A new two-CD set entitled, “Traveling ‘In Time’ with Frank Marocco – The Ultimate Collection, 1960-2010” was released just a few weeks ago at Frank’s 80th birthday celebration in Mesa, Arizona. The announcement and presentation of the CD set was a gift from Frank’s manager, Elke Ahrenholz, and came as a complete surprise to Frank, who was not expecting the release for at least another year. The 38 tracks included in the two CDs come from 20 of Frank’s most popular records/tapes/CDs over the past 50 years, such as: “Like Frank Marocco” (1960 vinyl), “Jazz on the Road” (1988 tape), “Blue Notes” (1992 tape), “Be-bop Buffet” (2006 CD), “Frank Marocco Turns Up the Flame” (2010 CD), and many more.
In the world of accordion performance, Frank Marocco is a giant. Not only for his mastery of the instrument itself, but for his highly developed musicality. In any style, on the concert stage or in the recording studio, his playing is technically brilliant and musically superb.
Frank Marocco is one of the most recorded accordionists in America (and, possibly, the world), having played on a vast number of movie soundtracks, television scores, commercial jingles and record albums, in the studios of Hollywood and beyond. He has recorded for and/or worked with artists ranging from Brian Wilson, Pink Floyd and Madonna to Luciano Pavarotti, conductor Maxim Shostakovich and composer John Williams.
He was nominated eight years in a row for the Most Valuable Player Award by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (N.A.R.A.S) and received that award twice. Frank is also a consummate jazz artist and a gifted composer with several of his own albums to his credit. He has played his music for audiences all over the world.
Frank began his professional career playing in clubs and hotels all over America with a Trio he organized at age 18. Jazz was his first Love but the opportunity to make a living playing Jazz was not easy and he eventually made his way west to Los Angeles where he worked as a session studio Musician becoming one of the most recorded Accordionists in the world playing on hundreds of Movie soundtracks, TV shows and record dates.
He has recorded film music with a long list of composers; John Williams, Quincy Jones, Elmer Bernstein, Michele Le Grand, Hans SimmGiancchini, Henry Mancini and dozens of others.
Frank Marocco has also played with some of the best Jazz Musicians in America and Europe; Ray Brown, Jeff Hamilton, Zoot Sims, Joe Pass, Joey Baron, Herb Ellis, Ray Pizzi, Ivor Malherbe, Carlo Atti, Sam Most, Gian-Carlo Bianchetti, Jacob Fisher, Pekka Sarmanto, Martin Classen, Andy Martin, Tuomo Dahlblom, Ric Todd, Harold Jones, Gerry Gibbs, Mikko Hassinen, Conti Candoli, Philippe Cornaz, John Pattatucchi, Mats Vinding, Mogens Baekgaard Andersen, Marcel Papaux, Aage Tanggaard, Ron Feuer, Richard Galliano, Peter Erskine, Klaus Paier, Renzo Ruggieri, Massimo Tagliata, Pete Christlieb, Larry Koonse, Simone Zanchini, Andy Simpkins, Bob Shepard, Frank Rossolino, Jim Hall, Abraham Laboriel, Grant Geissman, Luis Conte and Stix Hooper just to name a few.
His passion is Jazz and in recent years has been playing concerts in Europe, Japan and Brazil.
His 2011 concert dates are:
USA, February 13th
Jazz Vespers Los Angeles
Northridge United Methodist Church
February 19th 2011
Giannelli Square
Record release “Giannelli´s Square”
Republic of Moldova, 8th March, 2011
Chisinau guest of the international music festival “Martisor”
Solo Concert and with Concertino
Italy, 9th March 2011
Rome Concert 21.15
USA, April 10th 2011, Milwaukee, Wi
(Info Stas Venglaski )
GERMANY, 2-8 May
2011 Klingenthal Workshop (4th-7th May )
and Concert 7th May 19.00
Italy, 2-6th June 2011
Frank Marocco Accordion Event
Castelfidardo, Italy
For information about Frank Marocco’s compositions and CD’s email: Frankmarocco@yahoo.com
For information about concerts: eahrenholz@me.com and Concertsandartists@gmail.com
