PAOLO APOLLO NEGRI

Music:

Member Since: 8/3/2006
Band Website: cdbaby.com:80/cd/paoloapollonegri
Band Members:
PAOLO "APOLLO" NEGRI - Solo project:

“A Bigger Tomorrow” is a compilation of methods, themes, and styles that approach from every direction yet collide and fuse at the core into a unified masterpiece. Tapping directly into the Hammondbeat community, Paolo invited over 20 guests to the table…all accepted…underscoring the collaborative instinct of the Hammondbeat world while adding a rich and varied texture of vocals, guitar, and percussion to an already established Hammond B3 maestro.
“A Bigger Tomorrow” features a powerful international cast of the best that jazz, funk, soul, groove, lounge, and beat have to offer: featuring members from New Mastersounds, Diplomats of Solid Sound, Montefiori Cocktail, Phat Fred, Cucumber, Speaklow, Nick Rossi Set and many more.
“A Bigger Tomorrow” was borne from an organ trio project that was to pay a simple homage to those that inspired Apollo to pursue a career as a musician: Charles Earland, Jack McDuff, and Horace Silver among them. The “Applecore” session was scheduled for a late-2006 debut, but Apollo does not sit quietly, and soon began reinterpreting those songs and adding new ones to the lineup.
“A Bigger Tomorrow” is available in a standard edition, as well as this limited 2-disc edition that features 60 minutes of unreleased songs and alternate versions, ending with the “Applecore” EP. Only 1000 of these have been made in celebration of Hammondbeat’s 5th Anniversary of its first release “Beat.It” by The Link Quartet, and features an alternate 8-panel cover by Cyril Jean.

THE LINK QUARTET:

The Link Quartet were formed in 1991 by Renzo Bassi (bass), Mauarizio Girgenti (hammond), Giulio “Link” Cardini (guitar), and Chuck Bergenzi (drums). Joined by Tony “Face” Bacciocchi (percussion) in 1993, The Link Quartet would spend several years building their reputation as a leading force in the Italian club scene playing their special blend of 6T’s Hammond-fueled beat music.
In 1998, the band, with a growing lineup that featured a horn section, would finally record their self-titled debut single for Spain’s Animal Records. Featuring 3 original songs, including the self-important “Link Theme”, which after 7 years was certainly deserved! This in combination with a tour with UK’s leading Hammond powerhouse The James Taylor Quartet, left The Link Quartet prime for golden opportunities.
A 2nd single for Animal, “Sgnapp”, followed in 1999, and sported a new and improved Hammond prodigy in the form Paolo “Apollo” Negri, whose nickname is truly deserved. More changes would occur leading up to the first Link Quartet album, with guitarist Cardini and drummer Bergonzi’s spots being filled by Fausto Mazza and Vittorio Solinas respectively, and the horn section gone, the band were back down to 5. Simply titled “Episode 1”, and including a somewhat loungier interpretation of the funk sound, the record solidly demonstrated the bands ability to grasp, and make their own, the spy flavoured tunes by the likes of Quincy Jones and Lalo Schifrin. “Episode 1” was released in 2001 as a limited run of 200 copies, which managed to find their way around the world via direct Internet sales, but alas they still had not broken out to find international fame. In 2002, Animal Records reissued “Episode 1”, which gave the band a better shot at global exposure, but also misrepresented the direction the band was beginning to move. Cardini returned to guitar duties, and Bacciocchi took over the drummer stool. The band settled back to their 6T’s roots, and traded in much of that lounge signature back to the funkier Hammond beat scene. And, they were at last a quartet once again, with the syncronicity and purpose necessary to make a great record.
Along with the sound, The Link Quartet began to retool their image as well. With an eye on the United States, the band were determined to make an album that would demonstrate that they could carry the raw live energy from their shows into the studio. This was accomplished by writing more original material, and applying that creativity in a more aggressive way to both how they arranged cover songs, but even in how they were selected. They worked tirelessly with their new label producer, Hammondbeat, and their audiences in refining the material before commiting to it fully. This interaction with the audience was essential in defining what material was best suited to making this new record great.
At the end of 2002 The Link Quartet released the album that took a decade to come to be. Many who had enjoyed “Episode 1”, but did not consider it to be a record of greatness, were skeptical that The Link Quartet could evolve as a leader of the beat scene beyond their Italian borders. “Beat.It” proved to indeed be a record of greatness and was well received by all that heard it and are passionate about the genre.
In 2003, filmmaker Jeffrey Bunzendahl was introduced to the band, and was "blown away" by their powerful sound. He later incorporated 5 songs from Beat.It into his spy film "Wilson Chance", and authorized a companion CD to be produced entitled "Wilson Chance: The Sound Of Danger", which was released in February 2004 (Hammondbeat Records) and preceded by "The Sound Of Danger Tour", The Link Quartet's first live appearances ever in the United States.
The Link Quartet returned to the United States for a tour in June 2004, which included dates on the West Coast and headlining the MODchicago weekender. They completed their 3rd studio album entitled "Italian Playboys" which was released in November '04 to much critical praise, and much touring in Europe through late summer '05.
Now in their 15th year, The Link Quartet are taking a bit of break to establish their new direction. Founding member and drummer Tony Face left the band recently to focus on things closer to home and the band found a new drummer, Nicola Bernardoni, well known in the italian jazz scene. Hammondbeat Records is readying the release "Evolution" which will take the listener through LQ's formation years (1997-2001) on record, from their first EP through the debut album "Episode 1", and will include everything before their breakout album "Beat.It". Also, though 2005 was quiet, LQ did record several new songs for the european compilation market which will be compiled onto one disc entitled "Decade" as a tribute to LQ first 10 years on record.
2006 and 2007 sees the release of two albums for the japanese market by P-Vine Records: “Keep it Moving! Gran Turismo Soul Hits”, the first best of the band and “Long Live the Link”, first official live album.

