Pianist and Composer Michael Ragonese's "STRACCI"

PIANIST & COMPOSER MICHAEL RAGONESE PAYS TRIBUTE TO

HIS ITALIAN HERITAGE WITH ADVENTUROUS SECOND ALBUM

STRACCI

Modern Jazz Piano Trio featuring Mark Ferber, Luca Alemanno

Releasing August 25, 2023 on Rags Records 

On STRACCI (stra-chi), pianist, composer, and arranger MICHAEL RAGONESE pays tribute to his Italian-American heritage with six original tracks and two jazz standards performed in a trio setting. STRACCI is the sophomore outing for Ragonese and follows Day to Day (2019). All About Jazz says, “Ragonese's writing is best described as adventurous and exciting while remaining lyrical and approachable. The many hours he has spent playing standards are evident, as is his love of modern players and composers.”

Although Ragonese is a young musician, graduating from Cal State Northridge in 2014 with a degree in jazz studies, he has been playing piano for 25 years. His mother, a singer, guitarist, and songwriter of worship music, moved the family from New Jersey to Los Angeles to pursue a career in music and has established a significant presence in the Southern California Catholic community. Born in Los Angeles, Ragonese began piano lessons at the age of six, studying classical music for nearly 10 years. His mother rounded out his early music education by teaching him Pop and R&B.

Ragonese was a natural on the piano. He performed in many classical competitions and recitals, but by the time he was 16, he was becoming disenchanted. Although he enjoyed the rigor of classical technique, he also felt confined by it. When a family friend, who was a jazz pianist in his mother’s band, gave him an album by Bill Evans, he was completely blown away and immediately knew what he wanted to do. After graduating from Cal State Northridge, it didn’t take long for him to work as a much sought-after accompanist. He soon began touring, performing, and recording with some of the most notable names in the music industry, including Barbra Streisand, Dave Koz, Charnett Moffett, Walter Smith III, Mark Turner, Bennie Maupin, Engelbert Humperdinck, Rick Braun, Aubrey Logan, Grace Kelly, and Bob Sheppard, among others.

Ragonese was inspired by his teachers and is passionate about mentoring young musicians coming up. He founded the Rags School of Music in 2021 as a training ground for beginning players as well as more advanced older students who are interested in pursuing careers in music. Presently, the school employs three piano teachers and one voice teacher, but Ragonese is looking forward to adding more instructors. Additionally, he co-leads a jazz summer camp that hosts some of the brightest high school students from across the country.

Day by Day, Ragonese’s debut, focused on horn arrangements. However, the trio format on STRACCI highlights his inventive piano playing and compositions. Ragonese is joined by two outstanding musicians, MARK FERBER, an in-demand drummer who has appeared on over 200 albums, and LUCA ALEMANNO, an Italian bass player who studied at the Thelonious Monk Institute, and tours around the world with artists like Dee Dee Bridgewater, Joe Lovano, George Garzone, and Stanley Jordan. Alemanno also played on Ragonese’s debut. Ragonese, who speaks Italian, became friends with Alemanno after they met at the Thelonious Monk Institute in Los Angeles.

Since he was a kid, Ragonese’s nickname has been Rags, so he named the album STRACCI, meaning “rags” in Italian. Although he pays respect to an older generation of pianists, his major influences are more contemporary. He’s influenced by L.A. players Vardan Ovsepian, Gerald Clayton, Josh Nelson, as well as VJ Iyer, and especially Brad Mehldau, who, like Ragonese, has a strong element of classicism in his music.

The album opens with “Solar,” a Miles Davis composition that was also covered by Mehldau. Ragonese gives the tune an angular, modern jazz spin. About “I’ll Be Seeing You,” the second non-original, Ragonese says, “This is my favorite standard. I probably listened to that song a thousand times. We played it straight-ahead without an arrangement.”

“Escape,” a Ragonese original, begins with a classical intro and ends with a chord vamp featuring a high-energy solo by Ferber. “In Attesa” is a dark tune that was recorded live in the studio, with no separation. It features classical harmonies and an open drum groove with Ragonese keeping time on the piano. “In Attesa” means “waiting” in Italian. Ragonese wrote the piece after he was in a serious motorcycle accident. Although he fully recuperated, he couldn’t walk for a year, and the title and somber tone of the tune reflects how he felt while he was waiting to return to normal life.

Ragonese considers “Tides of Tomorrow Part 1” and “Tides of Tomorrow Part 2” as a suite. He always plays them together in live shows. On “Part 1,” which is in 3/4, Ragonese plays ostinato in his left hand and the melody in his right hand. “Part 2” is in 4/4. Both parts have a dark hue. Ragonese wrote “La Poggia,” which means “rain” in Italian, during the rainy season in Los Angeles. His staccato playing sounds like quickly falling raindrops. Ferber’s drum solo is featured in the B section. Ragonese closes the album with “Copycat,” a modern swing composition with complex rhythms and harmonies.

Michael Ragonese’s classical training and modern jazz sensibilities make STRACCI a unique and fascinating listen. His piano chops are solid, his compositions are imaginative, and his arrangements provide space and allow all the players to stretch out. With solid backing by Luca Alemanno and veteran Mark Ferber, STRACCI is an exciting addition to the jazz piano trio oeuvre.

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STRACCI will be available on selected platforms on August 25, 2023 on Rags Records.

Online:

Michaelragonese.com

Facebook.com/ragonesemusic

@Mikeragss