The RedZen is a project born in 2008 in Italy under the sign of Roberto Leoni, Ettore Salati, Marco Schembri and Angelo Racz, and devoted to instrumental progressive fusion music. The band members are well-known musician in the prog-fusion world, and they finally met together after having shared different projects which led them to play in world-distributed prog releases and perform live in whole Europe, U.S., South America, Japan.
After a couple of jam-sessions as a trio, keyboard virtuoso Angelo joined the line-up and the band was ready. Some months later, Marco decided to leave the project and Nicola Della Pepa brought his bass lines into the sound. The keyword is "JAM LIKE HELL!", and everything is born under the sign of each guy. Almost immediately some surprising tunes came to life, and the production of a new release is going to start.
THE BAND:
Ettore Salati - guitars, bass pedals: he collaborates with musicians from the international progressive rock scene, primary with Alex Carpani, and has worked for many years with one of the most important prog-rock act of nowadays, the band of The Watch: with them he recorded two studio albums, a live one, a live dvd, and has gigged all over the world. He graduated in modern guitar, contributed to guitar methods and started his career as a session musician, having worked with highlighted italian artists and great musicians like David Jackson (Van der Graaf Generator, Peter Gabriel and many others), Karl Potter (Herbie Hancock, Charles Mingus and many others) and Aldo Tagliapietra (Le Orme, solo artist).
Angelo Racz - keyboards, synths: he graduated in piano at Trento conservatory, attended Berklee Music College of Boston's jazz piano courses at Umbria Jazz and began with a professional career. He's a worldwide keyboard demonstrator for Roland and Edirol, teaches piano, musical theory, solfeggio, ear training and so on at Civica Scuola di Musica. Beyond The RedZen, lends his fingers for hard-proggers Atlantis 1001, the power-fusion Jaguaro Band, the italian tribute to Beatles BandOnTheRoof, the New Sunrise Gospel Choir and others.
Roberto Leoni - drums, percussions: he collaborates with many pro-musicians in many different genres, from cover bands to single artists as a session player, Ricky Gianco among them. He has been a founder member of the world-renowned prog band The Watch, with whom he recorded three studio albums, a live one, a live dvd, and has gigged all over the world, appearing in the most important prog festivals. Beyond The RedZen lends his drumming styles for the rock Serena Project Band. Very technical talented and eclectic, he has been influenced by plenty of drumming styles.
Nicola Della Pepa - bass, guitars: he started as a self-taught rock musician, following the steps of artists like Pink Floyd and Rush. Then he studied double-bass at Novara conservatory and nowadays is a much requested bass player in Northern Italy. Beyond The RedZen, he plays for many showbands and collaborates with D-Noir and Jann, for whom he recorded his second album.
A big thank goes to Marco Schembri, without whom The RedZen couldn't have started their activity.
Even though The RedZen are a brand-new band, they already performed live. The show displays great musicianship, developed by Leoni's devilish rhythmics, Della Pepa's roaring basses, Salati's grinding riffs and Racz's jazzish virtuosity. Versatility and improvisation drive a "take no prisoners" live schedule.
Some artists The RedZen are influenced by: Return to Forever, Ozric Tentacles, Weather Report, Pink Floyd, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Yellowjackets, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Genesis, Planet X, Tribal Tech, King Crimson, OSI, Colosseum and many others. So the original compositions cross the border from power fusion to prog rock, adding a touch of jazz and psychedelia!
to get in touch: [email protected]
Visit The RedZen on Last.fm
Here is available for download The Redzen press kit
