“The piano ain’t got no wrong notes”   Thelonious Monk

Line Up:
Sherman Irby [sax alto], Nico Menci [piano], Marco Marzola [bass], Alfonso Vitale [drums]

PROJECT OVERVIEW
In this project, the vigorous energy and masterful control of Sherman Irby a pillar of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra meet the angular architectures and unpredictable genius of Thelonious Monk.
“Ugly Beauty” is more than a tribute; it is a contemporary re-examination of the “Sphere” legacy. By balancing dissonance with lyricism, the quartet explores the depths of Monk’s repertoire, blending the iconic New York sound with the refined sensibility of the European jazz scene. From the rhythmic displacement of the uptempo tunes to the haunting atmosphere of the ballads, the group delivers a performance that is as intellectually stimulating as it is deeply rooted in the blues.

BIOGRAPHIES:

SHERMAN IRBY
One only needs to scroll through the list of musicians with whom Sherman Irby has performed to immediately understand that we are in the presence of a superior instrumentalist, among the finest alto saxophonists on the contemporary scene. Currently, Sherman is the lead alto saxophonist, composer, and arranger for the prestigious Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra led by Wynton Marsalis.
In an era when modern hard bop could have appeared devoid of vitality, Irby reinvigorated the scene in the late 1990s. While his playing reveals a debt to soul-jazz icon Cannonball Adderley, his solos also follow the experimental paths of Eric Dolphy and Julius Hemphill.
“Those so-called quirks have to do with character,” says Irby. “You don’t want everything to be perfect. That’s the purpose of dissonance. Use it the right way and when the resolution comes, it will be much more beautiful.” Selected Collaborations: Freddie Hubbard, Johnny O’Neal, Clark Terry, Steve Turre, Roy Hargrove, John Hicks, Roy Haynes, Elvin Jones, Buster Williams, Mulgrew Miller, Marcus Roberts, Ron Carter, Cedar Walton, Quincy Jones, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Paco De Lucia.

NICO MENCI
One of the top Italian pianists, Menci is Irby’s loyal pianist on European tours. He has shared the stage and recorded with acclaimed musicians including: Elliot Zigmund, Steve Ellington, Patrick Clahar, Sam Most, Jimmy Lovelace, Slide Hampton, Eric Alexander, Eddie Henderson, Steve Turre, Bruce Williams, Chuck McPherson, Ray Mantilla, Scott Hamilton, Jaimeo Brown, Sherman Irby, Darrell Green, James Zollar, Akua Dixon, Jesse Davis, Camille Thurman, Dion Parson, Steve Grossman, Vincent Herring, Willie Jones III, Buster Williams, Lenny White, etc.

MARCO MARZOLA
Jazz Musician and Bandleader based in London, Marzola is a constant presence on European tours, maintaining ongoing collaborations with the international jazz scene. He has shared the stage and recorded with: Jimmy Lovelace, Tommy Tarantine, Harold Land, George Cables, Steve Turre, Jimmy Cobb, Betty Carter, Craig Handy, Tommy Campbell, John Hicks, Tony Scott, Bruce Forman, Dion Parson, Sherman Irby, Chuck McPherson, Stacy Dillard, James Zollar, Ed Cherry, Darrell Green, Jesse Davis, Bruce Williams, Jerome Jennings, Camille Thurman, Willie Jones III, Art Hirahara, Xavier Davis, and many others….