Video: At the recent very successful Mesa Accordion Event on February 15th, Frank Petrilli and Antonino De Luca from Castelfidardo Italy performed “Nuages” to pay tribute to Frank Marocco. They are accompanied by the rhythm section of Wes Anderson on drums and Sean Brogan on bass. Also performing “I Thought About You”.

MEET JAZZ ACCORDIONIST FRANK PETRILLI
by Joan Grauman

I met Frank Petrilli in January 2007 at our first Frank Marocco Accordion Event. My husband, Dan, and I had corresponded with him for months and were really looking forward to meeting this kind and enthusiastic person. During our early conversations, Frank expressed an interest in attending our camp, and he spoke with us about wanting to take lessons from jazz great, Frank Marocco, who had not been teaching for many years. We discovered that the “two Franks” were practically neighbors, so we called Frank Marocco. “Oh, I really don’t teach anymore,” said Frank M., but we insisted that he at least meet with Frank P. “You will like this man,” we said and, thankfully, Frank M. said, “OK.” Dan and I received a call from Frank M. right after the first lesson. “WOW, Frank Petrilli is an excellent musician and a great jazz player”, he said excitedly, and he went on to tell us all about the time they spent jamming together and how much he liked his new student. Each year, at our Frank Marocco Accordion Event, the highlight of the event’s evening programs would always be the “Frank and Frank” duet team. The two became like father and son and remained close until Frank Marocco’s untimely death early last year.

Frank Petrilli has been a lifelong resident of Los Angeles, California. Although much of his time and energy go into running his concrete contracting business, Frank P. Petrilli & Son., Inc., music has been his life’s passion. He started playing the accordion at age 7, and by age 16 was playing professionally. As the popularity of the accordion declined in the US, Frank switched to playing Hammond B3 Organ and saxophone for about 15 years. In 2006, he returned to the accordion and started playing with the César Mateus Latin Jazz Band at many jazz venues throughout the Los Angeles area. When he began his studies with Frank Marocco in late 2006 and quickly became Frank M.’s protégé, he focused on jazz and has become an excellent and recognized player in the jazz community.
Frank regularly performs in the Los Angeles area with renowned artists such as guitarists, Patrick Barrogain and John Chiodini, at top venues such as the Vibrato Jazz & Grill. Frank has also performed at major accordion festivals and clubs in the US, including the 2011 AAA Festival in Charleston, South Carolina and the San Francisco Accordion Club.

In October 2011, Frank appeared on the TV series, “Mad Men”. In May 2012, he was the invited featured performer at the accordion competition in Kiev, Ukraine, “Accofestival 2012”, replacing the late Frank Marocco. He was also one of the judges for the jazz portion of this competition. Immediately following that event, Frank performed at the Frank Marocco Memorial Concert in Castelfidardo, Italy with many other stars of the accordion world. His beautiful debut CD, “Totally Frank”, was recorded in Italy during this trip. It was produced by Elke Ahrenholz of “Artist Signed Records”. Frank was joined by three fine Italian musicians on this CD: Felice Del Gaudio, Max Ferri, and Fabio Zeppetella.

While greatly influenced by Frank Marocco, Frank Petrilli definitely plays his own style on this CD, which includes more focus on Latin grooves. As the booking agent and artistic director of Vibrato Jazz & Grill, Pat Senatore wrote, “Like his mentor, Petrilli gives new life to the accordion with impeccable phrasing and a smooth, fluid style”.

Watching Frank Petrilli perform is totally delightful as he puts so much feeling and expression into every phrase he plays. Thankfully, there are many upcoming opportunities to hear him play live: Vibrato Jazz & Grill, Los Angeles on April 3 with the Frank Petrilli Quartet; MAMBOS, Glendale, CA on April 9 with the César Mateus Latin Jazz Band; Lucy’s 51, Toluca Lake, CA on April 27 with the César Mateus Latin Jazz Band; San Francisco Accordion Club on May 19; and Cotati Accordion Festival on August 18.

On October 20, Frank will perform with world renowned bayanist, Stas Venglevski, and jazz accordionist, John Simkus, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at Venglevski’s Accordion 21st Century event (more on this concert in the upcoming September issue), followed by a performance at the Chicago Accordion Club on October 21.

If you are anywhere near any of these venues, I encourage you to come out to meet and listen to this very personable and wonderful performer!