WICKED MINDS:

The band, formed in 1987 by Lucio Caligari (guitar), Enrico Grilli (bass) and Andrea Concarotti (drums), developed its sound during the years, beginning as a thrash quartet, passing through the hard-psychedelic trio experience and approching its final lay out in 2003 as a hard-progressive combo. The coming, in 2000, of Paolo “Apollo” Negri (Hammond organ) and, in 2003, of J.C. (singer), led the band to discover new musical fields. Many influences are brought into the sound by the different musicians: the heaviness of Lucio’s riffs fits perfectly with the more classical echoes of Paolo allowing J.C. to develope all of his talent and versatility; the rocky rhythm section give to this musical picture the final touch.
During the years the band produced four demo-tapes, till the publication, in the year 1999, of the first record, “Return to Uranus”, produced by the Italian W-Records. The same label has produced, three years later this first chapter, a limited edition vynil that picture the band’s evolution, “Crazy technicolor delirium garden”. In 2004 the Black Widow Records came out with the astonisching “From the purple skies”, the definitive point of landing. This album is the result of many years spended looking for the perfect sound, the point where all the influences are combined together to create something new. Acclaimed in the world as a musical miracle the band work hard to create a new album, while touring through Europe, playing in Belgium, Switzerland, Austria and Germany. The 2006 sees the birth of “Witchflower”, a more complex and mature album, which see the group reaching its maturity. The 12 tracks of the album are realized by Black Widow Records in double LP and CD, both with bonus DVD featuring videoclips and live takes, while W-Records releases a new vinyl press of “Return to Uranus”. 2006 sees the band playing again in Germany, performing at the BurgHerzberg Festival, sharing stage with UFO, Wishbone Ash, Soft Machine and many others, at the Belle Epoque in Siegen with Siena Root and Birth Control and in Italy with Osanna and Delirium. The beginning of 2007 sees the release of the Burg Herzberg double DVD by Rockpalast featuring two live performances of the band and the first live album of Wicked Minds - Live at Burg Herzberg 2006 - containing the whole performance at the german festival. A double tribute album to the italian progressive rock is due to come soon from Black Widow Records.

