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Marco EneidiLink to home page : Marco Eneidi  Biography: Marco Eneidi & The Big Band Concept(from OUTSIDE Magazine #1 August 1998) 1982 - MARCO MEETS CECIL TAYLOR AND BILL DIXON In his early twenties Marco left Livermore and the Bay Area where he grew up playing reeds in school and local bands. He arrived in New York, meeting Cecil Taylor and Bill Dixon who have been the major musical influences in his career. Dixon is a composer/leader/trumpet player who, in the early 60’s was involved in the A & 7th (7th St. and Ave. ‘A’ in the East Village) University of the Streets, not withstanding his deep involvement with the music of Austrian composer Anton Webern whose 12-tone, concise, yet mystic sound-structures pointed to new musical horizons. Marco studied and worked with Dixon while he was Artist in Residence at Bennington College, Vermont in 1984. During this period Marco played in the orchestra Dixon put together at Bennington and absorbed new elements of sound and space which were the deep preoccupations of his teacher’s approach to orchestral music. Marco’s assocation with Cecil Taylor also began at this time. And here the concise, structural approach coming from the jazz cannon (blues, swing, and bop) had moved far beyond the traditional limits, but as Marco says, “It all comes from the blues.” Since then he has been with groups that Cecil has lead in Europe and the U.S. (1992), at the festival in Salfelden, Austria, and at the Inauguration of the Miro Foundation in Palma de Majorca. In 1994 he rehearsed 5-6 hours a day for weeks with Cecil’s orchestra which began with 40 pieces and went into performance with 15. He also played in Cecil’s 40 piece orchestra which performed at the San Francisco Jazz Festival in the Fall of 1995. So, for over 15 years Marco has been active in new music orchestras. MARCO ENEIDI/GLENN SPEARMAN & THE CREATIVE MUSIC ORCHESTRA In 1995 Marco returned to the Bay Area and, in collaboration with his long-time friend Glenn Spearman (1947-1998) (tenor sax/composition), began to reheArse a 20-plus piece orchestra. The band rehearsed for over 6 months and gave performances at the Berkeley Store Gallery. From the proceeds of these concerts they were able to record and issue Creative Music Orchestra on the Music & Arts label, Berkeley in 1996. A truly fine, beautiful CD. THE AMERICAN JUNGLE ORCHESTRA After his collaboration with Glenn, Marco went on his own with The American Jungle Orchestra. The name harkens back to early Ellington but, according to Marco, comes directly from Sonny Simmons, one of the ‘1st generation’ (after Bird) alto players who influenced Marco’s playing. Sonny called his group the American Jungle Quartet. Marco considers himself a ‘2nd generation’ player with Jimmy Lyons being one of the major influences on his alto. Marco has two powerful quintet records out (check Amoeba): The Marco Eneidi Coalition (w/Raphe Malik - tp, Glenn Spearman - ts, Wm Parker - b, Jackson Krall - dm) & Final Disconnect Notice(W. Morris - 2nd b & Karen Borca - bassoon) on Botticelli Records. THE LUGGAGE STORE AND YOSHI'S The American Jungle Orchestra has seen various incarnations over its 18 plus months of existence. However, most of the creative musicians in the area have sat in rehersals and shows during that time. This past June and July has seen the formation of a solid group of 20 players. Marco chose two pieces for the current shows: a lengthy, intricate score by Jimmy Lyons called “Something is the Matter,” who wrote it for the orchestra Bill Dixon was conducting at Bennington in 1975, and one of his own pieces called “Hallelujah;” a jump or riff tune. By the time the orchestra played Yoshi’s on July 20th it had already had done two warmup shows at the Luggage Store in San Francisco and both pieces were well-received by an enthusiastic audience of over a hundred people. SO WHAT'S THE BIG BAND CONCEPT? Marco’s approach is to use the band as an instrument, to play it like an instrument, to give the players the direction, respect, and individual freedom needed to let the music flow through the musician and the instrument and out without hangups . . . sound “. . . and then it’s gone . . . in the air,” as Eric Dolphy said. Upcoming Events: SUB-MISSION 2183 Mission StreetSan Francisco Wednesday, Feb 17 2010 9:00 PM Oakland bred, Austria based, alto saxophonist Marco Eneidi, has been described as one of contemporary music's unsung heroes (All About Jazz). He has performed often with pioneering musicians such as Cecil Taylor, Denis Charles, William Parker, Glenn Spearman, and Bill Dixon to name a few. Eneidi is joined by the “Touch and Go Quartet”, which consists of Sheldon Brown on reeds, Darren Johnston on trumpet, Lisa Mezzacappa on bass, and Vijay Anderson on drums. They will be playing a mix of original compositions as well as some hard-hitting free improvisations. This is a rare opportunity to check out a true pioneer of creative music play with some of the finest musicians in the bay area. Studio 1510 1510 8th StreetOakland Friday, Feb 19 2010 8:00 PM Musician/Composer/Alto Saxophonist Marco Eneidi returns from Vienna Austria where he is Artistic Director of the Neu New York/Vienna Institute of Improvised Music Studio 1510 1510 8th StreetOakland Saturday, Feb 20 2010 8:00 PM Musician/Composer/Alto Saxophonist Marco Eneidi returns from Vienna Austria where he is Artistic Director of the Neu New York/Vienna Institute of Improvised Music Hemlock Tavern 1131 Polk StreetBetween Post and Sutter SF Sunday, Feb 21 2010 9:00 PM Oakland bred, Austria based, alto saxophonist Marco Eneidi, has been described as one of contemporary music's unsung heroes (All About Jazz). He has performed often with pioneering musicians such as Cecil Taylor, Denis Charles, William Parker, Glenn Spearman, and Bill Dixon to name a few. Tonight he is playing in a trio with local bay area stalwarts, Lisa Mezzacappa on bass and Vijay Anderson on drums. Feel free to stop by and check out this new trio playing some intense thought provoking improvisations. Flux 53 5306 Foothill Blvd. at FairfaxOakland Friday, Feb 26 2010 8:00 PM Marco Eneidi (saxophone) – In town from Austria, in case you hadn't heard Life Changing Ministries 1629 8th St.West Oakland Saturday, Feb 27 2010 8:00 PM A SUPER Quartet with: CDs on which Marco Eneidi appears:
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