Monkian Florilegio

• PRESS RELEASE
Prodotto da Dodicilune, distribuito in Italia e all’estero da IRD e nei principali store online da BELIEVE DIGITAL, mercoledì 10 giugno 2026 esce “Monkian Florilegio“, il nuovo CD del sestetto condotto dai maestri del jazz contemporaneo il vibrafonista Sergio Armaroli e il trombonista Giancarlo Schiaffini, con la partecipazione di Emanuele Parrini al violino, Giulia Cianca alla voce, Giovanni Maier al contrabbasso, Urban Kusar alla batteria, e con la speciale partecipazione della pianista Francesca Gemmo, in piano solo, nella traccia che chiude il disco.

Il disco si inserisce all’interno di un articolato progetto artistico e discografico nato nel 2021 e interamente strutturato intorno alla mitica figura del pianista e compositore americano Thelonious Monk considerato tra i più grandi innovatori del jazz moderno e del bebop, celebre per il suo inconfondibile stile pianistico spigoloso, ritmico e pieno di dissonanze, autore di alcuni tra i più celebri “standard” (come ‘Round Midnight, Blue Monk e tanti altri), e capace di influenzare profondamente tutta la storia del jazz.

Dopo “Deconstructing Monk in Africa” disco del 2021 in duo, “Monkish” del 2022 in quartetto con Giovanni Maier al contrabbasso e Urban Kušar alla batteria e percussioni, “Monkian Florilegio” rappresenta l’ultimo, nuovo ed attuale approccio discografico e di ricerca di Sergio Armaroli e Giancarlo Schiaffini intorno alla musica di Monk, nella visione complessiva qui estesa fino al sestetto con violino, voce e con l’aggiunta di un piccolo cammeo pianistico.

Photo by ©Luca d'Agostino

• PRESS RELEASE (English)
Produced by Dodicilune, distributed in Italy and internationally by IRD and via major online retailers by BELIEVE DIGITAL, “Monkian Florilegio”, the new CD by the sextet led by masters of contemporay jazz, vibraphonist Sergio Armaroli and trombonist Giancarlo Schiaffini, featuring Emanuele Parrini on violin, Giulia Cianca on vocals, Giovanni Maier on double bass, Urban Kusar on drums, and featuring a special guest appearance by pianist Francesca Gemmo, performing a solo piano piece on the album’s closing track.

The album forms part of a comprehensive artistic and recording project launched in 2021 and entirely structured around the legendary figure of the American pianist and composer Thelonious Monk, considered one of the greatest innovators of modern jazz and bebop, famous for his unmistakable, angular, rhythmic and dissonant piano style, and the composer of some of the most famous “standards” (such as ‘Round Midnight and Blue Monk, among many others), and capable of profoundly influencing the entire history of jazz.

Following “Deconstructing Monk in Africa”, a 2021 duo album, and “Monkish” from 2022, a quartet album featuring Giovanni Maier on double bass and Urban Kušar on drums and percussion, “Monkian Florilegio” represents the latest, new and current recording and research approach by Sergio Armaroli and Giancarlo Schiaffini centred on the music of Monk, with the overall vision here expanded to a sextet featuring violin, vocals and the addition of a brief piano cameo.

Photo by©Luca d'Agostino

• TRACKLIST
1) Round About Midnight
2) Monk’s Mood
3) Functional
4) Ruby My Dear
5) Darn That Dream
6) Ugly Beauty
7) Monkian Florilegio #2 (from Chordially)
8) Children Song

• COMPOSITIONS BY
Compositions by Thelonious Monk except 1 by Thelonious Monk, Cootie Williams; 5 by Jimmy Van Heusen; 7 by Sergio Armaroli. Lyrics by Bernie Hanighen (1), Sally Swisher (4), Eddie DeLange (5), Mike Ferro (6), Pannonica de Koenigswarter, Thelonious Monk (7). Arrangements by Giancarlo Schiaffini (1, 2, 3, 4), Giovanni Maier (5, 6).

• PERSONNEL
Sergio Armaroli, vibraphone
Giancarlo Schiaffini, trombone
Emanuele Parrini, violin
Giulia Cianca, vocals
Giovanni Maier, double bass
Urban Kusar, drums
special guest
Francesca Gemmo, piano (8)

• PRODUCTION DATA
Total time 54:46
STEREO DDD
℗ + © 2026
DODICILUNE (Italy)
www.dodicilunedischi.it
CD DODICILUNE DISCHI Ed595
8059772565950

• RECORDING DATA
Produced by Sergio Armaroli and Maurizio Bizzochetti, Dodicilune. Recorded 20, 21 February 2025, mixed 15 June 2025, mastered 15 July 2025 at Artesuono Recording Studio, Cavalicco (Ud), Italy. Sound engineer Stefano Amerio. Cover painting by Sergio Armaroli. Photos by Luca D’Agostino. Contact: sergioarmaroli.com, giancarloschiaffini.com

• EXTRA NOTES
Si ringrazia Luca d’Agostino per l’occhio e la disponibilità.