conservatory in Tromsø, where he had the opportunity to play at internationally renowned festivals such as ‘Nordlys festivalen’ and to play with important Scandinavian jazz exponents such as Swedish double bass player Anders Jormin. During his residency in Norway he realised the soundtrack for the short film ‘Yesterday was such a sunny night’, which was selected as a guest film at the NUFF short film festival in Tromsø at the end of October 2024.

Amanda Antonsen is a saxophonist from Båtsfjord, who studies at the music conservatory in Tromsø. She has played a number of concerts at events such as the Grenseløsfestivalen, Tromsø Jazzklubb, and Nordlysfestivalen. She has participated in several projects and played with Marius Neset, Beady Belle in connection with the music conservatory, Kåre Kolve and Knut Anders Sørum, in addition to having substituted in Tromsø Storband on several occasions.

Amund Bellika is a norwegian bass player that studies at the Conservatory of Tromsø. He is currently working on a bachelors degree in Jazz Bass. He is born and raised in Tromsø and he continually played in bands since he was 14. He has played in a funk band called Homo and He is currently playing in a jazz fusion band called Coolgate. Both bands have released albums that are available on streaming platform. I’ve also played in a number of pop and rock projects in Tromsø. During my stay at the conservatory I’ve played with various artist like Jan Gunnar Hoff and Ole Børud to name a few.

Bendik Vaaja Aspaas is a Norwegian pianist born in 2004, he is currently pursuing his bachelor degree in jazz piano at the conservatory of Tromsø, under the guidance of Norwegian pianist Jan Gunnar Hoff. He has played concert both as a band leader and group members in important festivals an jazz clubs like Tromsø Jazzfestival, Tromsø Jazzklubb, Nordlysfestivalen, Festspillene i Nord-Norge to name a few. He is currently band leader and composer for the projects: Band leader and composer in the projects Aspaas/Antonsen duo, Chunky Trio, Bendik Aspaas Trio and Bendik Aspaas Quintet. He is Keyboardist, band leader and composer in the band the jazz fusion band Coolgate.

Brage Sigerstad is a saxophonist born in Bergen, Norway, but he grew up in a small part of eastern Norway called Eidsvoll. He showed interest in music from an early age, and joined the local marching band, which is also where he discovered the saxophone and the joy of playing with others. He since grew up, and moved all the way to northern Norway to study at the Music Conservatory at the Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø. There he studied under the tutelage of the acclaimed big band director, teacher and saxophonist, Fred Glesnes. While at the Conservatory he played concerts with great Norwegian artists like Marius Neset, Jarle Bernhoft, Hedvig Mollestad and Torstein Lofthus.

Torkil Vollstad-Giæver is a Norwegian drummer who has been playing different genres for a long time, and have played with jazz profiles like Marius Neset and Anders Jormin, including freelance work in different constellations.

String Quartet
Jakob Rørtveit has a Bachelor in Music performance from the Music Conservatory in Tromsø, where he studied with soloist Miriam Helms Ålien. During his time in Tromsø he has performed at festivals like "Nordlysfestivalen", with genres ranging from classical Music, to jazz, pop and also Norwegian folk Music.

Martin Tan is currently pursuing a Bachelor in Music Performance at the Music Conservatory in Tromsø. As a conductor and musician, he has worked across a range of genres including classical, choral, and contemporary music. He conducts a girls' choir and has a particular interest in musical storytelling and cultural expression.

Emma Mørkved is a Norwegian violist with a passion for orchestral and chamber music. She holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Performance Arts from the Conservatory of Music in Tromsø. Emma was selected for the Arctic Philharmonic’s talent program in 2020 and again from 2022 to 2025, where she performed regularly with the orchestra in concerts and recordings.

Johanna von Bleichert is a German cellist Born 11.10.1998 in Überlingen, Lake of Constance, Germany. She studied in Weimar with Christina Meißner and in Norway with Audun Sandvik. After spending a semester in Tromsø, she currently live in Weimar, she is doing further studies with Christina Meißner and Olaf Reimers, professionalising her playing in both early and contemporary music to broaden her classical education and repertoire.

Track List

• TRACKLIST
1) Time Remembered
2) Crepuscolo/Incertezza
3) A Mari (dedicado a uma menina de Floripa, que viajou para Kautokeino)
4) Tromsø Quartet

• COMPOSITIONS BY
Compositions by Alessio Piro except 1) by Bill Evans, arranged by Alessio Piro

Personnel

Recording Data

• PRODUCTION DATA
Total time 29:08 STEREO DDD
? 2025 DODICILUNE (Italy)
© 2025 DODICILUNE (Italy)
www.dodicilunedischi.it
CD DODICILUNE DISCHI Ed598
8059772565981

• RECORDING DATA
Produced by Alessio Piro and Maurizio Bizzochetti, Dodicilune. Recorded 7, 13 dicember 2024 by Kristian Svalestad Olstad at Kysten Studio, Tromsø, Norway. Mixed 7, 11 february 2025, 11 febbraio 2025 by Kristian Svalestad Olstad at Studio 225, Tromsø, Norway. Mastered 1 March 2025 by Giacomo Scheda at HRS Studio, Faenza, Italy. Cover photo by Mariana Homen de Mello Reinach. Photos by Arjun David Acharya (@arjun.david.acharya), Martina Minkiewicz (@marty_mink). Contact: @piropirojazz, piroale17@gmail.com

• EXTRA NOTES
Un grande ringraziamento a tutti i musicisti/e che hanno accettato di prendere parte a questo progetto, senza il vostro talento non sarebbe stato possibile. Un ringraziamento speciale anche a Mariana Reinach, per tutto l’affetto, il supporto e la saggezza che mi ha dato, e per aver saputo rendere caldo e accogliente anche l’artico; a Giancarlo Bianchetti, per avermi trasmesso la dimensioni spirituale dell’essere musicista. Ai miei genitori e mia sorella, per aver sempre creduto in me.