MODULO 5:

Modulo5 is an Italian project born in mid-2003 from an a idea of DJ Dave Masoch. Dave is the co-founder (with DJ Michael Myers) of Masoch Club Entertainment (1998); composer of anonymous compilation for Plastic Records (2001), and in the years following has been responsible for a series compilations including “Stasera Shake" Vol.1 & Vol.2 and Boss-A-Tone Records which is associated to the well known Misty Lane label. Dave also coordinated and managed the Hipster Expo 60s Festival in Triest (Italy) from 2001 to 2003.
The first 2 songs by Modulo5, compiled by EZ Louge FM by DJ Robert Passera, entitled "Check-in all'aeroporto" and "Spy Samba". These two tracks, well-suited for a soundtrack were the starting point for what is now a well defined project. After a short break of musical productions, due to the continuous search for sound influences to be inspired by, Dave met Paolo "Apollo" Negri in 2006.
This famuos and widely appreciated organist devoted to Hammond Groove, was met during a Mastica live act, an Italian Hard Rock Band, in which he is still collaborating. Apollo has an impressive curriculum since his name is linked to bands such as "The Link Quartet" and "Wicked Minds". After a quick chat, Apollo decided to accept Dave's proposal of being part of Modulo5.
After 3 months of hard work the 13 tracks making the full-length "Soundsational Movements" (released by Irma La Douce) were completed. The concept of this album is what everybody is looking for while listening to music: "get emotional from an original and intense sounds and groove". Dave and Apollo wish this record to be a hypothetical soundtrack for listeners.
Between influences contaminating the sound of Modulo5 there are the Space Age Pop, Sci-Fi cinema of 50’s, Soul and Funk, Hammond Groove, Bossa Nova, Italian B-Movies from the 60s, and the Soft-Core cinema from the Italian 70s.

LOW FIDELITY JET SET ORCHESTRA:

Formed by Dave Masoch and Paolo “Apollo” Negri, LOW FIDELITY JET-SET ORCHESTRA are the other side of Modulo 5. Beginning with Modulo 5’s nu-jazz and cinematic core, Low Fidelity Jet-Set Orchestra dive aggressively into vintage sound with deep funk roots, bossa-nova excursions, and an overdose of Hammond stabs, licks, chops and grooves.
The first Hammondbeat single (September 2007) is the 45 “Bahia Soul” b/w “Jazz Rocker” [HB7-02]. 2 exclusives that set the foundation for this happening new project: cool vintage bossa sounds swirling with jazz, hard funk and Hammond grooves...tasty? Tasty!!!
Next up (always with Hammondbeat!) will be the full-length album “Searching for a bit of popularity”, with 12 all-new heartbeat-skipping, soul-bending, mind-altering elixirs for the brand-new you.

FRED LESLIE'S MISSING LINK:

INGREDIENTS:
- 1/2 of Leslie Overdrive
- 1/4 of Phat Fred
- 1/4 of The Link Quartet
- 2 oz. of Soul
- 1 clove of Funk
- 1 pinch of Jazz
- 1 bucketfull of Groove
- 4 cups of Love

DIRECTIONS:
1. Melt the Leslie Overdrive in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season with 1/4 Phat Fred and 1/4 of The Link Quartet. Dredge in 4 cups of love, place in the skillet, and brown on all sides. Set it all aside, and drain skillet, reserving about 1 tablespoon soul/funk.
2. Reduce skillet heat to medium-low, and stir in the soul, funk, and a pinch of jazz. Cook 5 minutes, until tender. Gradually mix in the groove. Season with the remaining soul/funk. Bring to a boil, and reduce heat to low.
3. Return it to the skillet, cover, and continue cooking 30 minutes, until the juices run clear and groove has thickened.
4. Enjoy!

Influences: PAOLO "APOLLO" NEGRI - Hammondbeat Records page, let's check out!
www.hammondbeat.com/hammondbeat/default.asp?page=band&k= 302
Sounds Like: www.linkquartet.com

www.hammondbeat.com

www.recordkicks.com

www.wickedminds.net

Record Label: www.hammondbeat.com
Type of Label: Indie