Italian jazz guitarist Andrea Rinciari’s new recording, Soho Sessions, presents eight carefully curated jazz standards and hidden gems with a stellar quartet featuring tenor saxophonist Alex Garnett, bassist Lorenzo Morabito and drummer Mark Taylor. “The album represents a great period of my life where I was playing in Soho every week with this band and we were able to create a vast repertoire of tunes by various different composers, from American songbook composers to the most obscure bebop artists,” explains Rinciari. “So, the tracks of this album are a good representation of those tunes.”
Rinciari and Garnett have meticulously arranged each piece to pay homage to jazz greats while embracing new creative directions. “Alex has been a massive help and inspiration—his vast repertoire is incredible. I used to go to his Late Show at Ronnie’s and get roasted every time! He showed me that this music is a lifelong journey—there’s always more to learn.”
Soho Sessions features a mix of classic and lesser-known compositions, including a Barry Harris arrangement of ‘Bean And The Boys’, a rare John Collins piece (‘John’s Delight’), and a reharmonised ‘I Can’t Get Started’ inspired by Teddy Wilson. Other highlights include a fresh take on ‘Tea For Two’, Bud Powell’s groove-driven ‘John’s Abbey’, and deep cuts by Freddie Redd and Elmo Hope/Sonny Rollins, ‘Time to Smile’ and ‘Carvin’ the Rock’ respectively. The album closes with Rinciari’s signature contrapuntal solo interpretation of ‘Polka Dots And Moonbeams’.
Rinciari’s dynamic quartet breathes new life into the music while exploring fresh harmonic and melodic ideas. “This album is a reflection of the magic that happens when musicians play together regularly. The tracks capture the spirit of our weekly Soho sessions—improvised, refined, and always evolving,” concludes Rinciari. “It’s a tribute to the jazz greats who have inspired me and the amazing musicians I’m lucky to play with.”
Album launch:
Monday 19 May 2025
PizzaExpress Jazz Club, Soho, London
Soho Sessions is released on AR Recordings in association with ECN Music.
The album was recorded on 26 April 2024 at Fish Factory Studios, mixed by Ben Lamdin, mastered by Caspar Sutton and produced by Rinciari and Garnett. Rinciari is endorsed by Fibonacci Guitars.
Italian jazz guitarist Andrea Rinciari honed his craft in London under the mentorship of the legendary Barry Harris. He has performed at top jazz venues across the UK and Europe, including Ronnie Scott’s, Boulevard Theatre Soho, the 606 Club and The Vortex in London, as well as renowned Parisian spots such as Le Duc des Lombards, 38Riv, and Le Barbizon. In addition to performing, Rinciari has served as the artistic director and host of weekly residencies at Piano Bar Soho and Toulouse Lautrec Jazz Club. His recent collaborations include esteemed musicians such as Alex Garnett, Leo Richardson, Jon Gordon, Ashley Pezzotti, Paul Sikivie, Steve Fishwick, Mark Kavuma and Giacomo Smith. In 2021, Rinciari paid tribute to Bud Powell with his EP To Bud, released by Soho Live Studios. The following year, he released The Takeover, featuring drummer Martin Cazales, saxophonist Thomas Gomez and bassist Lorenzo Morabito.
